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Benjamin Percy: IMG The Roof People

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My sister slept with the light on until she was 27. She rightfully blames me. I would leap out of closets with my hands made into claws. I would... Continue »
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1 Local Warehouse Mystery- A to Z

Before I Go to Sleep

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Before I Go to Sleep Cover

ISBN13: 9780062060556
ISBN10: 0062060554
Condition: Standard
Dustjacket: Standard
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Synopses & Reviews

Publisher Comments:

"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...."

Memories define us.

So what if you lost yours every time you went to sleep?

Your name, your identity, your past, even the people you love — all forgotten overnight.

And the one person you trust may be telling you only half the story.

Welcome to Christine's life.

Review:

"Memories — real, false, and a bit of both — are at the heart of British author Watson's haunting, twisted debut. Christine Lucas awakens each morning in London with no idea who she is or why she's in bed with a strange man, until he tells her that his name is Ben and they've been married for 22 years. Slowly, Christine learns that she has amnesia and is unable to remember her past or retain new memories: every night when she falls asleep, the slate is wiped clean. Dr. Nash, her therapist, has encouraged her to write in a journal that she keeps secret from Ben. Christine realizes how truly tangled — and dangerous — her life is after she sees the words 'don't trust Ben' written in her journal, whose contents reveal that the only person she can trust is herself. Watson handles what could have turned into a cheap narrative gimmick brilliantly, building to a chillingly unexpected climax. (June)" Publishers Weekly (Starred Review) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

Review:

"An exceptional thriller. It left my nerves jangling for hours after I finished the last page." Anita Shreve

Review:

"A deft, perceptive exploration of a fascinating neurological condition, and a cracking good thriller." Lionel Shriver

Review:

"A deeply unsettling debut that asks the most terrifying question — what do you have left when you lose yourself?" Val McDermid

Review:

"A truly amazing debut. The central character, Christine, is beautifully drawn. It's hard to imagine a more compelling, believable and sympathetic portrayal of a damaged human being. I loved it from start to finish." Mo Hayder, international bestselling author of Birdman

Review:

"Quite simply the best debut novel I have ever read." Mo Hayder, international bestselling author of Birdman

Review:

"Combining the psychological screw-tightening of Patricia Highsmith with the high concept of Memento, S.J. Watson's Before I Go to Sleep is an amnesia thriller you won’t soon forget." Andrew Pyper, author of Lost Girls and The Guardians

Review:

"An exceptional thriller. It left my nerves jangling for hours after I finished the last page." Dennis Lehane, New York Times bestselling author of Moonlight Mile

Review:

"The best debut novel I've ever read." Tess Gerritsen, bestselling author of the Rizzoli

Review:

“This mesmerizing, skillfully written debut novel works on multiple levels. It is both an affecting portrait of the profound impact of a debilitating illness and a pulse-pounding thriller whose outcome no one could predict.” Booklist (starred review)

Review:

“An intriguingly fresh look at the amnesia-focused psychological thriller....A captivating and highly suspenseful read, populated with believable characters who lead the reader through a taut, well-constructed plot.” Library Journal

Review:

“Brilliant in its pacing, profound in its central question, suspenseful on every page and satisfying in its thriller ending.” Anita Shreve

Review:

“Watson’s debut novel unwinds as a story that is both complicated and compellingly hypnotic....Watson’s pitch-perfect writing propels the story to a frenzied climax that will haunt readers long after they’ve closed the cover on this remarkable book.” Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

Review:

“Memories — real, false, and a bit of both — are at the heart of Watson’s haunting, twisted debut....Watson handles what could have turned into a cheap narrative gimmick brilliantly, building to a chillingly unexpected climax.” Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Review:

“The summer’s single most suspenseful plot belongs to Before I Go to Sleep....pure page-turner.” New York Times

Synopsis:

S. J. Watson makes his powerful debut with this;compelling, fast-paced psychological thriller, reminiscent of Shutter Island and Memento, in which an amnesiac who, following a mysterious accident, cannot remember her past or form new memories desperately tries to uncover the truth about who she is, and who she can trust.

Synopsis:

“Thebest debut novel Ive ever read.”—Tess Gerritsen,bestselling author of the Rizzoli & Isles series

“Anexceptional thriller. It left my nerves jangling for hours after I finished thelast page.” —Dennis Lehane, New York Times bestselling author of Moonlight Mile

S. J. Watson makes his powerful debutwith this  compelling, fast-paced  psychological thriller,reminiscent of Shutter Island and Memento, in which an amnesiac who,following a mysterious accident, cannot remember her past or form newmemories, desperately tries to uncover the truth about who she is—and whoshe can trust.

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About the Author

S. J. Watson was born and educated in the United Kingdom, and has worked in the National Health Service for a number of years. Before I Go to Sleep, his first novel, has been sold in thirty-one countries and has also been optioned for film by Ridley Scott.
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What Our Readers Are Saying

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Average customer rating based on 17 comments:
amy alice, January 13, 2013 (view all comments by amy alice)
This is a well written story about someone who awakens each morning wondering who she is and what has happened to her. She and the reader are both wondering who this woman is, who she can trust, and what will be her fate. It is a book that "stays with you" and one I would recommend. It's an interesting read ~ scary, realistic, frightening, gripping ~ an AMAZING book. The writing is real ~ and it will keep you on the edge until you get to the shocking ending that will answer your questions ~ and hers. It will MAKE you keep on reading and wondering, and it will change you.
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t.cody, August 8, 2012 (view all comments by t.cody)
This is such an intriguing book. I found myself continually guessing what was really happening. Who was telling the truth? Who was lying? Who should people trust? The whole concept of losing your identity every day is quite fascinating. The only reason I didn't rate it a 5 is I occasionally wanted to do some editing.. The writing could have been a bit tighter. However, it is difficult to put the book down as I wanted to find out if my predictions were true. It is well worth a read. I am awaiting the next book by this author.
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techeditor, March 17, 2012 (view all comments by techeditor)
In BEFORE I GO TO SLEEP by S.J. Watson, Christine wakes up every morning with no memory of the days before, of who that man (her husband, Ben) in bed with her is, of who she is or how old she is. Every day her husband tells her who they are and what happened to cause this memory problem. He claims she was in an accident with a hit-and-run driver.

This book is about Christine regaining memories, little by little. She’s aided by a person who claims to be Doctor Nash. He calls her every morning to reintroduce himself. At first, it sometimes seems slow and repetitious because of Christine’s same routine every day. But it’s also more and more mysterious with each new memory.

Why does Ben keep most information from Christine? Does he think he’s helping her, or is there some devious reason? And why, when Christine asks about a new memory, does he seem hesitant to answer? Does he tell her the truth? What is he hiding and why?

And is this Doctor Nash really who he says he is? Is he really involved for the reasons he states?

Here is what I know: there are several different types of amnesia and a few different possible causes, brain trauma being just one of them. Brain trauma is the cause Ben claims to Christine. But is he being honest?

Christine retains memory for a day, only to lose it all overnight while she’s sleeping. Is something other than or in addition to brain trauma the cause? What else is going on?

Many other reader reviews of this book complain about its implausibility. If they are referring to Christine’s amnesia, that is probably easier for me to believe because I, too, had amnesia as a result of an accident and still occasionally regain memories I didn’t know I had forgotten, even after 34 years. For a short time, I couldn’t even retain day-to-day memories. So I know Watson wasn’t completely making this up, just stretching the truth.

Although the amnesia described in BEFORE I GO TO SLEEP isn’t implausible, I did catch things that are. For example, at the suggestion of Doctor Nash, Christine keeps a journal. Every day she describes that day, so she knows what happened in the days before. BEFORE I GO TO SLEEP is her journal. How does she have the time to both write it (in longhand) and then reread it every day along with anything else she does that day?

But I just went along with it.

Then Christine starts remembering enough to be suspicious. And just as she goes back and forth suspecting Ben or her doctor or her old friend, then suspecting her memory instead of them, I, too, went back and forth with my own suspicions. It truly became a thriller.

BEFORE I GO TO SLEEP forces the reader to become tense with suspicion. It is this aspect that I think must be the reason the book is such a bestseller and garners so much praise. I can tell you that this is what won me over and is the reason I rate it so highly
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Product Details

ISBN:
9780062060556
Author:
Watson, S. J.
Publisher:
Harper
Subject:
General Fiction
Subject:
Literature-A to Z
Edition Description:
Hardcover
Publication Date:
20110631
Binding:
HARDCOVER
Grade Level:
General/trade
Language:
English
Pages:
368
Dimensions:
9 x 6 x 1.17 in 18 oz
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Related Subjects

Fiction and Poetry » Literature » A to Z
Fiction and Poetry » Mystery » A to Z

Before I Go to Sleep Used Hardcover
0 stars - 0 reviews
$8.50 In Stock
Product details 368 pages Harper - English 9780062060556 Reviews:
"Publishers Weekly Review" by , "Memories — real, false, and a bit of both — are at the heart of British author Watson's haunting, twisted debut. Christine Lucas awakens each morning in London with no idea who she is or why she's in bed with a strange man, until he tells her that his name is Ben and they've been married for 22 years. Slowly, Christine learns that she has amnesia and is unable to remember her past or retain new memories: every night when she falls asleep, the slate is wiped clean. Dr. Nash, her therapist, has encouraged her to write in a journal that she keeps secret from Ben. Christine realizes how truly tangled — and dangerous — her life is after she sees the words 'don't trust Ben' written in her journal, whose contents reveal that the only person she can trust is herself. Watson handles what could have turned into a cheap narrative gimmick brilliantly, building to a chillingly unexpected climax. (June)" Publishers Weekly (Starred Review) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
"Review" by , "An exceptional thriller. It left my nerves jangling for hours after I finished the last page."
"Review" by , "A deft, perceptive exploration of a fascinating neurological condition, and a cracking good thriller."
"Review" by , "A deeply unsettling debut that asks the most terrifying question — what do you have left when you lose yourself?"
"Review" by , "A truly amazing debut. The central character, Christine, is beautifully drawn. It's hard to imagine a more compelling, believable and sympathetic portrayal of a damaged human being. I loved it from start to finish."
"Review" by , "Quite simply the best debut novel I have ever read."
"Review" by , "Combining the psychological screw-tightening of Patricia Highsmith with the high concept of Memento, S.J. Watson's Before I Go to Sleep is an amnesia thriller you won’t soon forget."
"Review" by , "An exceptional thriller. It left my nerves jangling for hours after I finished the last page."
"Review" by , "The best debut novel I've ever read."
"Review" by , “This mesmerizing, skillfully written debut novel works on multiple levels. It is both an affecting portrait of the profound impact of a debilitating illness and a pulse-pounding thriller whose outcome no one could predict.” (starred review)
"Review" by , “An intriguingly fresh look at the amnesia-focused psychological thriller....A captivating and highly suspenseful read, populated with believable characters who lead the reader through a taut, well-constructed plot.”
"Review" by , “Brilliant in its pacing, profound in its central question, suspenseful on every page and satisfying in its thriller ending.”
"Review" by , “Watson’s debut novel unwinds as a story that is both complicated and compellingly hypnotic....Watson’s pitch-perfect writing propels the story to a frenzied climax that will haunt readers long after they’ve closed the cover on this remarkable book.”
"Review" by , “Memories — real, false, and a bit of both — are at the heart of Watson’s haunting, twisted debut....Watson handles what could have turned into a cheap narrative gimmick brilliantly, building to a chillingly unexpected climax.” (starred review)
"Review" by , “The summer’s single most suspenseful plot belongs to Before I Go to Sleep....pure page-turner.”
"Synopsis" by , S. J. Watson makes his powerful debut with this;compelling, fast-paced psychological thriller, reminiscent of Shutter Island and Memento, in which an amnesiac who, following a mysterious accident, cannot remember her past or form new memories desperately tries to uncover the truth about who she is, and who she can trust.
"Synopsis" by , “Thebest debut novel Ive ever read.”—Tess Gerritsen,bestselling author of the Rizzoli & Isles series

“Anexceptional thriller. It left my nerves jangling for hours after I finished thelast page.” —Dennis Lehane, New York Times bestselling author of Moonlight Mile

S. J. Watson makes his powerful debutwith this  compelling, fast-paced  psychological thriller,reminiscent of Shutter Island and Memento, in which an amnesiac who,following a mysterious accident, cannot remember her past or form newmemories, desperately tries to uncover the truth about who she is—and whoshe can trust.
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