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Book Review: Before i go to sleep, by S. J. Watson
6:50 AMPublished: 02 January 2012
Format: Paperback 384 pages
Categories: Contemporary Fiction
Memories define us. So what if you lost yours 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.
"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."
❝ REVIEW
My first mistake was that i read it in my native language and not the
one it was originally written in. Never do that. Many times it will feel
like it was not even written by the same author and the words slowly
lose their meaning in translation. I'm positive that if i had read this
in English, i would've enjoyed it more.However. I did finish it within a week. So not all hope was lost.
The story begins with Christine having no recollection of where she is. She doesn't recognize the room she's in, has no idea how she got there and wants to go home. But... where exactly is her home?
There's a man there too, with an engagement ring and when Christine sees it, all she can do is loathe herself for being with a married man. He's sleeping though, so she goes to the bathroom and what she sees there, terrifies her.
That is how every day of her life begins ever since she had an accident. The man, Ben, has to keep reminding her of who she is and that she's, in fact, at home. The story began to appeal to me though when she started seeing a doctor behind Ben's back and she starts having a crush on him. Despite her age, Christine's soul is still young, still able to have feelings as powerful as one has in his teen years. Personally, this side-story - let's call it - between these two is my personal favorite and would've loved to see more coming from it.
While the story keeps growing and growing, questions are raised. Did she pursue her dream to write? How did she live all these years? Does she have friends and if yes, why don't they contact her? The state she was in, the accident, Ben, all is revealed when the time is right. Or is it? At a certain point, Christine can't even trust herself. Whose story will you trust?
I believe it was truly an interesting book to read and the story evolved pretty quickly. There are twists and clues and a very unexpected ending.
4 comments
This book sounds amazing! Thanks for the great review! I know what you mean about losing the writing style through translation - that's a downer, but glad you were still able to enjoy it! :D
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for the comment! ^^ It's my first review, so it's quite... raw.
DeleteIt is a good book nonetheless.. i did enjoyed it :)
I have this book to read on my shelf and haven't read it but your review makes me want to pick it up. It sounds like it'd be a great movie. I'm excited :)
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Giselle @ booknerd.ca
Really?? Well I'm glad you liked the review! Please tell me what you thought of it after you finish it, I'd hate you read a book that you didn't like because of my review ^^'
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