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    Before I Go To Sleep: A Novel
    Before I Go To Sleep: A Novel
    Before I Go To Sleep: A Novel
    Audiobook11 hours

    Before I Go To Sleep: A Novel

    Written by S. J. Watson

    Narrated by Orlagh Cassidy

    4/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    New York Times Bestseller

    “An exceptional thriller. It left my nerves jangling for hours after I finished the last page.”  –Dennis Lehane, New York Times bestselling author of Shutter Island

    “Imagine drifting off every night knowing that your memories will be wiped away by morning. That’s the fate of Christine Lucas, whose bewildering internal world is rendered with chilling intimacy in this debut literary thriller. . . . You’ll stay up late reading until you know.”  — People (4 stars)

    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. Every morning, she awakens beside a stranger in an unfamiliar bed. She sees a middle-aged face in the bathroom mirror that she does not recognize. And every morning, the man patiently explains that he is Ben, her husband, that she is forty-seven-years-old, and that an accident long ago damaged her ability to remember.

    In place of memories Christine has a handful of pictures, a whiteboard in the kitchen, and a journal, hidden in a closet. She knows about the journal because Dr. Ed Nash, a neurologist who claims to be treating her without Ben’s knowledge, reminds her about it each day. Inside its pages, the damaged woman has begun meticulously recording her daily events—sessions with Dr. Nash, snippets of information that Ben shares, flashes of her former self that briefly, miraculously appear.

    But as the pages accumulate, inconsistencies begin to emerge, raising disturbing questions that Christine is determined to find answers to. And the more she pieces together the shards of her broken life, the closer she gets to the truth . . . and the more terrifying and deadly it is.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarperAudio
    Release dateJun 14, 2011
    ISBN9780062072597
    Before I Go To Sleep: A Novel
    Author

    S. J. Watson

    S. J. WATSON was born in the Midlands. His first novel was the award-winning Before I Go to Sleep, which has sold more than four million copies in over forty languages, followed by the critically acclaimed novel Second Life. S. J. Watson lives in London.

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    Reviews for Before I Go To Sleep

    4/5

    2,791 ratings295 reviews

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    • 1/5
      Good book to put you to sleep until the last chapter and that wasn't even all that exciting.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      Couldn't put this book down!!!!

      1 person found this helpful

    • 3/5
      Couldn't even finish it - I mean it started kind of interesting but just got so boring... Get to the point already....

      1 person found this helpful

    • 4/5
      Interesting storyline kept me listening and thinking about what life would be without memories

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      Love the twists and turns on this book!

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      Page turner! Gripping. Kept me listening until I finished it.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      Omg couldn't sop listening. One of the best suspense novels I have listened too in the past two years!!

      1 person found this helpful

    • 2/5
      Ok so I started this book thinking “oh, look at that poor amnesiac gal” and ended up screaming “die bitch die” inside my head. But first things first.

      Well actually this book has so many problems I don’t know where to start. Maybe I’ll start with the fact that the author thinks readers are stupid and need everything spelt out for them? Seriously at some point I would start reading a paragraph and I’d know exactly where it was going, so I would think “surely she won’t explain what’s going to happen out loud, right? I mean it’s so obvious nobody would waste words on it, right?” How naïve of me. Long story short, everything was so predictable I almost gave up on reading a few times, not because I figured everything out (even if I did figure everything out, well it wasn’t that hard), but because the narrating bitch voice was telling the story in an unforgivable frustrating way, like she wanted you to know that something was coming but let out too much, so the whole thing seemed very amateurish. Also, the writing was very, very poor (and this coming from the least picky reader when it comes to writing style), the narrating bitch voice was too weak, giving out if-you-have-the-need-to-tell-me-that-a-kite-is-flying-or-some-other-crap-totally-unrelated-to-the-story-one-more-time-please-just-let-me-die-in-peace kind of information or by just being downright stupid.

      And the sad part is that her thoughts/reasoning sometimes didn’t make sense at all, but they were more believable than all the other characters put together, since the oddest, most unforgivable actions were easily discharged as “normal” (well, yeah, it is a novel where the female protagonist wakes up every morning without remembering anything that has ever happened to her, but you still would expect some kind of consistent behavior). In fact, this may be the one story where I found nobody likeable. And I do mean nobody. At some point I couldn’t even feel sympathetic toward Christine anymore because I came to realize that she wasn’t a character, just a sad stereotype that went with the flow and didn’t question anything - or rather - questioned the wrong things and just happened to remember pivotal stuff out of the blue at the right time and the right place. (The very ending, too, was a very convenient way out. Too easy doesn’t do the trick for me, sorry).

      That said, I didn’t hate the book (in fact when I started it I thought this would be a 5-star review). It had many flaws and the plot twist was never a plot twist, but it had a cool premise, and throughout the first part I was excited and intrigued by the story (even though soon I would just be begging for it to get to the damn point, but let’s look at the bright side for a moment shall we). Also, I’m still curious to watch the movie.

      About that..

      “He was attractive, too. Not film-star handsome, but better-looking than most.”

      (The male lead is freaking Colin Firth. *Crazy inappropriate snorting*).
    • 2/5
      So boring.. just drags itself for too long!! I will try the movie..
    • 4/5
      SLOW BURN. I got bored with the repetitiveness but it’s worth it!!
    • 4/5
      I think that this is other very useful review for everyone
    • 4/5
      really good intriguing storyline but lots of cussing. I huge abundance of F words
    • 1/5
      Awful, awful, awful. Very repetitive, nothing really happens, the main character is nutty and disorganized, and you will feel that way when you read this book. Nothing redeemable about it. It’s surprising how terrible books like this actually get published.
    • 3/5
      I think being in a situation where all the people around you know more about your life than you do is a pretty scary situation. I do think the setup for this mystery is pretty good. Unfortunately, I found it to be very predictable and because of that, I was left underwhelmed by the ending. For most of this book, you're following Christine as she reads her journal and tries to figure out who she can trust and what is real in her life after something causes her to forget everything in the past 20 years every time she goes to sleep. This is an interesting premise. While this part of the book is not what I would describe as "thrilling" it is ominous as you know all the people around her could be lying to her and she would have no way of knowing. Very early on I asked myself "what would I have happen if I was writing this story?" and that was basically what ended up being the twist. The last section of this book really relies on the surprise of this twist and if you didn't see it coming, it probably would be really shocking. However, I did see it coming and it definitely took some of the energy out of the climax. I did still enjoy certain parts of the ending but probably not as much as I would have if I had been more shocked. It feels like a really predictable ending to me if you put much thought into the direction of the story. Definitely not a bad read and I'm glad I finally got to this one. If you're thinking about picking this up I would still recommend this as a fast read, just don't be surprised if you guess the twist.
    • 4/5
      Imagine waking up each day remembering nothing about the day before. So it goes with Christine Lucas, the woman at the heart of S.J. Watson's 2011 novel “Before I Go to Sleep.” The man in bed with her is a stranger; the face she sees in the mirror looks decades older than the one she thinks she should have.Christine narrates her own story in the form of a diary she begins at the suggestion of a doctor who works with her in secret because her husband disapproves. Dr. Nash calls her each morning to tell her where she has hidden the diary. She reads it to discover anew what few details about her life she has been able to gather and record. Yet these details are often contradictory. Did she lose her memory because of an accident or as a result of a beating? Did she once write a novel or not? Did she have a son named Adam, and if so, is he dead or alive? Why are there so few pictures of her life? Did her best friend really move to New Zealand? Who is lying to her, Dr. Nash or this man who tells her each morning that he is her husband? Is there anyone she can trust?To make such a story both believable and thrilling takes great skill and diligence, and Watson performs masterfully, which explains why this was a best-seller a decade ago. The reader may figure it all out before Christine does, but the reader has the advantage of being able to remember the previous chapter.
    • 2/5
      Disappointing, really. First person narrative from a fragile/damaged personality is a tough read. In this case, the necessity of repetition in an amnesiac got old fast and slowed the progression of the narrative. It seemed endless and, while I might appreciate the bones of the story, I only cared about getting to the end as quickly as possible.
    • 3/5
      Decent thriller. Well written.
    • 4/5
      When she woke it was to a room she had never seen before, to a man she didn't remember and to a version of herself that she believed could not exist for at least another twenty years. Every morning she would have to be told her name, Christine, that the man beside her was her husband, Ben, and that over twenty years ago in an accident she had lost all her memories. Every morning she would have to be told who she was and where she was, and then she would sleep and lose another day of her life.When she woke it was to a room she had never seen before, to a man she didn't remember. Every morning she would have to be told who she was and where she was, every morning was the same. But recently things had been changing. Little things she remembered told her she had a past, a history. However these memories would conflict with what she was being told. Was she being lied to, was her mind playing tricks on her? In the morning she wouldn't remember, but right now she needed to remember before she goes to sleep.Before I Go To Sleep is a psychological thriller that questions what it is to be, what it is to love and what it takes to survive. As it looks at how our memories shape us and our ability to interact with the world around us, it also plants seeds of doubt in the gapes left behind between what we know to be true and what we have been told to believe. A chilling mystery of lost memories, hidden truths and enduring love that has to be read to be remembered.
    • 3/5
      Every morning Christine Lucas wakes up remembering herself twenty years younger than her near-fifty year appearance in the bathroom mirror. Nor does she remember the man who lies next to her in their bed. Shortly after her husband Ben awakens, he informs her that they are in a loving marriage and that they repeat this orientation each morning because she had a traumatic accident in her late twenties which makes it impossible to consolidate her daily memories into long-term memories.Shortly after her husband leaves for work, Christine receives a phone call from a man introducing himself as neuropsychologist, Dr. Nash, who has been assisting her in restoring her memory. He informs her of the location of a journal that she has been recording her daily life as as part of her therapy. When she retrieves the journal, inscribed on the inside front cover is three words: DON'T TRUST BEN.The author's plot successfully builds tension until all is revealed at the climax. Since Christine fabricates memories, Ben withholds information and has been caught by Christine in lies, and Dr. Nash presence in Christine's life is unknown to Ben, I didn't know for some time who, if any, was the good guy. This is a beach read, therefore it is an easy read for vacations. So read the book and then watch the movie starring Nicole Kidman and Colin Firth.
    • 5/5
      That was one hell of a roller-coaster ride! Had me clutching my blanket, gasping and shaking until the very last pages. A fantastic read!
    • 5/5
      I have waited quite a while to get my hands on this book. I’m not sure why but it seems hard to find at your typical secondhand shops and even in an audio version. I’d read Second Life a few years back and really enjoyed it. It was also around the time I read The Silent Wife by ASA Harrison and found them being compared so I always had this one in the back of my mind.
      Anyway, this was pretty good. Every time I’d read the summary though, I had to go back and look at some of my previously read books because it kept sounding so familiar. But I had not read it so it began. This was definitely quite a story. Great premise and I definitely did not expect the end twist in the way it occurred.
      To have to be reminded each day of who you are, what the people around you mean to you, and even what happened to bring you to this point by your husband who you do not know because you forget when you sleep. Oh crazily amazing!
    • 5/5
      I am still overcome with FEELINGS about this book, having finished it only a few hours ago. The first handful of pages were uneventful despite the premise but I kept on, assuming it would get better. And oh, did it get better. So many twists and turns, and a very clever use of the written word within the narrative. I spent half the time I was reading it guessing what the hell was going on - and naturally, when the final gut-wrenching twist came, I wasn't even close to the truth. Amazing, startling, emotional stuff. I'm so looking forward to reading more of SJ Watson's works.
    • 5/5
      I don’t have enough good words to say about this book. When you think about your memories you have to define what is real…what is false… and how many are a little of both? We all will find that sometimes they fool us and lead us down the wrong paths…make us make unwise decisions. This is the heart and soul of this haunting and twisted story. We find out early in the book that Ben, her husband is not telling her all the truth…Dr. Nash isn’t either. Christine’s journal entries are misleading…where this story is going to take us is anyone’s guess. The ending is so worth the wait and I bet like me…you will change your mind about what is real and not real and still be wrong.
    • 4/5
      Brilliant! I could not put it down. Very well written, amazing ending! Loved it.
    • 3/5
      Silly and the writing isn't good enough to carry the journal idea, but it's a nice Memento-esque concept which makes small details unsettling. A good page-turner.
    • 4/5
      Soooo creeped out by this book. Would make a great movie with a slightly better narration.
    • 4/5
      Orlagh Cassidy is the narrator, and she is wonderful, and should be used a lot more as a narrator.
      This audiobook is well done. The story quite gripping, and kept me interested throughout the entire novel. I’d thought I’d had things figured out early on, but there were some twisty-turns I’d never seem coming that made my ideas.....not quite so correct, but not quite wrong, either. And yet, I still enjoyed this novel.
      4 stars, and recommended.
    • 3/5
      I loved the way S.J. Watson played with my mind. What happened to Christine? Why can't she remember? Can her husband, Ben, be trusted? I loved trying to figure out what had happened as Christine remembered little clues and I gained more information. I look forward to reading more of S.J. Watson's work.
    • 4/5
      A creepy and disturbing thriller that compels the reader to keep reading. It's very readable and deserving of the rave reviews. The author has created a main character who is likable despite the fact that we know almost nothing about her. The reader discovers who she is slowly, learning along side Christine herself. The puzzle is filled in at a pace that keeps you interested but doesn't feel rushed or forced.
    • 4/5
      It's one of those books which you find very hard to let go once you are into the story.Chronic amnesia may not be your regular disease. Once you get to know what's going on and start to keep a track of your memories only to find out that it is half true is truly a frightful experience. The highest praise goes to S.J Watson for writing a thriller where the plot takes a complete 180 degree turn. I gave it a 4 star because I honestly saw what was coming after reading halfway. Plus, it contains some very 'on point' adult scenes for which I find it difficult to recommend the book to my friends of the other sex (and my parents). Nevertheless, it's an amazing piece of writing and if you are into reading books which has a journal-like orientation, I urge you to check this one out.