The Librarian's Husband's Book Club discussion

Share your reviews or post-reading thoughts about the July book selection, Shutter Island.

Please make use of the spoilers function ([spoiler]...[/spoiler] but replace [] with <>) as appropriate to be sure we don't ruin parts of the book for others.

I gave it 5 stars. I liked how it kept me guessing. I listened to it through Libby, but also bought the Kindle version because I wanted to reread because I wonder if I will catch any of the things I didn't in listening. I was impressed.
Here is my review:
Not everything or even everyone is as it seems. Or maybe just stating plain intriguing. I could certainly see how people would want to read this book more than once. It kept me involved and guessing. The prologue really was a great way to start the story.

The characters were interesting and kept a great dialog going for the entire book. I can't even say who my favorite character was since they just all really added depth to the book.

I am a little surprised that this book is still available for reading. I would assume that too many people would find some things in this book as very offensive. I think the time when this book was set makes this story even more interesting. Mental health was still such a new concept. The practice in this book is very true and hard to understand.

Some language and sex/sexual encounters/innuendos. Trigger warnings of suicide/mental health.

I think this book is still appropriate for many people today. I am always amazed at how uneducated our society is about mental health. We still have this book on our list for book groups to use. In fact, my book group is requesting it for next year. Yes, there are some horrible parts --- but I am a believer of facing our fears, facing our realities. When we face them, they are less fearsome. And sometimes, when reality hits us in the face, we have less fear because we have read/seen/experienced something like this before. peace, janz

That's a very good point. I agree that it is very relevant and it was super engaging for me.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...


I may have grumbled about this choice in the beginning, but I take it back. Thank you for choosing it, book friends!

@Lori i had the same reservations when it was selected. I am hoping to finish out with a similar review as you!

OK - please let me know when we can discuss the final section of the book. I have questions but they could be spoilers. This is one of my favorite books. peace, janz

I just finished the book. I’m not sure what the reality truly is but it’s a great book. Know that the mind is very powerful! I will be watching the movie this weekend.

I’m listening to it on Libby as well. It’s good. But is the book better

@julie i plan to rewatch it after finishing too! Had you seen it before reading the book?

@devon
Yes, I read the book many years ago and also saw the movie also many years ago. I had forgotten many of the details.

@julie same. Now as i reread, I question if i even watched the movie! Lol not entirely how I remember it going

I loved how easily this one read. I was a little discouraged initially that it was going to be a complicated read but DL read as easy as a cozy beach read. Thanks to this group, I’ve tried a new author that i will definitely be reading more from.


https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Do not answer until you have finished reading the book. I have no idea what the movie is. But this has been a puzzle for years and I have probably read the book 4 or 5 times.

Is this book twisted at the end? What happened to his partner?
OK -- who is speaking at the end? The officer who went to check on the prisoner or the actual prisoner? Who is left behind bars?

peace, janz

I thoroughly enjoyed the book and glad it was selected. I gave it 5 stars. Review: (view spoiler)[ Dennis Lehane’s Shutter Island is a masterful exploration of the human psyche, delving deep into the complexities of mental illness. The narrative is meticulously crafted, with subtle hints of Teddy’s possible delusional behavior woven throughout the story, keeping readers on edge and questioning reality at every turn.
One of the most compelling aspects of the book is the character of Chuck. From the beginning, there are subtle clues that he might be a hallucination, but the revelation that he is actually Dr. Sheehan is a brilliant twist that adds layers to the story. This twist is both surprising and satisfying, making readers rethink everything they thought they knew about the characters and their motivations.
Teddy’s character is equally intriguing. The ambiguity surrounding his identity—whether he is a ghost, a patient, or something else entirely—adds a haunting quality to the narrative. The tragic backstory of his wife’s death and the eerie prologue by Dr. Sheehan set the stage for a psychological thriller that is as emotionally gripping as it is intellectually stimulating.
The mystery of Andrew Laeddis and the bizarre experiments in the lighthouse add to the book’s unsettling atmosphere. These elements seem outlandish at first, but they are cleverly tied into the plot, enhancing the sense of paranoia and distrust. The moment when Teddy is given medicine by Dr. Cawley for a migraine is a pivotal point, revealing the truth about his status as a patient and solidifying the book’s theme of blurred realities.
Adding to the intrigue are the unusual clues left by Rachel Solando. Her enigmatic messages and strange behavior serve as breadcrumbs leading Teddy deeper into the labyrinth of Shutter Island’s mysteries. These clues not only heighten the suspense but also contribute to the overall sense of disorientation and uncertainty that permeates the novel.
In Shutter Island, Teddy Daniels, whose real name is Andrew Laeddis, is revealed to be a patient at the psychiatric facility on Shutter Island. The doctors at the hospital, including Dr. Cawley and Dr. Sheehan, use an elaborate role-playing game to help Andrew confront his traumatic past and accept the reality of his actions.
The book alludes to the possibility of Andrew undergoing a lobotomy if he cannot be rehabilitated. This procedure was often used at the time as a last resort for patients with severe mental illnesses. However, the story leaves some ambiguity about Andrew’s fate. In the end, he asks whether it would be “better to live as a monster or die as a good man,” suggesting that he might choose death over living with his guilt and trauma.
The ending is open to interpretation, and some readers believe that Andrew might have chosen to die as a good man, while others think he might have been lobotomized. The ambiguity is intentional, leaving readers to ponder the true outcome. (hide spoiler)]