The problem with trying to write and sell a thriller is that you must be careful with what you say so you do not give the plot away. I will do my best here.
“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…”
This is Christine’s life or some might say lack of a life. Every night when she goes to sleep her memory is erased and she wakes up not knowing the who, what, when, where and how of her existence. Her husband, Ben, has to explain that they have been married for over twenty years and there are pictures taped to the bathroom mirror to help her start her day.
Later in the morning, she receives a phone call from a Dr. Nash, who explains he is treating her and to prove it he tells her to read her journal. The purpose of the journal is for Christine to write everything that happens to her in a day and any memories that she has down. As this experiment goes on Christine begins to realize that Ben’s story, Dr. Nash’s story and her brief memories of her life are not the same. Are things being kept from her or is she just inventing stories to make her own life seem complete?
Before I Go to Sleep by S. J. Watson is a fantastic debut that really gives a whole new spin on the ‘amnesiac thriller’. Dennis Lehane calls it “Memento on crystal meth” and I just have to agree with him. I will be looking for more page turning thrillers from S. J. Watson in the future.
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