Book Introduction
The book today is The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides.
Overall rating: 4/5
What’s it About?
“The Silent Patient” by Alex Michaelides is a gripping psychological thriller. Centered around Alicia Berenson, a famous painter who shoots her husband, Gabriel, in the face several times. She goes mute ever since and wound up in a mental institution. We get the perspective of Theo Faber, a psychotherapist who becomes obsessed with understanding why she went mute, as well as Alicia’s through her diary entries. The narrative alternates between the two, slowly peeling the onion of this book.
Theo starts his job at the Grove, the facility where Alicia is, with the intent to treat her. He slowly gains her trust and uncovers the deceit and manipulation in Alicia’s life as well as the Grove. Eventually, the true nature of events regarding Gabriel’s death are revealed in the twisting climax of the story. This revelation leaves us readers questioning the reliability of the characters and an appreciation for Michaelides’ ability to craft love, betrayal, and psychological twists together.
What I Liked
I liked how the revelation twist at the end was not really guessable to me. The story was gripping enough to keep me hooked until the shift. The dual narratives bring all sides of the story together by the end, and drive home the importance of backstory and character development.
What I Didn’t Like
There are elements that aren’t realistic and very much fictional. Therapy sessions, the people working in the Grove and related ethics, and the absurdity of the twist all point toward creative freedom being prioritized over realism (which is fine!) The resolution is also a bit quick and doesn’t exactly tie up all the loose ends of the story as neatly as I might’ve liked.
Conclusion
The book comes with a solid story. Sure, there’s a few weak points in how it’s told and concludes, but it kept me both hooked and entertained through the ending. If nothing else, I appreciate the author’s crafting ability and may explore more of their work in the future.
Stay Tuned
I hope you enjoyed this webisode, let me know what you thought of it and if you’ve read The Silent Patient, let me know in the comments what your takeaways were. Don’t forget to check out the other webisodes and full-length podcasts available on Substack and Spotify! You can find links to them all by going to craigtstewart.com
And with all that said, have a good one folks!
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