October : The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelidis

[Panos, Organizer]

This month we will be reading a very trending book at the moment in Greece. By most votes, this book won the book-of-the-month election and one can see why it got so much interest as it is certainly a mystery with a thrilling plot, from what I've heard. I can't wait to see what this holds in store for me!

What was your favorite part?

[Panos, Organizer]

A very enticing story with a twist-ending to enjoy.

The Silent Patient deals with betrayal, honesty, mental health, perspectives and the always present dilemma between fear and integrity. Thio, the protagonist, is a psychotherapist willing to risk all he has to help Alicia, the silent patient overcome her traumas and talk about an event that would leave anyone stigmatized, the murder of her husband. As the plot moves forward we start to gain some insights into his own life as well as the lives of the people around his patient, Alicia and the book turns into a bit of a detective/crime-oriented plot which was not my cup of tea. Besides the clue hunting though, the book also offers some insight into disorders and how humans may deal with these, always within the context of the story plot. Some chapters were really intense and relatable while others a bit far-fetched and poorly explained. This leads us to the great climax of the book where an unexpected ending awaits all.

I enjoyed reading the book as it was very easy to read and the small chapter-size really helped the story move along at a quick pace. I give this book a solid 3.5 stars and will be looking forward to other works by Alex Michaelidis.