As Memorable as the Shower Scene in "Psycho"

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Be prepared to read nonstop because THE SILENT PATIENT is as memorable as the shower scene in Alfred Hitchcock's movie "Psycho" but with a novel full of interesting, believable characters. And, just like in real life, none of them are angels who are incapable of being suspicious at different times. For readers who enjoyed the contemporary setting and suspenseful plot twists in The Flight Attendant by Chris Bohjalian or Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn, you need to add this thriller to your list of must reads! As someone who does a lot of reading, I often find myself forgetting character names or plot details from past books. However, that certainly will not be the case with this book by Alex Michaelides.
There is quite a cast: Alicia Berenson, a talented and attractive artist young-ish (age 33) artist. Buzzing around her like bees on honey are her husband Gabriel and male friend Jean-Felix; the latter manages the art gallery with Alicia's work. The history of unhappy childhoods (applicable to a couple of characters) and hints of sibling rivalry are just part of the unique mix. First-person narrator Theo provides a link between all of the cast, of course, in his work as a forensic psychotherapist, but Theo Faber has plenty of personal challenges. When he is hired at a struggling hospital for mental patients, the personality conflicts intensify. The various staff members at this facility will keep changing your opinion about who is the most mean-spirited person. The short chapters make it particularly enticing to read further and keep the pace moving non-stop. There is always some new and unexpected twist that the reader will want to turn the page.
No matter how varied the preferences among members of a book club, everyone is sure to find something of interest. Following are a list of discussion points I made as I read the book; I have tried to word them so there are not any spoilers but I can't guarantee that.
THE SILENT PATIENT Discussion Questions from Rebecca Reeder
1. Leo Faber: does he make you question whether or not psychotherapy is worthwhile?

2. At the end of Part I, what was your reaction to the character's statement that "[he was] not proud of that phone call" ?

3. At the end of Chapter 7, did you(the reader) sense a shift in the mystery?
4. Chapter 22: Why is the allusion to the ancient Greek tragedy so crucial?
5.Is Max essential to the story or does he serve more as a diversion to the solving of the crime?

6. After reading the book, does Christian's statement (page 174/ chapter 26) - about over-identifying and remembering who the patient is - seem more ominous?

7. What was your reaction to the last sentence in Chapter 27?
8. It is acceptable for a spouse to ask the question (bottom page 211/ start of Part 3): "Is there any chance you could be imagining this?"

9. Who seemed to be the villain at the end of Chapter 1 in Part 4. Did you wonder would he was involved?

10. What is shocking about the last sentence on page 262 (Part3 /end of chapter 10)? Or was it shocking to you?

11. Do you have a personal experience that makes you agree or disagree with Christian's statement that "Borderlines are so seductive" ?

12. Discuss some of the incidents in the book that seemed to cross a borderline.

13. Discuss the significance of the sentence " ______ was sitting in my chair" on page 277 (Part 4 / chapter 14).

14. On page 285, Professor Diomedes says, "[ the person being discussed] is under attack - but from [that person's] psyche, not the outside world." Discuss whether or not, and why, this statement from Part 4 / chapter 15 applies to other characters as well.

15. Discuss the analogy on page 304 (the end of Part 4). In what ways does "inexperienced artist" fit or not not fit the situation?

16. General discussion question: In what ways is mental abuse sometimes worse than physical abuse?

If you copy and share these questions, please include the credit to my name. Thanks.