Author: Daman Kaur

A student of Sri Guru Gobind Singh College of Commerce, Delhi university. Establishing myself as a content writer and a poet. Trying to learn and experiment.

The Silent Patient – Going to break my silence over it

Silent patient written by Alex Michaelides is the first psychological thriller I have ever read. Hence I am going to be reviewing it like a thriller novice, as it’s my first encounter with psychological warfare that’s unleashed by this book. 

Plot Summary

This story essentially revolves around Alicia Berenson and her silence.  Alicia is an artist who fortes in painting photorealistic oil paintings, which becomes the reason for her popularity. But one day when the police are called to her house her reason for popularity alters when they find her husband, Gabriel dead.  Shot in the head five times by her and with a refusal to speak anything after that. 

Six years pass since her refusal to speak, no one has heard one word from her. Sitting in the Grove, a forensic institute, we still don’t know what was the reason she committed such a brutal crime. The only clue is the last painting she painted after killing her husband and her long long silence. 

Someone finally takes the dare to solve this mystery, this how our second primary protagonist is introduced. Theo Faber, a psychotherapist with a keen interest in Alicia Berenson. Through Theo we come face to face with many elements in Alicia’s life, that may have been instrumental in the murder. 

Review

The book is written in fairly simple language, there is not much medical jargon that might have made this book complex. The two protagonists are well developed. But other than that, secondary characters are not given much attention. As the story majorly revolves around the two primary characters. 

The story is an easy read, but it is slow progress. You get to know about Alicia and Theo little by little. The driving force behind the story is essentially the question WHY, why did she kill him. While it is a good motivator to continue the book, it lacks the drama and volume for a perfect ending. 

The part I liked the most was the ending because it was a well worthy twist to wait for, but I did get an inkling for the last twist. And hence it lacked the dramatics. 

This book also gave me an insight into the world of psychology, it brought forward the inner working of our brain and how it works under absurd circumstances. The importance of past and childhood can clearly be seen in this book.  Giving some compelling takeaways as psychology lessons. 

Should You Read This Book ?

As a novice, I would definitely suggest giving a one-time read to this book. It is a good book to enter the world of psychological thrillers. Its simple language is definitely suitable for everyone. But if you are looking for a book with adventure and excitement, then maybe this book is not for you. I would give this book  3.5/5 for its interesting plotline and easy to follow plot. 

Animal Farm- For those who wish to understand the world

When I picked up the book first, I did it with the assumption that the book would be circling around basic morals and lessons that our children usually learn when they get acquainted with their surroundings, this assumption was based on the mere fact, that the book is based on the lives of farm animals. But a very much-needed reality check came, once the short intricate book progressed in my hands. 

George Orwell, the author of this 112 pages worth book, uses his gift of simple writing to bring forth a complex life cycle. His writing explains and describes the enormity, complexity, and the need for various important concepts like war, education, laws, government, development, etc in the most straightforward way possible. 

While this book may only last for a few hours, it gives various lessons, that can last you a lifetime. George Orwell manages to explain the recurring need for war, the persisting inequality in our society, the struggles of an updated education system, and many more concepts in detail, with just the help of a few farm animals. 

Further George Orwell not only provides a wholesome end to the book, but he also manages to bring a conclusion to the vicious cycle of life, in his effortless way. 

In the end, the book makes you question a lot of things around you. It opens your eyes to the realities of life in the most captivating way. And persuades you to question, analyze, and conclude everything around you in your way. 

Classics are usually stereotyped as boring and hard to understand. But rest assured that not only will this book end in just the knick of time, but it will also provide you a much-needed understanding of life, in the most simplistic way. 

Should you read this book ?

Yes, absolutely. Don’t get intimidated by its must-read classic status, Because it will be a book to treasure for a lifetime.