More. He could have destroyed it at any point, and she would be left with nothing. Summary. What are some other examples of movies in which the near-future is shown to be a far bleaker than the present? I admit Im pretty ADD and I could have missed something. Just finished this book and enjoyed it but I confess Im here for an explanation of the ending!! Violence & Gore A man falls, dead, from a horse. GERTRUDE WARDEN, Author of " The "Wooing of a Fairy," "An Angel of Evil," "The Sentimental Sox," &c., &c. GOPViiIGHX* ' . The way that it plays out in present day is that after many months of therapy, Alicia finally talks. Joel. Alex Michaelides' The Silent Patient is the must-read thriller of 2019, an instant New York Times and Sunday Times #1 bestseller. Sex & Nudity A mentally ill man forcibly kisses a mentally ill girl. Theo and Alicia both feel that, despite his sympathetic gestures, Jean-Felix loves Alicias artwork more than he loves Alicia herself. Although, how much does the fact that there are so many thrillers that we become desensitised to the shocking reveal? After reading the Alicias diary outlines her murder confession. In the first part, the author introduces an artistic couple. Im going to go with that one. haha yeah, I think thats probably the way to go for this one. Suicide? The Silence (II) (2019) Parents Guide Add to guide Showing all 14 items Jump to: Certification Sex & Nudity (3) Violence & Gore (4) Profanity (2) Alcohol, Drugs & Smoking (1) Frightening & Intense Scenes (1) Spoilers (3) Certification Edit Sex & Nudity None 83 of 116 found this to have none A woman is taking a bath but only her leg is shown. Book review and synopsis for The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides, a twisty psychological thriller. The characterizations of characters are sort of silly or cartoonish (the motherly female doctor! The Silent Patient is told with two intertwined timelines. As a result, he injects her with something to force her to overdose, and it puts her in a coma. The Silent Patient is a shocking psychological thriller of a woman's act of violence against her husbandand of the therapist obsessed with uncovering her motive. Michaelides/ The Silent Patient /3 PROLOGUE. When Theo brings this up to Alicia, she finally begins to speak. Would you like to help your fellow students? What Theo did not foresee was that Alicia would go ahead and shoot Gabriel. July. I dont think theres a clear answer here, but thats what I figured probably happened. [2] Hey Abigail I commmented about this previously, but I definitely think its open to interpretations. The entire book is happening because Kathy cheated on him (with Gabriel) and then it resulted in Theo showing up at Gabriel and Alicias house. She also describes how Theo had been the intruder in the house. Hi, Ive updated the post to answer your question! Considering the power imbalance between therapists and patients, do you think the repsonibiity is on the therapist to maintain professional boundaries, or is that the responsibility of both parties involved. Theo attempts to frame Christian for Alicias murder, stating, I had no qualms about framing him. Thats my take, anyway! Diving into Diaries. Because of this, shes declared psychologically imcompetent and is now a resident at The Grove, where she continues to refuse to talk to anyone about anything. You'll be able to access your notes and highlights, make requests, and get updates on new titles. Or try Verity, if you really want to lean into the whole messed up marriage thing. The Silent Patient is a swarming, paranoid nightmare of a novel with an ending that is destined to go down as one of the most shocking, mind-blowing twists in recent memory. The Witch Elm surrounds readers in a cast of characters who are at once familiar and vaguely sinister and invites everyone to join in investigating these characters. . His debut book The Silent Patient won many awards in this book. The Andrews eventually find their way to an isolated farmhouse, but when the mother survives a vesp attack, Hugh and Ally must go to the nearest town to find antibiotics. Creating notes and highlights requires a free LitCharts account. Listen to my discussion of this book on the Most Read Books podcast, Ep. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. This leads Theo to learn more about Alicia's prior trauma (after her mother's suicide, Alicia father wished Alicia had died instead). 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. Alicia Berenson and Theo Faber is the main character of the silent patient. Alicia Berenson's life is seemingly perfect. Thank you, Emma! Detailed quotes explanations with page numbers for every important quote on the site. (The Detailed Plot Summary is also available, below). Keep reading if youve read the book, but have questions! What people are saying - Write a review. Why did you initially believe that he wanted to work with Alicia? I was a huge fan of this book. Showing all 0 items Jump to: Certification; Certification. In his mid-30s, frustrated with the logistical hurdles of a film production process, Michaelides switched gears, writing and publishing. our parents. Heres how it works: Simply fill out the reader survey and let us know what you want more ofsuch as thrillers for book clubsand what youre not keen on. When shes not combing the woods for endangered salamanders and orchids, she can be found at home, reading novels or writing her own stories, which have been published in Ecotone and The Stringybark Anthology. We are Forensic Psychologists. Teachers and parents! Which he eventually found out(about her father saying Alicia would have died instead of her mother.He had killed Alicia , just like what happened with Alcestis). Theos own personal life is laid bare too, and hes also a very complex character indeed not unlike Alicia. Why did Theo tell everyone that Alicia didnt overdose herself, instead murder was attempted on her? For most thrillers, I think, the ending is the make-it-or-break it aspect of the story, and this one is pretty solid. Alicia never spoke again. Do you think Theo was driven by a genuine desire to help other people? This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. What do you think about the weather. ); I thought the main person (or host) was Alicia. I think its meant to be ambiguous, but seems to hint at a vaguely positive ending. The Silent Patient is a swarming, paranoid nightmare of a novel with an ending that is destined to go down as one of the most shocking, mind-blowing twists in recent memory." Blake Crouch, New York Times bestselling author of Dark Matter "This is a wonderful new voice. If Theos attempts to encourage Alicia to speak are successful, will it be something he wants to hear?, The author also examines some hard truths about institutions that rely on funding, which leads to money and power taking precedence over the welfare and health of the patients. What do you know about the Alcestis myth? The main aspect of this part revolves around Alicias diary, which reveals that she was being watched. Did Alicia ever feel like a fully developed character to you, or was she only ever seen as someone that other people (men) wanted to influence or control? i am not much a reader and this book had my nose shoved in it for three days straight so i could finish it. Thanks for your thoughts! Send any friend a story As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Alicia was found guilty and sent to a mental facility. haha hope you like it if you get a chance to read it there are a LOT of twists in that one so watch out! That said, it seems that what you believe to be the less successful parts of the book, and the emphasis you put on them, have scared people away from what, on the whole is a very good read. Complete your free account to request a guide. The Silent Patient: Introduction A concise biography of Alex Michaelides plus historical and literary context for The Silent Patient. Do you think Alicia intended for the painting to gain fame? "The Silent Patient," Alex Michaelides's 2019 blockbuster bestseller, is all about a London-based psychotherapist who becomes obsessed with a painter who goes silent after she's convicted of. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. As they sit in silence, the main clue he has is a painting she completed. It reads pretty much the way a thriller should read, with plenty of twists and intriguing bits of information doled out at a steady clip. Unique but very bloody, violent take on zombie genre. (We always chose to provide the publisher synopsis because we feel that its worthwhile to discuss whether the official book description actually squared with your experience of the book.). Theo then tracks down the other man (Gabriel), who turns out to be married to Alicia. What did you think about the dual timelines? I dont think she refused to speak as a sort of performance-art-like tribute to Alcestis. Most of those red herrings are left unresolved. If not, what keeps them together? The Silent Patient was his first novel and was the biggest-selling debut in the world in 2019. Ive had this nagging question since reading this book that I cant seem to come to a conclusion about: Why would Alicia give Theo her journal? The parts involving Kathy are all in the past. Michaelidess debut novel is an easy, accessible and entertaining read, and it will undoubtedly make for a thrilling movie if and when that is released. Why does Theo need to kill Alicia? Yeah its a bit confusing. Use our guide to find dozens of book ideas for your group. Refine any search. Alicia Berenson's life is seemingly perfect. Struggling with distance learning? . The Silent Patient: Plot Summary From the beginning to the end of the book, Theo insists that he only ever intended to help Alicia. (This article contains affiliate links. in screenwriting at the American Film Institute in Los Angeles, Michaelides embarked on a career as a screenwriter. Thankyou for a marvellous review. Is it appropriate to separate an artist from his or her art? On this journey, they encounter a mysterious preacher, who asks them to join their cult, and while they try to avoid him, they soon learn that his plans are far more insidious, and the Andrews family must find a way to stop him and somehow go north to safety, because the news is reporting that the vesps cannot live in the cold. 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. He studied English literature at Trinity College, Cambridge University. I felt like this affair was going on the whole time he was treating her. Alex Michaelides' debut psychological thriller, The Silent Patient, tracks one woman's act of violence against her husbandand of the therapist obsessed with uncovering her motive. Enter the email address associated with your account, and we will email you a link to reset your password. Why does Theo act surprised and tell the hospital that he suspects someone tried to kill Alicia? It serves to move from one plot point to the next (sometimes rather clumsily), and thats about it. 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. :). Alicias refusal to talk, or give any kind of explanation, turns a domestic tragedy into something far grander, a mystery that captures the public imagination and casts Alicia into notoriety. In other words, the entire book has been told jumping back and forth in time. Instant downloads of all 1699 LitChart PDFs These are the countries currently available for verification, with more to come! Hello there, I do appreciate this option now a days. The debatable timing of "who came first" makes The Silence a movie that cannot be dismissed as simply a "mockbuster." Thats the way its explained in the book, but you can decide if you find that explanation satisfactory or not, I simply loved The Silent Patient!. Complete your free account to access notes and highlights. The Silent Patient is a shocking psychological thriller of a woman's act of violence against her husbandand of the therapist obsessed with uncovering her motive. I have read the novel. Our, "Sooo much more helpful thanSparkNotes. I have a question, why did Alicia paint her and Theo running out of the burning hospital? In Part II, Theo tries to treat Alicia by reducing her meds, allowing her to paint and talking to outside sources to learn more. The Silent Patient is one of the most compelling psychological thriller releases in recent memory. It was said theo was wearing a mask when he tied alicia and gabriel. I felt so stupid for not guessing the ending after Id already read The Wife Between Us! Why or why not? I think your review managed to change my mind though. Or was he simply arrested? And the murder was in the hot summer. Teach your students to analyze literature like LitCharts does. Created by the original team behind SparkNotes, LitCharts are the world's best literature guides. Section-by-Section Summary of The Silent Patient, Everything We Know About the 'The Silent Patient' Adaptation, Book Review: The Maidens by Alex Michaelides. 5 stars: 43: 4 stars: 56: 3 stars: 30: 2 stars: 10: 1 star: 5: :). It's Gabriel, and his wife Alicia is there, too. thanks for the review! It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Can you love one and not the other? Welcome to the LitCharts study guide on Alex Michaelides's The Silent Patient. Hi Sophia, thank you! 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. The emotions Alicia had when she shot her husband were originated with events of the distant past , with abuse and mistreatment at a young age. Then, he split the diary entries up and divided them throughout the novel, ensuring that Alicias perspective was completely distinct from Theos. If your club has picked it for your next meeting, never fear! document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thanks for the detailed review. Althoug. This might be an irrelevant question, but I thought Id ask in case you have any thoughts.