Friday, July 8, 2011

Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane

*major spoilers ahead*


Oh you psychological thrillers of The Beautiful Mind and The Sixth Sense type, how I love the gymnastics you put my mind through. In Dennis Lehane's Shutter Island, I was so sure the story was going in the direction that was being played out on the pages in front of me that I didn't even flinch when the story took an *a-ha!* turn somewhere around the time Chuck disappears. No problem, says I. Teddy's suspicions of the institution's nefarious alter-intent is just coming to light, that's all. In another chapter or two, the doctors' hidden human-experiment lab will be discovered and all will be revealed. The two partners will escape on the ferry and return with the authorization they need to have the place shut down. Case closed. Sure, the holes and inconsistencies in the story are getting bigger, but -ehn- that's all part of the intrigue - probably be some more cool plot twists up ahead too. Even when things start to so obviously unravel, I still hold out for my theory. But then, the ending? The actual ending? *slapping own forehead* Of course!

5 comments:

Sam (Tiny Library) said...

I can never figure these types of books out. That's part of the fun of reading them though :)

(Diane) Bibliophile By the Sea said...

I thought the book and movie were pretty terrific. The setting just so atmospheric.

christa @ mental foodie said...

I almost stopped reading the book... but I am so glad I stuck with it because I LOVED the ending. Of course now the bar has raised, and I can't stand books with mediocre endings! Yep love the six sense ending too!

Tracy said...

I haven't read the book yet but I love the movie! Did I begin to realise things weren't as they seemed? Well, I didn't think Chuck was who he said he was from the beginning. And there were several signs in the movie that I did wonder about (trying not to spoil it) But I still didn't suspect quite that ending, but it certainly made perfect sense.

I'm going to read the book at some stage, but I need to try and forget the movie first.

Trish said...

tiny library - I'm always a little afraid of that too. When I started reading, I tried not to do too much analyzing and just let the story unfold. It came together really well!

diane - I was afraid to watch the movie when it first came out. It looks so creepy and trippy! But now that I've read the book I can't wait to run out and rent the movie. Yes, 'atmospheric' is the right word.

christa - the ending was good, wasn't it? I love it when authors tease my assumptions like that.

tracy - well, now I'm really curious about the movie! I want to see how they expose all those small subtle hints and details that something isn't right.