Dealing with Impossibility Pt. 2, the Circles of Possibilities

Every reader has inevitably experienced the painful, seemingly endless feeling of being in a reading slump, whether they haven’t been able to find time or simply just don’t feel like it. I recently found myself deeply encased in this position, overworked by the pressures of IB and reaching for my phone every chance I got. Therefore, I took it upon myself one weekend to find a fast paced psychological thriller (a trustworthy genre in my opinion) that could easily be finished over the span of a couple nights. I came across exactly what I was looking for in the novel “Behind Closed Doors” and this article will explain all you need to know about it!

“Behind Closed Doors” is primarily about the lives of a seemingly perfect couple - except, perfect doesn’t really exist, does it? The story is navigated through the voice of Grace Harrington, a devoted and loving housewife who slowly reveals what her life with her husband, Jack Angel, is truly like. We learn about the different responsibilities she is burdened with, one of which is taking care of Millie, her sister who was unfortunately diagnosed with down syndrome. As the story progresses, meager problems unfold and soon enough, the narrative fully exposes Jack’s sadistic, merciless behaviour and unmasks his true intentions behind the sudden marriage. With Jack being an esteemed human rights lawyer and Grace portraying a cheerful, gorgeous housewife, no one surrounding the couple suspected a thing, that is until Esther came along and befriended them. Eventually, after seeing Esther expressing her skepticism and seeing Millie’s life threatened, Grace makes a drastic decision about her relationship and we’re taken through her reasons for how and why.

Although I didn’t find the writing as eloquent as some other books, I was engrossed by the central ideas which were explored within the novel, particularly the themes of fear and perfection in the context of larger global concerns like domestic violence and abuse in relationships. The author emphasises how oblivious everyone really was, highlighting the reality of how difficult it is to identify people stuck in these terrible situations and raising awareness of the potential signs. While I do think I’ve got a tough stomach with most things, I’ll admit there were times where I was appalled by the inhumanity and sheer brutality portrayed and I was definitely taken aback to see the extent of which a situation like Grace’s could change someone’s life.

The story also outlines the struggles following having a condition like down syndrome, giving us opportunity to hear ‘firsthand’ experience of someone who has been impacted by it, a relatable situation for many, but also shows us that having a condition doesn’t determine our capabilities. I definitely felt myself getting attached to Millie and admiring her more than anything else, which was an eye opener as I feel I subconsciously underestimated her due to her condition. In time though, the book really allowed Millie’s character to flower in a beautiful way and I believe it’s crucial for everyone, especially teenagers, to ensure they aren’t instilled with a negative mindset towards those who are different. I was particularly impressed by how this novel managed to condense the concept of mental illness as well, showing a completely different area than the usual topics included in novels for young adults, which usually discusses more frequent issues (e.g. anxiety, depression). While I certainly hope not to run into a psychopath who wants to hurt me, it was quite thrilling to analyse and deconstruct the behaviour of one through the protection of the pages!

Overall, I fully encourage everyone who’s interested in any thrillers and appreciate feeling a tiny bit disturbed. I can assure you this book will keep you on your toes at all times and is a fairly easy read which can be completed over a short time span. With the intricate details to support larger ideas and convey different themes, this novel is 100% worth the read - prepare to talk about it nonstop!

Key quotes:

“I can’t help thinking it’s a shame he’s such a sadistic bastard, because he has wonderful manners.”

“I look around at everybody laughing and joking together and struggle to understand my life has become a living hell that nobody present could even begin to imagine”

“When I look at him I feel dismayed as I always do at how normal he looks, because surely there should be something--pointed ears or a pair of horns--to warn people of his evilness.”

“Pretending to be broken would be much harder, simply because it was in my nature to fight back.”

“Fear,’ he whispered. ‘There is nothing quite like it. I love how it looks, I love how it feels, I love how it smells. And I especially love the sound of it.’ I felt his tongue on my cheek. ‘I even love the taste of it”