What's Going On?!
Before I Go To Sleep by S.J. WatsonRelease Date: June 2011
Publisher: HarperCollins
Pages: 259 pages
Source & Format: Library; Hardcover
Amazon | Goodreads
Summary (from Goodreads)
'As I sleep, my mind will erase everything I did today. I will wake up tomorrow as I did this morning. Thinking I'm still a child. Thinking I have a whole lifetime of choice ahead of me...'
Memories define us. So what if you lost your every time you went to sleep? Your name, your identity, your past, even the people you love - all forgotten overnight. And the one person you trust may only be telling you half the story. Welcome to Christine's life.
Thoughts on Before I Go To Sleep
I took this book to the pool with me, and I didn't set it down until I was finished. My sister made it a point to mention that I wasn't a fun pool companion because all I wanted to do was read. Guys, this book was such an interesting read. I can honestly say that I've never read anything quite like it.
I usually avoid books that have the potential to be scary. However, this was my kind of thrilling book. Christine wakes up every morning and can't remember where she is. She believes that she's 20... until she looks in the mirror and realizes she's 47 years old. After a terrible accident, Christine can't transfer anything from her short-term moment to her long-term memory. She wakes up every single day unable to remember what's happened in the days before.
The book is written in journal format, so all you know is what Christine knows. Her psychologist advised her to keep the journal, so you're also reading about what she's discovering and finding out in therapy. Will she remember anything more? Is there something sinister going on? Christine doesn't know the whole truth, and neither do you. It seriously plays with your mind. Who is telling the truth? Who is lying? WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON? It's such a frustrating read because your emotions are all over the place. You just want to know what is true and what is a lie. And when I say frustrating, I mean that as a compliment. It put you in Christine's shoes and made you feel her frustration and confusion.
It wasn't necessarily a life-changing read, but it was a really exciting read. If you're looking for something new, this is definitely a book you should consider!
Final Verdict: Check It Out
While I really enjoyed this book, it would probably rank as a librar read. For me, that means it's definitely worth reading, but not necessarily something you have on your shelves. This is the kind of book that once you read it, you'll probably never read it again. Not because it isn't good - more because the book rests on the thrill of not knowing what's going to happen. Definitely worth reading though!
This sounds like a really cool read. I actually really enjoy books that are kind of scary, and I did my first degree in neuroscience so the anterograde amnesia thing sounds really interesting as well. I'll have to check it out!
ReplyDeleteThis was such a good book! A wonderful thriller ... I was like you -- I couldn't stop reading it!
ReplyDeleteGreat review!
I LOVED THIS - and I agree with you totally that it's definitely a library read. Check it out (or borrow it), get seriously weirded out, and love the unreliable narrator. Win!
ReplyDeleteOk, this sounds kind of like the movie Memento - have you seen it? It is excellent, with the short-term memory/long-term memory thing. You should check it out!
ReplyDeleteI have wanted to read this since I first heard of it, but I just haven't gotten around to it. Your blog post has kind of awakened this in me a bit, shuffled my TBR around. Oh my goodness oh my goodness.
Glad you enjoyed it. That makes me happy. Although - for me, it sounds like more of a cool-weather read and not a warm-weather read. Don't ask; I'm super quirky like that. *throws my hands up*
Oh, I loved this one too!!! I read it as quick as I could, which was hard during a work week :P I totally agree about it being a library read, once you know how it turns out I think it would be really hard to re read it already knowing the outcome!
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