Book Review: The Silent Patient by Alex Michealides
Five fatal gunshots. Six years of Silence. What were her first words...
After years of communicating with images and thinking through pictures, Alicia Berenson unable to house the feeling of depression any longer, took to inking down her thoughts and emotions on the thick white pages of the black diary given to her by her husband, Gabriel Berenson.
She had it all- the love, the care, the concern, the attention, she had it all thanks to Gabriel. Everything she needed to feel welcomed and appreciated but still... There was more to it. Alicia a painter and her husband a well known fashion photographer who took to shooting semi-starved, semi-naked women in strange unflattering corners. They both worked together to build their marriage and career but actually, she was loosing her marriage.
... Her lips pale, bloodless, they fluttered occasionally but formed no words, made no sounds. She answered no questions, she could not and would not speak. Nor did she speak when charged with Gabriel's murder. She remained remained silent when she was placed under arrest, refusing to deny her guilt or confess it...
At the age of thirty three, Alicia Berenson killed her husband. All it took were his words to sentence her- "I don't want to die"... Just like her father did years back- "why didn't Alicia die instead"... Hearing such after how many years from the one person you thought truly loved and appreciated you aroused not just shock but anger and the urge to kill.
Alicia never spoke again but for one statement. Alcestis. A statement she made through her painting, the last to precise- of the night she killed her husband. The night Alicia Berenson died.
Her Silence turned the story from a tragedy into a mystery. A mystery that only he knew about and olnly he could make her speak- her Doctor.
Theo Faber, a forty two year old psychotherapist took to the practice initially to heal himself but on the long run decided to help people who have suffered the same absurd experience he did while growing up or in the process of living. Now the grove welcomes him not just as Alicia Berenson's psychotherapist but as the only one who finally raised her to speak. When all efforts seemed to proof futile and Theo was about letting go, Alicia gave her first words- "what do you want?". Then Theo Faber began.
Sooo, that is all to be said about the silent patient by Alex Michealides for now π... To be really honest, I don't do uuuhhm... Should I call it tragic novels or psychological thrillers?? Any which one actually, but this book? This amazing, well scripted piece has not just sparked that interest but has given me a lot of insight too on some basic things I never knew
*Therapy doesn't heal people from traumatic experiences or psychological effects... It helps them understand it and grow with it.
I would recommend this book a thousand times over for all book freaks like me ππ❤️. Get a copy of the book and dive through it, if you have already then let's all share our thoughts and feelings about the characters and what happened.
The comment box is always open and I am sooo eagerπππ
I have to read this....Abbey
ReplyDeleteDefinitely
DeleteI'm not a book freak, this is a nice piece Joπ
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Joy π€
DeleteI started this book yesterday night and finished it this morning, and I can say I am Wowed.
ReplyDeleteIt is definitely amazing, the suspense was good, and the writer crafted the words beautifully.