October 2022 Group Read: Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane (non-spoiler)

[Randy]

Hi, all.

Here's the non-spoiler thread for Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane.

[Kirsten]

Hi all! I am your moderator. I don't do this regularly so be kind. I recently finished this book and loved it. Can't wait to hear your thoughts.

Has anyone seen the film? Read the graphic novel?

I have seen this classified as a ghost story, a thriller, a mystery, a historical fiction.

Let's have fun!

[Pam]

I read Shutter Island after seeing the movie in 2010. I worried that seeing the movie first would ruin the book for me, but the book was even better.

[Aditya]

I loved both the movie and the book when I watched/ read them a while back.

[Franky]

Honestly saw the film when it came out years ago and remember enjoying, but I've forgotten quite a bit,. I'm up to about page 70 right now in the book.

[Kirsten]

I found the book a bit of a slow burn. What did everyone think of how Lehane handles the setting?

[RJ - Slayer of Trolls]

I enjoyed both the book and the film a few years ago. Martin Scorsese directed the film with a terrific cast. It was Scorsese's highest grossing film until The Wolf of Wall Street. As for the book, I generally like Lehane's books but it seems like there's always something about his work - plot contrivances, relationship melodrama, personal anguishes - that keeps me from really enjoying it.

[Franky]

RJ - Slayer of Trolls wrote: "I enjoyed both the book and the film a few years ago. Martin Scorsese directed the film with a terrific cast. It was Scorsese's highest grossing film until The Wolf of Wall Street. As for the book,..."

While the mystery is somewhat engaging, I'm agreeing with your assessment about relationship melodrama and contrivances in general. For me, the dialogue is a little lacking and contrived/generic. I do remember reading Mystic River and remember thinking it was pretty good, but that was many years ago.

[Kirsten]

Great comments. What did everyone think of the twist? It was a shock to me. I found myself thinking back to the book for weeks afterward. I loved Mystic River, as well.

[aPriL does feral sometimes]

i saw the movie. I am reading the book now wondering how it will compare to the movie.

[Franky]

Kirsten wrote: "Great comments. What did everyone think of the twist? It was a shock to me. I found myself thinking back to the book for weeks afterward. I loved Mystic River, as well."

I thought the actual twist itself was clever, but not how it was explained.

[Kirsten]

Yeah @Franky - maybe that's why I kept on thinking about it.

[J. Robinson-Readersgottoread]

I started it today and already getting creepy vibes.
I saw some of the movie a long time ago, but only remember the dark setting.
Listening to the audio

[Kirsten]

Very creepy. I hope the narrator is good. I did an audiobook a while back and the narrator totally screwed up the book for me.

[J. Robinson-Readersgottoread]

Yes, he is a wonderful narrator. The terror in his voice during certain scenes is blood-curling and the humor is expressed well. This story jumps you right into the plot. 👍🏾

[J. Robinson-Readersgottoread]

I finished it. Debating whether to watch the movie and compare.

[RJ - Slayer of Trolls]

Alright, I decided to re-visit this one on audio. Started yesterday but didn't get too far...

[Kirsten]

Great, RJ!

[Kirsten]

Since there's less than a week left of October, I just wanted to check in. I hope this book was a good one for everyone, and I hope I wasn't too dreadful at this moderating gig.

Happy Halloween!!

If you are a US citizen, don't forget to vote the 2nd Tuesday of November. It is very important. Even if you don't like the candidate, remember that it is also important to let Congress know what we DON'T want.

[Kirsten]

Last day of my moderacy, moderency, moderate chairship.... any last thoughts?

[RJ - Slayer of Trolls]

I'm about halfway through my audiobook re-read. The reader guy is good, but I like the story less now that I already know the ending.

[Lisa]

I also felt sort of detached from/uninterested in the book, after seeing the movie. I've always wanted to rewatch it after knowing the story, and I thought that reading the book would be similarly rewarding. It didn't work out that way. Although the plot is similar, it's not like I got to rewatch the same clues, etc., because this, of course, is a different format. And, this is unusual, but I preferred the movie.