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theelliemo's review against another edition
1.0
This was on course to get an average rating for an okayish if implausible story line. But it dragged on well beyond where the story should have finished (I didn’t even bother to read the whole of the last page-long chapter because of its total irrelevance) and as a result lost marks.
melsbookshelf's review against another edition
3.0
I am so conflicted about this book! Torn in two!
The first part of me thinks "WOW! What an interesting and original idea for a story! Brilliant!" However, the other part of me was severely underwhelmed by it.
After a rock climbing accident, Alex is in a hospital bed, unable to move or talk, or do anything at all except think, listen, and feel the world around him. Everyone thinks he is in a coma, with no brain activity. Can he make them see that he is awake? Before the person who caused his "accident" goes after the people he loves?
A big issue I had was a medical one. Being a nurse, I find it really difficult to read about medical stuff in novels. And in this one I just found it so completely difficult to believe that he could be having all these emotional responses, neurological RESPONSES to the world around him and his thoughts, that he didn't show any sign of. Nothing.. Yada.. Zilch.. No increased heart rate, no increased respiratory rate at the stressful stuff, and NOTHING AT ALL on the MRI... He would cry his eyes out, but NOTHING on the MRI...
"It's fiction Mel!!" I can hear you yelling at me! Yes I know! But it was just too much for me. Apparently he could smell peoples aftershaves, flowers and food even though there was no air coming in from his nose because he had a tracheostomy. Yes, some air may be able to get through, depending on the tube, sure! But to describe in meticulous detail the scents that he was experiencing? Nope I just can’t believe it. Thankfully, the average person is not medically trained so would most probably appreciate this aspect a lot more than I did. It wasn't all bad in the medical department at all, a lot of it was very accurate. I just notice everything.
One thing that others may agree with, is that it just went really slowly. There were parts that I struggled to get through just because it was moving so slowly. It was obviously a challenge, a novel in the mind of one so severely limited character, without resorting to story telling all in flashbacks. So points for that, but it just didn't hit the mark for me.
I enjoyed the twist, I didn't see it coming. I really liked the characters, even though character development of everyone except the main two characters was severely limited considering he couldn't even talk to them.
And it was just such an original idea! I haven't read anything like it, well maybe the lovely bones, but that character was obviously dead and was very different.
So I absolutely didn't hate it. But I didn't love it.
Would I recommend If I Die Before I Wake?
I think thriller fans and fans of original ideas will appreciate the different premise for this book, and those who are not so picky with the medical aspects of books will surely appreciate it more than I.
Big thanks to Netgalley for a copy of If I Die Before I Wake to review.
The first part of me thinks "WOW! What an interesting and original idea for a story! Brilliant!" However, the other part of me was severely underwhelmed by it.
After a rock climbing accident, Alex is in a hospital bed, unable to move or talk, or do anything at all except think, listen, and feel the world around him. Everyone thinks he is in a coma, with no brain activity. Can he make them see that he is awake? Before the person who caused his "accident" goes after the people he loves?
A big issue I had was a medical one. Being a nurse, I find it really difficult to read about medical stuff in novels. And in this one I just found it so completely difficult to believe that he could be having all these emotional responses, neurological RESPONSES to the world around him and his thoughts, that he didn't show any sign of. Nothing.. Yada.. Zilch.. No increased heart rate, no increased respiratory rate at the stressful stuff, and NOTHING AT ALL on the MRI... He would cry his eyes out, but NOTHING on the MRI...
"It's fiction Mel!!" I can hear you yelling at me! Yes I know! But it was just too much for me. Apparently he could smell peoples aftershaves, flowers and food even though there was no air coming in from his nose because he had a tracheostomy. Yes, some air may be able to get through, depending on the tube, sure! But to describe in meticulous detail the scents that he was experiencing? Nope I just can’t believe it. Thankfully, the average person is not medically trained so would most probably appreciate this aspect a lot more than I did. It wasn't all bad in the medical department at all, a lot of it was very accurate. I just notice everything.
One thing that others may agree with, is that it just went really slowly. There were parts that I struggled to get through just because it was moving so slowly. It was obviously a challenge, a novel in the mind of one so severely limited character, without resorting to story telling all in flashbacks. So points for that, but it just didn't hit the mark for me.
I enjoyed the twist, I didn't see it coming. I really liked the characters, even though character development of everyone except the main two characters was severely limited considering he couldn't even talk to them.
And it was just such an original idea! I haven't read anything like it, well maybe the lovely bones, but that character was obviously dead and was very different.
So I absolutely didn't hate it. But I didn't love it.
Would I recommend If I Die Before I Wake?
I think thriller fans and fans of original ideas will appreciate the different premise for this book, and those who are not so picky with the medical aspects of books will surely appreciate it more than I.
Big thanks to Netgalley for a copy of If I Die Before I Wake to review.
tharcblack's review against another edition
5.0
This is a very good debut novel, so well written, you feel instantly drawn into the life of Alex. The only reason I'm withdrawing one star from it is because I don't believe it should end the way it does. I can't forgive that.
beedee's review against another edition
5.0
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher Random House UK, Vintage Publishing, via NetGalley, for a fair review.
And this in one of the best books I have read recently. The idea of showing someone in a coma after dangerous climbing accident, the idea that his brain is still working and he is still hearing everyone around him but….no-one knows about that, is brilliant. And also sad. Because he is the only person who knows that his accident was not an accident. He is step by step analyzing all comments and talks happening around him. Up to the final conclusion. Everyone visiting him, including the nurses and doctors are convinced he cannot hear anything. So everyone is talking freely, expressing their concerns, thoughts, what happening in their life.
The best thing is that we don’t leave Alex hospital room. Everything what is going on is only in his room. He cannot move, cannot see, he can only listen and think. His world is very, very limited but via his senses we learn so much.
Beautiful, very moving story.
Wonderful debut. I will be looking to read the next book by Emily Koch.
And this in one of the best books I have read recently. The idea of showing someone in a coma after dangerous climbing accident, the idea that his brain is still working and he is still hearing everyone around him but….no-one knows about that, is brilliant. And also sad. Because he is the only person who knows that his accident was not an accident. He is step by step analyzing all comments and talks happening around him. Up to the final conclusion. Everyone visiting him, including the nurses and doctors are convinced he cannot hear anything. So everyone is talking freely, expressing their concerns, thoughts, what happening in their life.
The best thing is that we don’t leave Alex hospital room. Everything what is going on is only in his room. He cannot move, cannot see, he can only listen and think. His world is very, very limited but via his senses we learn so much.
Beautiful, very moving story.
Wonderful debut. I will be looking to read the next book by Emily Koch.
sarahp's review against another edition
3.0
This book was recommended to me so I really wanted to love it but ultimately i found it underwhelming. Perhaps my expectations had been set too high but i found it very difficult to get drawn in to the story, i really had to persevere. The pace was very slow and I just didn't enjoy the style of writing. I found the pace picked up in the second half and there were some good twists to the story, but not enough to stop me finding it all a bit lacklustre. Not a terrible read, but not one that will stay with me either.
bibliophilebookclub's review against another edition
4.0
I know I said I’m taking a break, and I am. But I couldn’t wait to get my thoughts out on If I Die Before I Wake.
IIDBIW is billed as a psychological mystery, and it is, but it is so much more too.
When we meet Alex, he’s lying in a hospital bed, with all those around him believing he’s in a coma. Yet he can still hear, and feel, and think for himself. He just can’t move. He is trapped in his own body.
We see everything from Alex’s perspective, and along with him, we learn that his climbing accident may have been something more sinister. As his visitors come and go, we all learn a little bit more about them all and how they fit into Alex’s life before the fall.
If I Die Before I Wake is a very clever novel. I loved the fact that the main character was male, as it’s not the usual thing in the psychological thriller genre lately. The narrative is brilliantly told, and with each new piece of information gleaned, the tension rises.
I found myself unable to put the book down. So much so that I read almost all of it in one day. Today, in fact. The characterisation is excellent. We learn a little about everyone. Family members, friends, their various experiences. All of this lends itself really well to how I felt about Alex. I was rooting for him from the very beginning. Willing him to move, to talk, to do anything.
I loved how the author built tension throughout the book. More than once I had to remind myself to relax. I was getting so caught up in the story that my body was rigid! It also makes the reader feel a range of emotions for all of those involved too.
Compulsive, engaging and thoroughly gripping, If I Die Before I Wake is most certainly a book to watch out for in 2018. I can’t wait to see where this author goes next!
Highly recommended!
IIDBIW is billed as a psychological mystery, and it is, but it is so much more too.
When we meet Alex, he’s lying in a hospital bed, with all those around him believing he’s in a coma. Yet he can still hear, and feel, and think for himself. He just can’t move. He is trapped in his own body.
We see everything from Alex’s perspective, and along with him, we learn that his climbing accident may have been something more sinister. As his visitors come and go, we all learn a little bit more about them all and how they fit into Alex’s life before the fall.
If I Die Before I Wake is a very clever novel. I loved the fact that the main character was male, as it’s not the usual thing in the psychological thriller genre lately. The narrative is brilliantly told, and with each new piece of information gleaned, the tension rises.
I found myself unable to put the book down. So much so that I read almost all of it in one day. Today, in fact. The characterisation is excellent. We learn a little about everyone. Family members, friends, their various experiences. All of this lends itself really well to how I felt about Alex. I was rooting for him from the very beginning. Willing him to move, to talk, to do anything.
I loved how the author built tension throughout the book. More than once I had to remind myself to relax. I was getting so caught up in the story that my body was rigid! It also makes the reader feel a range of emotions for all of those involved too.
Compulsive, engaging and thoroughly gripping, If I Die Before I Wake is most certainly a book to watch out for in 2018. I can’t wait to see where this author goes next!
Highly recommended!
charlieb's review against another edition
4.0
Very well executed debut novel. Utterly engaging mystery and the ending was just perfect.
Full review to follow ...
Full review to follow ...
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