Since I
started by blog, I’ve done an annual Advent Book Calendar highlighting books I
have enjoyed and authors I really like.
This year I thought I’d do an Advent Book Calendar with a twist; for
each day leading up to Christmas, I’m going to post a review of a book to which
I’ve given only one star (Throw a book at this one) or two stars (Don’t put this book in your book bag). Though I would not recommend these books,
others have disagreed with me. Each
book, on Goodreads, has received a 3 or 4 Star average rating.
Review of Before I Go to Sleep by S. J. Watson
1
Star
Christine Lucas,
the protagonist, suffers from a form of amnesia which lets her store memories
for only one day. She wakes up each day having forgotten everything that
happened in the last twenty years since her "accident" which caused
her brain injury. Encouraged by her doctor, she keeps a journal to help her
remember. She slowly discovers that Ben, her husband, is concealing information
from her. She must find out why. Can he be trusted?
This book
has received rave reviews but I can't imagine why. There are so many problems
with it. Plot manipulation is a sign of poor-quality fiction and there is no
lack of that. For example, at the end, a character has to make himself
conveniently absent so Christine can learn the truth before the final
"showdown" can take place.
Another
problem is Christine's behaviour. Each morning, after an initial hour or so of
confusion, she becomes resigned and accepts her situation? She then goes off to
meet a stranger who calls her? She doesn't ask the most important questions
about family and friends? Furthermore, her journal entries are not realistic;
she sometimes has little time to write yet she writes dialogue (instead of a
summary of a conversation) and includes description and detail that no one
would bother to record. She writes as though she were a third-person observer,
even noting her own gestures.
The ending
is predictable; reviewers all hint to a twist ending, but it is anything but a
surprise. The clues are unsubtle. The reader isn't supposed to notice that no
one seems to have met Ben? The repeated references to Christine's major concern
even tell the reader what the twist will be. To make matters worse, there is a
sentimental denouement that is not in keeping with what everyone has been told
for two decades.
Unless you
are not an astute reader and like repetition, leave this non-thriller on the
shelf.
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