Before I Go to Sleep

As I said in my previous post, I would start blogging about books. I thought I'd try to pick books that were for a broader audience than the average book I read, so the first book that came to mind that I've read lately was Before I Go to Sleep by S.J. Watson.

Here's a little synopsis 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 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.

Here are my brief comments about the book. I didn't  include any spoilers, but if you don't like any information about books before reading, stay away!


From the moment I started reading Watson's book, I was hooked. I like this book for two main reasons, but first a little more back story on the characters. So the premise of the book is a woman who had an "accident" in her early adulthood, which left her without any memories after the accident and few from before. She can only remember information until she goes asleep (think the movie 51st dates with Drew Barrymore). Christine is married and must remember her husband each day. As the story goes on, Christine meets a doctor she's been working with, but keeping from her husband. She begins to keep a journal so she can read information each day instead of having to rediscover it. 

I love the medical side of this story because as Christine starts keeping a journal, she begins to remember more and more on her own. Christine's troubles with remembering reminded me of the book Left Neglected by Lisa Genova. The main character, Sarah, in Left Neglected also had a brain injury, but in this case was unable to remember she had a left side of her body. Both Sarah's and Christine's journey's to overcome their injuries are so fascinating to me.

So the second, and probably the more obvious love of this book is the storyline itself. As Christine discovers more, from her journal and remembering on her own, things don't quite add up and she doesn't know who to trust-her husband, her doctor, her friend-it's all confusing when you can't remember your life more than one day! I was frustrated along with Christine. 

I won't reveal the end in case you really want to read this book, but I have to say it was a thriller to the end. Watson kept me guessing the whole time and wanting more!