Full disclosure: I hate this cover. It looks like skin peeling off and I really can't look at it, so much so that I wasn't going to read this book at all. I know it's supposed resemble something like that, even to make you initially uncomfortable, but I hate imagery of ripping and peeling skin. Black Swan nearly broke me out in hives, and I'm itchy just thinking about it. BUT The Silent Patient has been getting such glowing reviews that I decided to suck it up and dive in...
...and I'm so glad I did. While the premise is great, woman in asylum is silent after being convicted of husbands murder, I don't think it fully does the story justice. There's such a collection of characters, each with an incriminating and innocently annoying duality, that you never know if your suspicions are well-founded or completely paranoid. This mirrors Alicia Berenson's journey, as she lives out the 'is she telling the truth, actually crazy or crazy like a fox' theme that I love so much.
There's also something about therapists/mental health facilities/shrinks that people instantly distrust. It could be entertainment media portrayal or historical precedent or personal experience or maybe just something fundamental about the idea of someone trying to get into your head. I love the way Alex Michaelides played with our expectations and was able to deliver such a satisfying--not even a twist, but a revelation. Ugh, now I feel bad for trashing the cover. It's cool! I'll just stare at it until I'm desensitized.
Brilliantly constructed and utterly engrossing, Michaelides has made himself a new fan!
...and I'm so glad I did. While the premise is great, woman in asylum is silent after being convicted of husbands murder, I don't think it fully does the story justice. There's such a collection of characters, each with an incriminating and innocently annoying duality, that you never know if your suspicions are well-founded or completely paranoid. This mirrors Alicia Berenson's journey, as she lives out the 'is she telling the truth, actually crazy or crazy like a fox' theme that I love so much.
There's also something about therapists/mental health facilities/shrinks that people instantly distrust. It could be entertainment media portrayal or historical precedent or personal experience or maybe just something fundamental about the idea of someone trying to get into your head. I love the way Alex Michaelides played with our expectations and was able to deliver such a satisfying--not even a twist, but a revelation. Ugh, now I feel bad for trashing the cover. It's cool! I'll just stare at it until I'm desensitized.
Brilliantly constructed and utterly engrossing, Michaelides has made himself a new fan!