I was rather excited to hear that one of the other mums from school was setting up a book group as so often I want to talk about what I’ve read with someone and there’s just no one to talk to. The last time I was involved in a book group it was an online one before Little Miss C was born, but being someone who likes to talk the idea of doing so in person, possible over a glass of wine, is quite thrilling.
The first book chosen for us to read is Before I Go To Sleep by S J Watson. Now this isn’t a book I’d heard of before, but I was gripped from the very first chapter.
Christine wakes up each morning with no idea where she is or who is asleep next to her in bed. Every time she goes to sleep at night she forgets everything. She has no recollection of the events that led to this or even who is important in her life.
Christie is introduced to Dr Nash who suggests that she keeps a diary of everything that she learns about her past and her life today and this notebook becomes a vital part of who she is. Each day Dr Nash phones her and explains where this diary is and tells her to read it and then record in it what she learns and remembers that day.What Christine discovers and records is at times surprising and the longer she keeps her journal for the more questions and puzzles seem to arise.
It’s rare I find a book that I really can’t put down, but that’s exactly what Before I Go To Sleep is like. I was completely lost in this book to the extent that it even found its way into my dreams, leaving me incredibly confused when one of the kids woke me suddenly in the middle of the night and I was left wondering exactly who I was!
Even before I’d finished the book I’d already recommended it to several friends to read and I’m now desperate to be able to talk to people about what happens as it’s pretty much impossible to say much more without giving away a crucial part of the story, a twist which really surprised me and which I’m itching to talk about. There are two more weeks before our book groups meets so I desperately hope some of my friends hurry up and finish it soon!
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