A fascinating novel exploring sleep and memory. Inspired by the author’s experience with patients.
| Author: | S. J. Watson |
| Publisher: | Harper Paperbacks; MTI edition (August 26, 2014) |
| ISBN: | 9781922147318 |
| Characteristics: | 367 pages, Paperback ; 24 cm. |
| Source: | , and returned |
| Date Read: | 28-Jan-2025 |
Before I Go To Sleep is a well written novel that illustrates how important our memories are to making us who we are. Every morning Christine wakes up with no memory of what happened yesterday or any day before. She is lost and fearful of her surroundings.
And perhaps she does have something to fear. To counteract her faulty memory, she begins writing down events and facts, and she soon discovers contradictions with Ben, her partner she should be able to trust without question; but she cannot.
Adding to the authenticity is the fact that the author based the story on several amnesiac patients of his, notably Henry Gustav Molaison and Clive Wearing, whose story has been published by his wife Deborah Wearing in her book Forever Today — A Memoir of Love and Amnesia.
Conclusion
Before I Go To Sleep was a good read, and a fine way to pass the time. I have seen the movie starring Nicole Kidman and I don’t think the book adds much more to the story.
Before I Go to Sleep — Summary
Sources: SuperSummary sobrief.com newbookrecommendation.com
S.J. Watson’s Before I Go to Sleep is a psychological thriller that follows Christine Lucas, a woman suffering from severe amnesia. Every morning she wakes with no memory of her life, believing she is decades younger. She must relearn who she is each day, relying on photographs, notes, and—most importantly—a secret journal encouraged by Dr. Nash, a neuropsychologist treating her without her husband Ben’s knowledge.
As Christine reads her journal entries, she begins to notice contradictions between what Ben tells her and what she has written. Memories surface that don’t match his version of events—especially about a supposed accident, her friendships, and even the existence of a son she cannot remember. The more she uncovers, the more she realizes that someone is lying to her, and that her amnesia may not be the result of an accident at all.
The novel builds tension through Christine’s unreliable narration, the looping structure of her daily rediscovery, and the creeping sense that she is living with someone who may not be who he claims to be. Themes of identity, memory, trust, and control run throughout, culminating in a chilling revelation about the true cause of her condition and the danger she is in.
Featured image: Pixabay
