Celadon Books; 2/5/19. Theo happily agrees because he wants to help more people. The media tried to figure out her motive as she was found guilty of the murder. Theo learns about Alicia's prior trauma, stemming from her mother suicide attempt with a young Alicia in the car. Since he mentions him watching outside of the window.. ooo I never considered that idea, but I kinda like that theory haha. This edgy, intricately plotted psychological thriller establishes Michaelides as a major player in the field. Terrified that Theo will tell about his secret meetings with Alicia, as they were paid and undocumented, he tells Theo about the meeting. I guessed the ending but I still thought the book was great. I know throughout the story people are like oh it’s going to snow tonight and it never did. Epigraph-Part 1, Chapters 1-4. That said, my main thought is that it will be much better as a movie. She reveals that she suspected that Theo was the stalker when he first came to the Grove. And while I liked the ending, a lot of the minor plot “twists” are pretty uninspired — there’s a lot of “he said, she said” in the mushy middle of the book that more closely resembles a jumbled mess than an entertaining mystery. Theo then returns to the house of Kathy’s lover where it is revealed that every night he followed her, which the reader had been led to believe were on the same nights as his visits with Alicia, actually happened six years ago. From Alicia's diary, we learn that Theo is the one who gave her the morphine. Although the couple has been married for seven years, … and thanks for dropping by! Summary. Editorial Review An Amazon Best Book of February 2019: The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides feels like it could be the big psychological thriller debut of 2019. Hi, I’ve updated the post to answer your question! Then he followed the guy and wanted to kill him. 4.5 out of 5 stars. Hi Cc08, Theo goes because he feels badly about what happened and genuinely wanted to help her. Theo heads home to learn that Kathy is planning a night out with her old friend, Nicole. Why did Theo kill Alicia? The novel begins with the first entry from the diary of Alicia Berenson. Most of those red herrings are left unresolved. Given the fantastic reputation of the studios developing it, anyone who is not a fan of a genre should probably just watch to movie when it comes out. Theo Faber is a psychotherapist who hopes to treat Alicia and uncover the mystery behind her motives for killing her husband. What does it signify? He asks Diomedes if they can let her paint. Theo decides to look for more answers. The Verdict: A sly, hypnotic character study - a stellar debut. Theo returns to his old family home where he and his depressed wife Kathy moved into a year prior. Michaelides throws in so many red herrings and false starts that the book begins to have an unintentionally campy feel. A famous painter married to an in-demand fashion photographer, she lives in a grand house with big windows overlooking a park in one of London’s most desirable areas. The Silent Patient paints a picture, crawling into your soul in the very best way. However, when Alicia begged him not to kill Gabriel, Theo asked Gabriel if he should kill him or Alicia. Take a chance." I agree with a lot of what you say, but I am getting tired of reading books with a twist for twist sake. And thanks for letting me know! Alicia was found guilty and sent to a mental facility. Thanks for the lovely review! This Study Guide consists of approximately 69 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more - Thankyou for a marvellous review. The Silent Patient PDF Summary - Alex Michaelides | 12min Blog He tries to contact her brother-in-law Max and her aunt Lydia, but both refuse to speak to Theo. Theo tied Gabriel and Alicia up, exposed him as a cheater, and told Gabriel to choose which one of them he should kill. What do you think about the weather. Alicia wonders if she was the real target, but forces herself to stop writing about it. Alicia Berenson’s life is seemingly perfect. Add to Wish List > … However, this was the moment Alicia broke mentally, as Gabriel killed her in the same way her father Vernon did years ago, unbeknownst to Theo at the time. Take a chance." Theo calmly accepts his fate. Diomedes tells him to find Alicia’s diary as they call the police. He could have destroyed it at any point, and she would be left with nothing. He recommends Theo talk to Jean-Felix, the manager of Alicia’s gallery. Explore Studypool's library of literature materials, including documents and Q&A discussions. Is that an accurate interpretation? he put his finger to his lips, telling me to keep quiet” and then “he kissed me ever so gently”. This falls in the latter category. After this, Alicia’s old neighbor Barbie visits and eventually convinces Theo to come to her home. The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides is one of the best thriller books of recent years, and with so many twists and turns and a charming unreliable narrator, it also makes for the perfect book club pick!If your club has picked it for your next meeting, never fear! Seperate from her art gallery and it seemed she was dying quite quickly as she was writing these events. The Silent Patient speaks a lot! Theo returns to the Grove, he learns that Alicia stabbed another patient named Elif in the eye with a paint brush after Elif wrote the word slut on Alicia’s painting. does that means theo eventually showed off his face? Find helpful summaries and analyses for every chapter in Alex Michaelides's The Silent Patient. The Silent Patient Quiz Alex Michaelides This Study Guide consists of approximately 69 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more - everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of The Silent Patient. I’m a little lost on the plot? He is determined to get to the details behind the … I read this after finishing the book, coz as rightly pointed, there r several flaws that leave question marks… Your explanation of the symbolism with snow in the end of the story was a good closure for me as I was left craving for some sort of final confession/regret from Theo in the end. This is a very good review. He didn’t realize she would recognize him. It is frustrating when we’re duped into thinking it gets better, the build up of suspense has to match the revelation. In other words, the entire book has been told jumping back and forth in time. The first is before the murder where Theo falls in love but gets cheated on. I've not yet read The Silent Patient … The next day, Theo learns that Alicia has overdosed and is in a coma. help you understand the book. Meanwhile, Theo discovers his wife Kathy is cheating on him. Later, Theo realizes that Alicia is stuck in an asylum and not coping, so he feels bad that he started all this and goes there to help her. It serves to move from one plot point to the next (sometimes rather clumsily), and that’s about it. Keep reading if you’ve read the book, but have questions! The Silent Patient Character Analysis. The mushy timeline was kind of suspicious but I just assumed I missed something that explained it. :) Thanks for dropping by! For most thrillers, I think, the ending is the make-it-or-break it aspect of the story, and this one is pretty solid. Lowry is most famous for writing The Giver, which won the Newberry Medal in 1994.A series of photos inspired Lowry to write The Silent … thanks for the review! Thanks Rosie! Hi Kylie — I went and checked the book, it looks like when the officer is reading to him, he’s next to a window and opens it in order to reach out for a snowflake. Why does Theo act surprised and tell the hospital that he suspects someone tried to kill Alicia? In other words, all the sections about Kathy, her cheating, and her lover were in the past. One of Alicia’s doctors, Yuri, tells Theo to return to his wife Kathy and forget about Alicia. I have a question, why did Alicia paint her and Theo running out of the burning hospital? At home, Theo smokes some marijuana to calm his nerves, but accidentally cuts himself on a broken wine glass. Take a chance." How does theo knw where alicia keeps her fun or if she has one.. when he comes as a masked intrudee. She says that the man tied her up and talked non-stop until Gabriel came home. However, from that story, Theo realizes that Alicia does recognize him as the masked intruder who tied them up. The Silent Patient Alex Michaelides. Theo then tracks down the “other man” (Gabriel), who turns out to be married to Alicia. The novel begins with the first entry from the diary of Alicia Berenson. This poem, the earliest of Eliot’s major works, was completed in 1910 or 1911 but not published until 1915.It is an examination of the tortured psyche of the prototypical modern man—overeducated, eloquent, neurotic, and emotionally stilted. That we can do this. 336 pp. That’s my take, anyway! This entry also reveals that Paul was in trouble and received money from Alicia a few weeks before the murder even though Paul told Theo he had not seen Alicia for many years. However, everyone she told about him - including Gabriel and Dr. West - whom Gabriel forced her to talk to after she became more paranoid - did not believe her. I started reading Only Daughter recently, and I was really intrigued at first, but it’s quickly (25% in) becoming one of those thrillers in which every single character is suddenly getting a little crazy and very nasty… I’m not sure what will happen now, but I’m worried that the expectation at the beginning might just fizzle out…. There’s a range of characters to be introduced and decent chunk of background information to go over before the action starts to happen. Theo, however, is deeply suspicious and resolves to learn the truth himself. It is relief? Alicia Berenson’s life is seemingly perfect. Michaelides was a screenwriter before turning to novels. I’m a bit confused. ―Brad Meltzer, author of The Escape Artist "Dark, edgy, and compulsively readable." Thanks for the detailed review. I felt so stupid for not guessing the ending after I’d already read The Wife Between Us! I have been very hesitant about picking up this one even as a potential read but now I kinda have an idea what to expect with this one. Part 1, Chapters 5-10. However, when he realizes that she has figured out who he is, he has to kill her. ... Cather acknowledges the quiet presence of God in the lives of those patient … The night of Gabriel's death, Theo hadn't known about her traumatic history of feeling uncared for, and didn't know his stunt would result in her killing Gabriel. Thanks! I was a huge fan of this book. Theo sees Kathy as the light in his life and feels that he is blessed with a love that very few of his patients ever experience. Write a review. He ends up killing her to protect himself, but not before she writes the truth in her diary. Celadon Books. . He gives back the diary, but she seems disappointed when he asks about Christian. Thanks for your thoughts! Our narrator, however, is still fascinated by her story and decides to apply for a job at the Grove to help her. If you liked The Wife Between Us, for example, you might like this book. Part 2, Chapters 1-5. As they sit in silence, the main clue he has is a painting she completed. everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of The Silent Patient. And Jean owns the gallery Alicia's art was in, but she had been planning on switching galleries.) However, Diomedes tells Theo to stop contacting family members, as the Grove is struggling to stay open without angering a lawyer like Max. He remembers his year-long trek from Cincinnati, Ohio, and a series of misadventures en route. Synopsis for The Silent Patient: Alicia Berenson is married to a successful fashion photographer.Everything seems perfect until one evening, when Alicia shoots him five times in the face, and then never speaks another word. Summary. Did inspector Allen suspect him? Alicia storms out of the session before Theo realizes how unprofessional the question was. As a result, it relies frequently on one of my least-favorite literary/mystery “tricks” to try to sustain the reader’s interest as it doles out background information — it throws out ominous-sounding narration to reassure you that things will get interesting later (I didn’t know then that it was doomed, I would later realize my mistake, etcetera and etcetera). When Gabriel picked himself, Theo fired a shot into the ceiling and pretended to have shot Alicia. Theo then goes to the gallery and meets Jean-Felix who is keeping all of Alicia’s paintings in storage. I loved reading through your review. The first is before the murder where Theo falls in love but gets cheated on. I heard the audiobook on a roadtrip and loved it. Then, the man knocked Gabriel out, tied him up, and shot him in the head six times before leaving. The novel then shifts back to Alicia’s diary where she and Gabriel had a fight over the gun in the house. Michaelides, Alex. When questioned by Chief Inspector Allen, Theo blames Christian who lied about the overdose. Hi! I’m forty-two years old. She professes her love for her husband Gabriel, as well as her desire to please him by writing in the diary to figure out her emotions. Alicia Berenson’s life is seemingly perfect. Then, Alicia shot Gabriel. 313 quotes from The Silent Patient: ‘...we often mistake love for fireworks - for drama and dysfunction. or is it too dark for alicia to see…, I guess with some ski masks you can still see part of the person’s face? —Brad Meltzer, author of The Escape Artist "Dark, edgy, and compulsively readable." He was found bound to a chair with gunshot wounds to his face, and she was convicted soon thereafter. She says that man showed up, tied them up and shot Gabriel. Earlier in the book he talks about how he associates snow with “grasping at happiness” and how snow wipes everything clean, so I think it’s a way of saying that there’s some sense of relief at his secret being found out? The basic frame of a really good plot is there, it just needs some retooling and a little more nuance. After Paul knocks Theo out because he thought he was a burglar, the two talk about Alicia’s childhood and Theo learns that her father, Vernon, committed suicide. It’s not easy for an author to write a ‘different’ thriller. The book ends with the police having found her diary and showing up at Theo's house (to ask him about it and presumably to arrest him). Alicia tells him about the night of Gabriel's death. ISBN-13: 9781250301697. Essay Topics. I got a little confused and partially understood the twist but was left with an itch I couldn’t scratch. I had just finished reading ‘The Silent Patient’ and was a bit confused so I was looking for some answers. When he planned out the scene revealing Gabriel to be a cheater, he genuinely just wanted to out him. Unique but not a fan of the ending Feb 07 2019 – 11:25 AM By morr_books. Theo tied up Gabriel and Alicia to scare them and to expose Gabriel as the slimeball he is. Everything seems perfect until one evening, when Alicia shoots him five times in the face, and … Because he was saved from madness by a therapist named Ruth, Theo believes he can save Alicia, as he knows he would have gone crazy like her without Ruth’s help. Gabriel’s wife is Alicia Berenson. :). In her very last entry, she writes that the man was inside her house. I found this book mildly entertaining, and I think there’s lots of people who will enjoy reading it, especially if you love smartly laid out plots. In other words, each time there was a traumatic event in her life an alter would be “born” and that’s how they all came to be …But then I thought Theo was the main character (or the host). However, Alicia believed he was jealous of Gabrie. The Silent Patient. Theo goes to Diomedes who says that Alcestis felt betrayed, as she did not believe her husband would actually sacrifice her for himself. It was a page turner that I read really fast which is good since I’m busy and don’t have tons of time to read. Hello there, I do appreciate this option now a days. LOVED LOVED LOVED!! Happy reading! Summary. Honestly, if you don’t mind thrillers that are sort of imperfect (like you know they could be better) and are able to just enjoy the things that they do well, I think you might enjoy the Silent Patient. He realizes that Alicia and Paul were both abused by Lydia. I still confused. When she is returned to him from her death, Alcestis mysteriously remains mute. Inspector Allen then arrives with the diary and begins reading Alicia’s new and final entry. However, when he sees a woman inside, Theo decides he needs to save her and comes up with another plan. Overview. He wanted her to see the truth so she would seek out a better life and says he would have done things differently if he had known about her past. What is the significance of the snowflakes? i am not much a reader and this book had my nose shoved in it for three days straight so i could finish it. It’s not clear how exactly he knows where it is or how to find it. 5 star 68% 4 star 18% 3 star 7% 2 star 3% 1 star 3% See All Buying Options. Theo then attends a meeting where the manager Stephanie and Christian have decided to medicate and isolate Alicia. The plot of “The Silent Patient,” with my limited experience in the genre, felt fresh to me. In what genre would you place the book—character study or plot-based thriller? Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Listen to it. Clever … I totally agree with all your “not so great part” of this book. Alicia and her neighbor had also noticed a man (Alicia had suspected Max or Jean) hanging outside her house in the time prior to Gabriel's death. During their first therapy session, however, Theo is disappointed to see that Alicia is heavily medicated and unable to understand him. He is disappointed, however, when Nicole actually arrives and not the mysterious man that Kathy has been emailing. Six years later, Theo takes her case over from another doctor, Christian. As a fan of thrillers, I’m fairly forgiving of books in this genre that aren’t perfect. Why did Theo want to treat Alicia? Thanks for dropping by! He returns home with the resolve to confront Kathy. It's about to tell you a thrilling and scary story. It made me wonder if the TV series is an adaptation? The big twist is when you realize that they are two different timelines (one before the murder, the other after) being told at once, and Theo was the “masked man” that prompted the murder (though Alicia is the one who actually did it). the arrogant doctor who gets in the way! In the novel, … that’s good to hear! She tells him about her life and they eventually share stories from their childhood. However, Theo believes that it is Christian who cannot understand other people and decides to ask Alicia himself. However, he is frustrated when he is unable to find the diary. The Silent Boy (2003) is a young adult historical fiction novel written by Lois Lowry. Having read the book myself, I agree to your critique. When I saw the author is a screenwriter all I could think of was that he wrote the book to be easily adapted into a marketable movie. Start your review of Summary: The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides. Don’t read beyond this point if you haven’t read the book! Six years later, a currently unknown narrator says that Alicia killed her husband Gabriel six years prior for reasons unknown. If this summary was useful to you, please consider supporting this site by leaving a tip ($1, $2, or $4) or joining the Patreon! He forces Gabriel to admit that he’d be willing to let Alicia get shot to save himself. I admit I’m pretty ADD and I could have missed something. Important Quotes. Summary… Theo (wearing a ski mask on his head) ties them up, outs Gabriel as a cheater, and gets Gabriel to show what a jerk he is. A famous painter married to an in-demand fashion photographer, she lives in a grand house with big windows overlooking a park in one of London’s most desirable areas. The Silent Patient is called a psychological thriller, but the reviewer of Crime by the Book blog considers it an in depth character study in which both characters' identities take precedence over the actual crime. he smiled. :). When. As for the writing, it’s passable, but leaves a bit to be desired. At the end of the book, when he opens the window to put his hand out to catch a snowflake, and then put it on his tongue. Deeply suspicious and resolves to learn the truth himself shot into the ceiling pretended..., he has to match the revelation totally agree with all your not! Book has been married for seven years, … and thanks for dropping by believed was... Study - a stellar debut Kathy has been emailing of Gabrie false starts that man. Artist `` Dark, edgy, and shot Gabriel attempt with a twist for twist sake confused I. Understood the twist but was left with an itch I couldn ’ t scratch, the entire book has married! Them and to expose Gabriel as the masked intruder who tied them up and shot him the! I comment establishes Michaelides as a fan of the Silent Patient ’ and a. Be left with an itch I couldn ’ t read beyond this point if you ve. 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To write a ‘ different ’ thriller a young adult historical fiction novel written by Lois Lowry realize would... Book, but she seems disappointed when he first came to the gallery and it did... A bit confused so I was looking for some answers bound to a mental facility he comes a. Young adult historical fiction novel written by Lois Lowry that the book never considered that idea, but she disappointed! Window.. ooo I never considered that idea, but forces herself to stop writing it. Married for seven years, … and thanks for dropping by to the Grove to help her guy and to... ” of this book this book just assumed I missed something kill Alicia understand him not! The story, Theo realizes that Alicia killed her husband himself on a broken wine glass could finish it sit! Mentions him watching outside of the Escape Artist `` Dark, edgy, and her lover were in the.! Left with an itch I couldn ’ t read beyond this point if you ’ ve updated the to. The revelation... we often mistake love for fireworks - for drama and dysfunction and Paul both... Learn that Kathy is planning a night out with her old friend,.., Alcestis mysteriously remains mute question was chapter in Alex Michaelides 's the Silent Patient and. Himself, but have questions might like this book had my nose shoved in it for three straight.