KCC Announcement segment- Zoe Briggs

Hi everyone,



I have recently started to head the annoucement section for my church. I would like to share my videos with you each week to get your feedback. Watch and let me know what you think!



Thanks



Zoe Briggs

My book review

Hello everybody and a very Happy new year. 

I feel I should say that as it has been quite some time since my last post. Although we are already into the 25th day of the new year, unbelievable!!! 

I recently just finished reading a novel titled 'Beside myself' by Ann Morgan. I really enjoyed reading it and wanted to share my review of the book with you all below, hopefully this will encourage you to go out and read it too.

Rated it 4 stars

Beside myself by Ann Morgan is described as a psychological thriller, one that definitely messes with your psyche. This novel represents a deep, excruciating, agonizing exploration of identity, genetics, and mental illness. Ann takes you through what seems like an unending maze.

Due to the obstacles faced the character (Helen/Ellie/Smudge) which are all one person become truly fascinating as you see her morph into different personalities all in search of her original soul.

In the heat of the moment it is nothing but a simple fun childish joke. No one ever expects that it will open the window to unending psychological torment that leads to a loss of identity one that is incomprehensible.

 In a world where you’ve always been ahead of the game, the most popular, adored by your mother and a guaranteed future ahead of you; imagine this abruptly ending because your twin sister decides to change the rules of the game by refusing to swap back.

Ann Morgan presents two little girls Helen and Ellie, identical twins who are inseparable. Often described as two peas in a pod, but deep down both girls know that Helen is the leader of the pack and Ellie remains the tag along sister. Ellie does not perform well in school and lives in the shadow of her sister. One day they think it will be fun to swap places for a brief moment and trick their mother to see if she’d notice. A moment ends up turning into a life time.

After managing to fool everybody including their mother which as a reader you're bound to raise an eyebrow at. How can a mother not know which daughter is which? Or does she know and decide to play along with it for some sick twisted reason which is a question that lingers on in your mind throughout the novel up until a certain point.

Helen begs to swap back but Ellie is loving being Helen, loving having all the attention and loving her new personality so much so that days turn into years.

A game should have an end but Ann Morgan purposely stretches the longevity of the game leaving the reader feeling so uncomfortable which may be a downside to some but is what created the thrill. 

 “With so many obstacles you struggle to believe that life could be such a bastard as to bring him here, now, crashing the party of your happiness. It seems too cruel a joke.”

After many years her sister ends up in a coma following an accident. You are left wondering, hoping that Helen will get her original life back. As a reader it even leaves you confused as to whether it was even her life in the first place.

Irrespective of the emotional rollercoaster which seems unending this book keeps you wanting more and more, never a dull moment and a challenging read. Although at times it could get confusing as each chapter time passed from the present to the future until the two connected at the end of the novel. There were many moments in the book that will leave you clinging on to hope for Helen but not long after that her hope will be dashed which almost makes you want to cry. Ann Morgan has a way of getting the reader so engrossed in the novel you will feel as though you are watching a movie.

Described by Lucy Caldwell the author of all the beggars riding as 'The stuff of nightmares is made literal… Fabulous'

A rollercoaster ride that takes you on a climax but lets you down as you get to the end. The ending wasn’t what you'd expect and leaves you wanting much more.

Being the first time reading a psychological thriller this is a recommendation for anyone who likes twisted story plots and likes crazy situations. It is not for the faint hearted.

Beside myself

By Ann Morgan

Waterstones, £12.99 313pp

xxx