The Silent Patient is first and foremost a VERY well-written book.
I read a lot of thrillers. The twist in this book wasn’t anything incredibly shocking to me (I started to piece it together leading up to the reveal) but it didn’t spoil my enjoyment of the book. I think the overall premise is unique and I look forward to what Michaelides will write next!
This was an easy read, but not incredibly exciting. It’s a slower paced mystery (I wouldn’t call this a thriller) and although the writing is decent, I don’t think it’s an incredibly memorable story. That being said, I think a lot of people will enjoy this one – especially if they are new to the mystery/thriller genre.
I didn’t know what to expect heading in to this book and I’m honestly not sure how I would explain it to someone else because I wouldn’t want to spoil anything.
Cyril isn’t a “real” Avery. He’s reminded of that his entire life. We follow him from his birth in 1945, meeting up with him every seven years until 2015.
At times this book dragged a bit for me. Some of the more dramatic plot points hit all at once, which isn’t really necessary for a book that’s almost 600 pages. That being said, it’s still worth a read.
A lot of people say this book made them cry, but I would like to add that this book made me laugh more than anything. Even when covering heavier topics, Boyne was still able to weave a little bit of humor between the sadness (and appropriately, nothing felt forced or out of place).
[major spoilers start here!]
I wasn’t shocked when Julian ended up being one of the patients with AIDS, and although I found that part of the book sad, it wasn’t what stuck with me.
I’ll preface this by saying I am not an emotional reader by any means. I assumed the saddest part of the book was Julian’s death. Then Bastiaan (which just made me so angry – not at the author, but because it’s grounded in reality and just so horrific and unfair). Still, I didn’t cry throughout the entire book. Until the very last page…which definitely made me tear up a little.
Overall, this is a wonderful story about a man’s life over the course of 70 years. It’s amazing what changes and what stays the same.
WARNING: This review contains major spoilers!
Verity had me hooked from the first sentence. I tore through this in one day – although I will say it’s not incredibly long and it reads fast.
The main “twist” was predictable, but that also could be because I read a lot of thrillers. Or it could be that from basically the minute we meet Verity, we are led to wonder if it’s all an act. And how the hell did she fool countless doctors and nurses into thinking she was legitimately injured?
Ultimately, I’m left not knowing exactly what to think. That ending – wow. I honestly believe that the letter was written as a ploy to save her, vs her actually being a decent person…I just can’t imagine a sane person pretending to basically be disabled and practically brain dead for months. It doesn’t add up.
Verity’s voice reminded me a lot of Amy from Gone Girl, but multiplied by a thousand. Absolutely insane.
I knew I had to pick this up after reading Ove about a year and a half ago.
Beartown is a wonderful book. So many characters you’ll love. So many characters you’ll hate. I teared up reading this book. I yelled at this book. Backman is a master at getting an emotional response out of his readers.
If you love any sport (not just hockey) you’ll understand and appreciate the way Backman describes Beartown’s love for their hockey team. His writing is poetic without being overly flowery or stuffy. His characters are complex and well-developed.
Thirteen hooks you right from the beginning. The killer in this novel is ruthless – and there’s something special about him (I won’t spoil it for you!) The book felt a little slow in the middle (compared to the insane beginning!) but it was a fun, fast-paced read with some good twists.
I need to preface this by saying I do not read books if I’ve already seen the movie. It’s difficult for me to go in to a book when I already know what happens. That being said, I do make it a point to attempt to read a book first before watching the movie adaptation.
This was not the case with Pet Sematary. I saw the 1990 movie (probably on USA) sometime when I was a kid. I don’t really remember NOT knowing this story. And yet, I still felt compelled to read the book.
This was probably the best decision I could have made.
I was worried that this book would terrify me. I was worried it would keep me up at night. That hasn’t been the case (maybe because I went in to it already knowing what happens) but that doesn’t make it any less effective.
Pet Sematary is the definition of a slow burn. The first “reveal” hits you at around 150 pages. The heart-racing, horrific parts don’t really start until page 495 (or maybe 200 pages earlier, if you’re a parent). But this is quintessential King. I wouldn’t necessarily recommend this as an introduction to King’s writing, but it’s a must-read for any fan of his works, or any fan of horror.
[spoilery comments ahead, proceed with caution!]
I did feel a little bit of sadness for stinky, clumsy, undead Church. No one wanted to hold him. No one wanted to pet him. Louis kicked him a few times. That’s another way to see that “sometimes…dead is better.”
At it’s core, Pet Sematary is a novel about grief. Of course a parent would do anything – ANYTHING – to bring their toddler back from the dead. It’s profoundly sad. The true horror isn’t the Wendigo, or the shell of a person (or pet) that comes back from the dead – it’s loss. It’s the gruesome deaths of Church and Gage that will keep you up at night.
Is it grief that drives Louis insane? Or something supernatural? I’d like to think it’s a bit of both.
What. A. Ride! I tend to figure twists out pretty easily and this book got me a few times. It was so hard to put down. I thought the very last twist was unnecessary, but it didn’t take away from my enjoyment of the book as a whole.
This book was frustrating for me. It is the perfect example of what unrealistic, overly romantic expectations can do to a marriage, combined with personal trauma/grief and a severe lack of communication.
The writing is decent. This is not a criticism of Colleen Hoover as an author, this just isn’t my preferred genre. I’m sure others who enjoy love stories would enjoy this book.
What a beautifully written book about the collapse of humanity. Sounds crazy, right?
A flu starts to spread. People die quickly, and in massive numbers. Life as we know it ends. But a new way of life begins.
The beginning terrified me. The thought of a flu that deadly spreading that fast, with no way to stop it. I read another “flu epidemic” book last year and Station Eleven just felt more real and believable.
Part of that might be attributed to the setting. The “future” part of the book takes place in Michigan. Places like Traverse City, Petoskey and Mackinaw City are mentioned. When I read the line about the Mackinac Bridge, I had to pause for a moment. I’ve spent a lot of time in northern Michigan so it was easy for me to picture exactly what Mandel was describing. (I understand this varies by reader.)
I love how this book reminds the reader about what was lost in the collapse. Sure, you might think about living without the internet, without electricity. But ice cream. Baseball. Even adding milk to tea.
I also love how the book jumps two decades into the future – so many apocalyptic novels (at least the ones I read) deal solely with the immediate aftermath.
Overall an emotional, immersive book.
Read with Aimee 