BEFORE I GO TO SLEEP BY S.J. WATSON

Published:  2011

It's About:  A woman named Christine who is experiencing episodic amnesia.  This means that all of her memories of the past are gone - both long-term and short-term memory.  Every night when she goes into deep sleep, her memories of everything are erased.  She awakes each morning not sure of who she is, who the man is sleeping next to her nor what she has done with her life.  Ben, her husband, gently explains to her who she is every morning.  As the day progresses, she can build off the information she has been told until she falls asleep again.  Other than this, physically she is a normal, healthy woman and mentally, before she sleeps, is able to process her thoughts in a normal, healthy way.  At the insistence of a doctor, she begins to write a journal of what people tell her of her past.  Her doctor telephones her each morning to remind her where she has hidden her journal.  She reads it and begins to start remembering small pieces of past events.  She's hidden her journal because she is seeing this doctor and writing this journal without the consent or knowledge of her husband.  A husband - she discovers - that is telling her lies.

I Thought:  The author has done an excellent job of being duplicitous and creates paranoia  with perfect intention.  In order to accomplish this, the book, at times, moves breathtakingly slow.  In the beginning,  I was worried about a pacing problem again.  I have run in to a few books, lately, that seem to wrongly pace.  Not, this book though.  The book begins on November 9 and goes through November 23.  In this time, we live in Christine's skin.  We learn how turtle slow it must be to wake up and have to re-orient ourselves to our entire past before we can move forward even an inch.  Sometimes the author creates this by being repetitive.  I almost gave the book up but persevered until around page 200.  I am so glad I did.  Christine makes some exciting discoveries around this page and the book picks up with lightening speed.  The book becomes one of those effortless page turners in the end.  In my opinion, it does tie up all too neatly.  I can forgive that though as it is a book and not real life. 

A Wonderful Passage:  This morning, I went into the kitchen.  My life, I thought, is built on quicksand.  It shifts from one day to the next.  Things I think I know are wrong, things I am certain of, facts about my life, myself, belong to years ago.  All the history I have reads like fiction.  Dr. Nash, Ben, Adam and now Claire.  They exist, but as shadows in the dark.  As strangers, they crisscross my life, connecting, disconnecting.  Elusive, ethereal.  Like ghosts.  

And not just them.  Everything.  It is all invented.  Conjured from nothing.  I am desperate for solid ground, for something real, something that will not vanish as I sleep.  I need to anchor myself. 

Recommendation:  It takes the patience of a Saint in parts but the ending is worth it.

GRAVE SIGHT BY CHARLAINE HARRIS

 This was read as part of the Authors by the Alphabet book club.  You are always welcome to join us HERE


Our host this month is CHRISTINE

Published:  2005

It's About:  Being struck by lightning can do some odd things to a body.  A bolt of lightning left Harper Connelly with the ability to find dead people and relive their last few minutes of life.  Because of this, she is able to determine how a person died but not why or at whose hands they died.  Some people find this talent very creepy and disrespectful.  Others find it provides closure.  Harper (love the name) along with her stepbrother Tolliver make their living roaming the country to provide this service.  And as the story opens, Harper and Tolliver have just arrived in Sarne, Arkansas to determine the truth behind two teenagers, Dell and Teenie's tragic deaths.  What they uncover is bigger than either is prepared to handle.  

I Thought:    Okay, if I just read the synopsis up above, I would probably not be swayed to read this story.  It would sound a little cornball to me.  Color me surprised then that I actually like this story enough to go to my public library and find the next three books in this series.  Charlaine Harris knows how to write a believable character.  The back story of Harper and Tolliver is heart wrenching but all too realistic.  From this heartbreak, Harper is wise beyond her years and I can feel empathetic towards her.  My verdict is still out on Tolliver.  I would like to see how he is developed in the next book(s).  There is a dot, dot, dot left for the reader as we learn early in the story that Harper's sister, Cameron (love that name too) was abducted and has never been found.  All in all, this is one of those books I may not have taken time to read but am ever so happy to have done so.

Harper's Introduction:  Sometimes I dream I am an eagle.  I soar above them, noting their remains, bearing testimony to their disposal.  I spy the man who went hunting with his enemy - there, under that tree, in that thicket.  I spot the bones of the waitress who served the wrong man - there, under the collapsed roof of an old shack.  I detect the final destination of the teenage boy who drank too much in the wrong company....Often their spirits hover, clinging to the mortal remnants that housed them.  Their spirits do not become angels.  They were not believers during life, why should they be angels now?

My Recommendation:  A wholehearted proclamation to go ahead and read this!

SPOILER ALERT - DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Let's start with the obvious. Did you like the book? What's your overall impression?

I definitely liked the book.  I think a book that has strong character development and a good setting will always pull me in.  

2. Did you like Harper?

She is probably the reason that I liked the story so much.  I thought her character was developed well.  I am empathetic to her back story and I think it's her back story that makes her less than a fluffy character.  She's a little weary of the world now as she can't trust her gift to last and she isn't always well received for her gift.  She is also not willing to giver her talents out free of charge which is a natural assumption for the people that know about the talent.  She could possibly come across as cold to some readers but I get Harper.  Plus, I love her name!

3. What did you think of the murder mystery and the people of Sarne, Arkansas? 

I think the murder mystery is realistic, straight from the pages of a newspaper.  I think the town of Sarne is the perfect small town.  Everybody has a connection to someone else and it is not always apparent to a newcomer who is related to who.  If anything, I would say the end is not as realistic of small town relationships and the plot becomes a little less believable. 

4. Do you think Harper will ever find out what happened to her sister Cameron?

I think she will if and when Charlaine Harris' is good and ready to do so.  It definitely opens the story up to a continuing series. 

5. What do you make of the relationship between Harper and Tolliver? 

Maybe a little creepy.  They describe one another as sibling but there is no blood relationship.  It makes me wonder if they secretly harbor a lust for one another that could change up their relationship in future books.  I mean, it really is a bit of a teaser for more reading. 

6. Do you think you'll continue reading this series? 

Absolutely!  In fact, the next three will be my August reading. 

EXPIATION BY GREG MESSEL

Welcome to the next stop on Greg Messel's blog tour for his book, Expiation.  You can follow his tour via PUMP UP YOUR BOOK

Published:  2010

It's About:  In 1969 Dan Murphy leaves his Seattle family home to work as an intern at the prestigious newspaper, San Francisco examiner and attend Berkeley.  He leaves behind his high school sweetheart, Katie.  Unknowingly, it is the last time he will see Katie for 30 years.  The story is split between 1999 when he is reunited with Katie and 1969 when he meets Wendy.  Dan is a successful journalist through the tumultuous 1970's in San Francisco.  Through Dan's eyes we live through the Vietnam War protests, the Zodiac murders, the Patty Hearst Kidnapping and other breathtaking historical events in the Bay area.  What ensues is a sweeping love story through and through.


I Thought:  I loved it!  I "fell in love with" Wendy right alongside Dan.  What a great character she is:  So full of passion for what she believes, so kind, so passionate.  Dan was lucky to have her at his side for as long as he did.  I was a little less "in love with" Katie but I think she will eventually grow on me.  I loved the historical perspective of the 1970's, my first full decade of life.  I remembered a lot of the history Messel wrote about but it made think about these events in a different way.  I also learned about the Zodiac murders having no idea that the movie Dirty Harry was a story about a newspaper journalist tracking down the Zodiac murderer.  I will be watching that very soon.  

Some things to Ponder:  

 "The struggle in our journey is what molds us into who we are."

"When you meet that special someone you'll understand why it didn't work out with anyone else."  Source unknown

"When you can think of yesterday without regret and tomorrow without fear, you are near contentment."  unknown.


My Recommendation:  Yes, read it!  I believe if you enjoy Nicholas Sparks, you will enjoy Mr. Messel's book.  (Hopefully, that's a good comparison). 

WHY I LOVE WEDNEDAYS.... FAVORITE CHILDHOOD FRIEND(S)

Brought to us by REFLECTIONS OF A BOOKAHOLIC

My greatest temptation is to choose Anne Shirley, however, Alexis already laid claim to her!  My first child is named Matthew because this sweet man chose to "stick his oar in" on this one decision to keep Anne instead a farm boy to help him with his chores. 

So, one of my other favorite childhood friends is definitely Betsy from the Betsy, Tacy and Tib stories.  Betsy's character is loosely based on Maud Hart Lovelace's childhood.  The stories start when Betsy is eight years old in the early 1900's and the 10 books span through her wedding and first years of marriage to Joe.  Because these books are semi-autobiographical, the first few books contain a map of Betsy's town and I spent many hours traveling the town with Betsy and her friends on these maps.  The first books are meant to be first readers and are written at the 3rd or 4th grade level and each book becomes a more difficult level as Betsy grows up.  

I do in fact intend to become a member of the Betsy-Tacy society (www.betsy-tacysociety.org)  one day. 

I have to make honorable mention to my other favorite friends, Ruth Fielding and Marjorie Dean.  These are very old friends that I found in my Grandma's basement library when I was little and read their stories over and over as well.  Okay, and then I can't end this post without at least mentioning Ramona from Beverly Cleary's books!