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This post contains book club questions for The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides. If you have not yet read the book these questions may contain spoilers.
The Silent Patient is Alex Michaelides debut novel, which has now become a New York Times Best Seller and has over 3 million copies sold.
This psychological thriller book is a must read for any book club. It is twisty, dark, and impossible to put down. And it is going to leave you wanting to talk about it.
In this novel, Alicia and Gabriel Berenson are a well-known artistic power couple living in London. Alicia is a painter and Gabriel a fashion photographer. To everyone, they seemed happy and in love until the night that Alicia murders him. From that moment on, Alicia has not spoken a word.
Six years later, psychotherapist Theo Faber tries to unravel the truth about what happened that night and why Alicia killed her husband.
That is all I will say. My honest review is that this is one of the best books I have read. There was a 10 month wait list at my local library, so I finally decided to buy it. And I'm glad I did, because this is a book worth reading more than once.
If you are looking for more books like this one, here are the Top Five Plot Twists recommended by Alex Michaelides:
For the 8.5x11 printable version of the book club questions click here, or continue to the questions below.
REMINDER: These questions contain SPOILERS, please do not read them without having read the book.
The Silent Patient Book Club Questions:
1) Throughout the novel, we are introduced to a variety of characters, all who seemingly had motives to wanting Gabriel Berenson dead. At any point, did you suspect any of these individuals? If so, who and why? (Max Berenson, Jean-Felix, Paul Rose, the Watcher)
2} The story begins with the admission that Alicia murdered her husband in cold blood. Why do you think the author chose to start this way?
3} Alicia’s final painting, The Alcestis, is a focal point of the story. How did you feel about the Greek story of Alcestis? Why do you think Alicia produced the painting and chose to remain silent?
4} Though Alicia does not speak, we get to know her through her diary. What were your opinions of Alicia? Did they change as the author gave us more of her diary?
5} Do you believe that Theo actually wanted to help Alicia? If not, what do you believe his motive for becoming her psychotherapist was?
6} Both Alicia and Theo had difficult childhoods. How did knowing how they were raised impact your feelings towards these characters? Secondly, we learned that Alicia’s mother may have struggled with mental illness. Did that impact how you interpreted Alicia’s diary?
7} We never get the opportunity to enter Kathy’s mind. If we could have seen behind the curtain, what do you think Kathy was thinking?
8} Were you satisfied with the book’s ending? Why or why not?
9} If you could write one more chapter after the ending what would you write?
This post was all about book club questions for The Silent Patient.
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