Before I Go To Sleep by SJ Watson

A slight change from my normal choice of books, I was looking for something new (after having exhausted my bookshelf once again) and came across SJ Watson's, 'Before I Go To Sleep'.

Described as a thriller, the book had received rave reviews and has won a number of awards - but in my opinion this doesn't necessarily mean the book is enjoyable. However I thought 'Before I Go To Sleep' was an original, encapturing and haunting read that I finished with in a matter of days.

The book begins as Christine, believing she is in her early twenties, wakes up in a strange bed, next to a man she has never met, and faced with reflection she cannot relate to.

Christine is an amnesiac, and everyday when she goes to sleep her memory is wiped clean. The man beside her explains to her that he is Ben, her husband and they have been married for over twenty years, living together in this house in London. He shows her photographs, portraying their life together, the life she does not remember, and then explains that he has to go to work, leaving her alone in this house she does not remember.

During the day she gets a call from a doctor who explains that he has been trying to help her over the past few weeks and that they have a meeting arranged for today. Once they meet he gives her a journal, her journal, that she has been keeping, following his instruction for a few weeks now.

Whilst the book is actually set in only one day, the journal provides the bulk of the story as Christine learns about her life, a day at a time.

The book is full of half remembered memories, secrets and surprising (and often chilling) twists and turns. When I first starting reading, I wasn't sure how the book would work seeing as the main character can only hold a memory for one day at a time, I thought it might become repetitive and drawn out but this was never the case. The use of the journal moves the story on just enough so that whilst it keeps you hooked, you are also able to experience some of the frustration that Christine must feel as she tries to piece together he fractured existence.

I thought that this was a great concept for a book and was certainly not let down by SJ Watson's excellent writing. I would recommend 'Before I Go To Sleep' to anyone looking for a good, thought provoking read and I am really looking forward to the film coming out. However, having read a little about it, I can't see that it will be as good as the book but I will reserve judgement until I have seen it! 

 10/10