Book about some sort of mental institution

[Stephanie]

I read this book about 5 to 6 years ago but I let someone borrow it and never saw it again.It was about a man and I think someone was following him or sending him letters and stuff in the mail. He ends up at a hospital(for compulsive liars maybe?) And that's where he meets a girl and things get even weider! Everything else I might remember is probably a spoiler as I primarily remember the ending the most. It was a paperback book with what I think was a wrap around black and white photo on the cover both the front and back. Thanks for any help.

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

Spoilers are encouraged in this group. Let loose.

What was the tone of the book? Comedic, serious? How do things get weirder?

[Ann aka Iftcan]

Where did you find it--library, bookstore, thrift/charity shop? What made you decide to read it--review, personal recommendation, "our staff recommends" shelf, the cover, the blurb on the back?

[Stephanie]

Thanks! Ok so, the main character as I said is being followed and I think also receiving mysterious letters in the mail. At one point he even receives a mask of his own face. Bare with me, this is where my memory gets fuzzy. Somehow he ends up at a sort of hospital. He meets one patient, who I think was French and a pathological liar. She turns out to be the daughter of the man who runs the institution.(For the life of me I can not remember how or why the main character ends up at this place but anyway.... ) The tone of the book was dark and suspenseful. But it was also written in a bizarre way, sorry I can't remember in what way it was just weird, in an intriguing way though. The idea of writing or of a character speaking in rhymes or riddles sticks with me. In the end the end the main character uncovers a plot by the head of this institution to make the whole world deaf. Yeah I know this is a lot of miss matched pieces of info but it was an awesome book and I really want to find it again. Please ask any more questions and I hope I can remember the answer, lol.
PS . ALWAYS REMEMBER WHO YOU HAVE LOANED YOUR BOOKS TO! :-)

[Ann aka Iftcan]

Stephanie--even remembering who you loaned them to doesn't always help. After losing several of my all time favs (and books there were hard to replace, at that) I made the "no more books loaned out" and, except for my daughter, have stuck to it ever since. Sorry, but when I had to pay $75 to replace a missing and very beloved PAPERBACK, well, that was it. And one of the books still hasn't been replaced, because I can not see paying $500 for it. And of course, the person who lost it, ("Oh, sorry Ift, I didn't realize you wanted it BACK, so I threw it away/gave it away/lost it, etc.") And this after I carefully explained to everyone that borrowed a book that I expected them back and in the same condition that they were loaned in. (Can we say "WATER DAMAGE" is not acceptable?)

[Kris]

A long shot - I Am the Cheese by Robert Cormier?

[Michele]

Perhaps Shutter Island? I don't recall the deafness plot but many of the other elements are present.

[Wendy]

A sideline, after losing 2-3 books due to loaning, I too do not lend out books. To anyone.

[Stephanie]

Thanks guys! It's not either of those, but now I've gained two new books to add to my reading list. Ann, I can't begin to imagine losing books of that magnitude, that's just painful to hear.

[Stephanie]

Wendy, I'm thinking of joining the ban on book lending.

[Arielle]

bumping

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

Stephanie, are you still looking for this or did you find it?

[Seth]

It's Samedi the Deafness by Jesse Ball! Was just looking for it.

Samedi the Deafness