Book Club for Introverts discussion

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The Silent Patient
Ch15-19

Theo broke his promise immediately and gets his head bashed in the process. There’s more psychobabble about the effects of childhood on the adult. I’m sure it’s all true but it’s being beaten into our heads—I’m a little weary of it. Alicia’s father hanged himself and Paul says Gabriel was possessive so he didn’t get to see Alicia much after they got married. I think Theo may have jumped to conclusions about Lydia Rose. I wouldn’t want my portrait painted if I were a fat and ugly old woman, so I can understand the anger. Alicia doesn’t mention her father in her diary, only her mother. I wonder why? Could the abuse have come from him? Theo and Kathy are annoying. Why won’t he just end it? He knows she’s lying. Jean-Felix sounds like he might give an honest account. He didn’t like Gabriel either. Still intrigued.

I'm to the point now of wondering how in the world that it's ethical for Theo to be running around discussing Alicia with others without her consent. I get that she isn't speaking but he doesn't seem to be following any ethics either and that makes me wonder about him as a professional and a person.

Jean-Felix and his exuberance over Alicia's art is interesting. He seems to be the most reliable person in the plot right now.

I suspected from the start that Theo would be completely unreliable in all of this. At first, I was really pulling for him and was hoping he'd get his mess together and be a good guy. I'm not so sure that's going to happen. He's operating in a completely unethical manner, and is just a weenie when it comes to Kathy.

I find it interesting that each person has a different interpretation and opinion of Alicia and Gabriel. There is SO much dysfunction in each character's lives in this novel, that it's very difficult to find any of them reliable.

One thing I do love about this novel is that each of the characters are crafted in such a way that they really come to life for the reader. For example, Max, Elif, and Lydia. The author depicts them in such a way that I can just envision exactly what they must look like, sound like, and even smell like (as creepy as that sounds).

I'm absolutely hooked, which is what I want from a novel, but I'm also annoyed at several of the characters.

Krystal wrote: "I suspected from the start that Theo would be completely unreliable in all of this. At first, I was really pulling for him and was hoping he'd get his mess together and be a good guy. I'm not so su..."

Yes! I got the "smell" part too... such great observations!

deana everett wrote: "Krystal wrote: "I suspected from the start that Theo would be completely unreliable in all of this. At first, I was really pulling for him and was hoping he'd get his mess together and be a good gu..."

Agreed! The author did a great job with the descriptive writing. Between the characters and the art, I could envision it all.

There’s a story with Theo and it isn’t at all ethical for him to be running around talking to everyone about his patient. Although, he is gathering information, rather than sharing it, which might be his rationalization. Everyone on this book has an eccentricity or secret about them.

I am so enjoying this book! So many surprises throughout. I don’t like any of the characters, but I’m fascinated by them all.

Myra wrote: "I am so enjoying this book! So many surprises throughout. I don’t like any of the characters, but I’m fascinated by them all."

It's been a while since I disliked all the characters. I'm sure there's a method to it but it's been interesting to read a book with multiple unreliable narrators.