An excellent story

Well written and narrated, I look forward to listening to others by the same author.

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silence

I sat in silence after listening to this book.. very thought provoking. highly recommended read.

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A highlight

A thought-provoking tale based on real life Japanese history that has many layers and depth of meaning. It has long lasting appeal and the characters are very human and fleshed out. Good narrator too.

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excellent

loved it. very engaging. very good story, well told in a very minimalist execution. I'm looking forward to other books by the author.

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14 people found this helpful

decent

I enjoyed this but I felt like it fizzled out a bit at the end

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1 person found this helpful

Beautiful writing, powerful messages

So this book is like nothing I've read before. It's so quietly understated, and brings to bear so many complicated issues in a way that makes you wonder what you believe and why you believe it.

Its stark narrative style makes the (many) emotive passages so poignant, and without tending to melodrama, the effect is devastating and fascinating.

It's not going to be for everyone, for sure. The prose might feel a bit dry, the premise a bit strange, some of the descriptions too graphic, but for me, that's what makes this worth reading. I'll be back to read/listen again.

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5 people found this helpful

A Religious Quandry

**spoiler alert** An incredibly moving read, the novel sets up an intriguing contrast between the desire of missionaries to do good vs spread christianity in a way that I don't think has any bible based solution. The different characters demonstrate differences in their "weakness" from Kichijiro, to Garrpe with different issues of how they could have been good christians in another time without persecution, and why God would send such trials that the men and priests could not endure.

The titular Silence is interesting and the resolution of why God is silent is interesting as an interpretation. I was really reminded of 1984 in parts with the mental and physical tortures ongoing to change someone's ideology but that might just be because I recently read that book. The idea that Christianity didn't really take root in Japan because of their inability to understand the concepts of a God who is not human or of the earth is interesting but I can't seem to find any references to it outside of Silence.

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Silently haunting

A beautiful novel depicting a Jesuit priest who questions his faith after landing in Japan during the 17th century. It is a story with many temptations and plot twists set to test the priest to his limit. All around him, Christians fall to apostasy. A simple, yet touching tale.

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7 people found this helpful

Fascinating study of Faith

Would you consider the audio edition of Silence to be better than the print version?

Silly question.

Any additional comments?

Given the limited nature of the plot, it is a surprisingly pacey narrative. There is a good deal of reflection on the nature of the 'silence' of God. Now of course to me it is perfectly obvious why God is silent, as there isn't one, but for one who believes in an omniscient deity it must be very frustrating. This novel explores that psychological struggle brilliantly. The translation is a little bland at times, but you soon get used to it.

Nice neutral and unobtrusive reading.

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3 people found this helpful

A moving story about faith

Why is God silent when we suffer? What does it mean to serve God? The book deals with serious theological questions and is well worth the read!

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