Due to a horrible accident several years in the past, Christine now suffers from two types of amnesia. One prevents her from recalling the instance of her accident, but should allow her to have memories of the time before the accident. The second, a rare form of amnesia, prevents short-term memories from being transferred to long-term. The combination of the two forms of amnesia prevents Christine from recalling past memories, as well as making new ones.
At the suggestion of her doctor, Christine keeps a journal in which she jots down things she would like to remember. Each night, before she goes to bed, she writes in this journal, knowing full well that she will not recall anything when she wakes up the next morning.
Each morning, Dr. Nash, her neuropsychologist, calls her to remind her to read her journal. She meets with Dr. Nash in secret; her husband, Ben, was hesitant for Christine to undergo under any additional treatment for her condition.
Upon reading her journal, Christine notes a statement, written in her own handwriting: “Don’t trust Ben.” As she begins to recall and retain her memories, she discovers that the truth that has been buried in her mind for a reason. The truth may be more dangerous than she could have ever imagined.
I was extremely excited about this book when I learned of it. I studied psychology in college; I’ve always been amazed at the power of the mind and its ability to suppress memories to horrible to recall. Add the fact that this book is a thriller and I was sold!
I’d be remiss not to mention the stunning cover, one of my favorites in some time. It truly captures the essence of the book. When Christine wakes, and peers at her reflection, it is only her eyes that she recalls. The body she lives in now is completely foreign to her. But her eyes, the window to her soul, is a source of comfort and recollection to Christine.
The reader walks alongside Christine as she unveils the memories buried within her subconscious. We learn about her character and her past as she does. This reveal is done at a slow pace. I understand the author’s choice in pacing; recovering from amnesia happens at a very slow pace, often prompted by visual settings or memories. There were instances in which the pacing and the overall progress of the book was often hindered. There would be a brief moment of excitement at Christine’s recollection of a memory, but then the next morning all would be for naught. Ultimately, I believe this was an incredible tactic used by the author. The reader, just like Christine herself, suffers and is forced to take a step back each time Christine goes to sleep, waking up the next morning devoid of all memories of the previous day.
It is my hope that this doesn’t discourage readers from appreciating the power of his book. In the end, all the patience is rewarded, ten-fold. This was one of those books that caused me to shout in shock and disbelief, a rare trait for a book to have. I do highly recommend this book, but read it with patience, knowing in the end that all will be revealed.
Thank you to TLC Book Tours for providing me the opportunity to participate in this tour. Please be sure to check out the official tour page for additional stops on this tour.
Like Before I Go To Sleep on Facebook – Harper is launching a massive Facebook campaign starting in May that aims to make available up to the complete text of the book via a snazzy online reader. Harper is setting rolling goals for the number of followers, and each time a new goal is reached, a new excerpt will be made available. Giveaways and contests will be hosted through that page as well, so check back for opportunities that you can share with your readers.
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