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A review by nikitasimone
If I Die Before I Wake by Emily Koch
3.0
3.5 stars.
This is not my usual type of genre, but both the title and the originality of this idea intrigued me enough to pick up this book.
It is the story of Alex, who has been in a coma for over a year, and doctors believe he is unconscious, which he is not. All 342 pages are of Alex reminiscing about the events leading up to him in hospital, but trying to figure out what, or who, got him there. It is a hugely original idea, and at no point did I feel bored, or wish I was somewhere else; I really felt like I was experiencing the coma with Alex. When he was frustrated, I was too.
Despite this, I was frustrated for other reasons: The author made it so vividly real that you were shouting at everyone who came in the room to see that you were still there.
From Alex's viewpoint, the ending is profound, and without spoiling it, I did choke up on the way Alex describes his situation. It makes you think about how lucky we are to be here, and really spare a thought for people. However, I was conflicted about the way certain characters dealt with things, even more so at the end - I felt as though Koch was trying to make it bittersweet, but instead I ended up judging their decisions and found them so utterly emotionless and selfish. None of us know what we will do in a situation until we are put in them, but I feel like they were treating Alex as a burden more than anything.
I enjoyed 'If I Die Before I Wake', and now I can appreciate this title as a bit of a memoir/ letter from Alex to those who can't hear him. However the creation of the other characters and their appalling development into unlikeable people have tipped the scales for me.
This is not my usual type of genre, but both the title and the originality of this idea intrigued me enough to pick up this book.
It is the story of Alex, who has been in a coma for over a year, and doctors believe he is unconscious, which he is not. All 342 pages are of Alex reminiscing about the events leading up to him in hospital, but trying to figure out what, or who, got him there. It is a hugely original idea, and at no point did I feel bored, or wish I was somewhere else; I really felt like I was experiencing the coma with Alex. When he was frustrated, I was too.
Despite this, I was frustrated for other reasons:
Spoiler
I am no medical professional, but the fact that the actual doctors believed Alex was unconscious the whole time? I was doubting myself, and after research, I still believe my doubt.From Alex's viewpoint, the ending is profound, and without spoiling it, I did choke up on the way Alex describes his situation. It makes you think about how lucky we are to be here, and really spare a thought for people. However, I was conflicted about the way certain characters dealt with things, even more so at the end - I felt as though Koch was trying to make it bittersweet, but instead I ended up judging their decisions and found them so utterly emotionless and selfish. None of us know what we will do in a situation until we are put in them, but I feel like they were treating Alex as a burden more than anything.
I enjoyed 'If I Die Before I Wake', and now I can appreciate this title as a bit of a memoir/ letter from Alex to those who can't hear him. However the creation of the other characters and their appalling development into unlikeable people have tipped the scales for me.