Helpful Score: 2
Having read and loved Lupton's previous books, Sister and Afterwards (both of which I rated A+/five stars), I looked forward to The Quality of Silence with a great deal of anticipation. I am sorry to say that, although parts of Lupton's third book shine, it was a bit of a disappointment.
First and foremost, it seems to have a bit of an identity crisis. Is it a thriller, or is it a character study? Lupton's writing of driving an eighteen-wheeler through Alaska's endless night in blizzard conditions while being followed by some maniac is not up to her best, but it is good. What spoils the thriller aspect of her book for me is the character study part. Quite frankly, I wanted to lock Yasmin up and throw away the key. Anyone, man or woman, who would put their ten-year-old deaf child in the kind of danger that Yasmin does... well, it just beggars belief. I disliked Yasmin so much that I had an extremely difficult time buying into the story.
Lupton has some very important and interesting things to say about fracking, which plays a large role in the book. but for me the only time The Quality of Silence truly shines is when we listen to ten-year-old Ruby. Ruby is the true star of this book, and any time I was allowed to read this child's unique take on the world around her was a treat. Lupton has an interesting premise for this book, but her execution is uneven. If you want to read some truly beautiful writing, I would suggest her previous books, Sister and Afterwards.
First and foremost, it seems to have a bit of an identity crisis. Is it a thriller, or is it a character study? Lupton's writing of driving an eighteen-wheeler through Alaska's endless night in blizzard conditions while being followed by some maniac is not up to her best, but it is good. What spoils the thriller aspect of her book for me is the character study part. Quite frankly, I wanted to lock Yasmin up and throw away the key. Anyone, man or woman, who would put their ten-year-old deaf child in the kind of danger that Yasmin does... well, it just beggars belief. I disliked Yasmin so much that I had an extremely difficult time buying into the story.
Lupton has some very important and interesting things to say about fracking, which plays a large role in the book. but for me the only time The Quality of Silence truly shines is when we listen to ten-year-old Ruby. Ruby is the true star of this book, and any time I was allowed to read this child's unique take on the world around her was a treat. Lupton has an interesting premise for this book, but her execution is uneven. If you want to read some truly beautiful writing, I would suggest her previous books, Sister and Afterwards.
Helpful Score: 1
I was really excited to know that I had won this particular book in a Give-Away sponsored by The Reading Room. This is a new author to me and I've heard so many good things about her other books.
Yasmin's husband, Matt, is in the Alaskan wilderness and is reported as dead after a catastrophic fire in the small village where he was staying. Along with her young deaf daughter, Ruby, she makes the trip herself .... but Yasmin refuses to believe that he is dead.
The two of them decide to go look for themselves and brave a vicious snow storm to find the answers they want. But somewhere along the way, they discover the someone doesn't want them looking ... or finding ... what really happened.
What I really, really liked about this book is the wonderfully descriptive words. Living in Arizona, I don't get a lot of snow or cold weather .. actually, I get none. The author's words sent me to the closet for a blanket ... and I actually wore a pair of socks to bed. I may hang onto this one and re-read it this coming summer when it's 120 degrees out.
As far as this being a thriller ... I did not find it thrilling at all. The pacing was rather slow. It seemed to be more about the relationships between Matt, Jasmine, and Ruby. Yes, there was a crime where people were killed, but the characters were so remote, it felt more like something you read in the newspaper.
The three main characters were okay... but it was Ruby who was the star. Living in a world of silence, she sees and feels and 'hears' things that most of us never do. She was captivating and I was hoping she would have a happy ending.
I would have rated this one at 3.5 ... but because of Ruby, I gave it a 4.
My thanks to the author and The Reading Room who furnished an ARC. I was only asked to give a review if I chose and since I did choose to review, this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
Yasmin's husband, Matt, is in the Alaskan wilderness and is reported as dead after a catastrophic fire in the small village where he was staying. Along with her young deaf daughter, Ruby, she makes the trip herself .... but Yasmin refuses to believe that he is dead.
The two of them decide to go look for themselves and brave a vicious snow storm to find the answers they want. But somewhere along the way, they discover the someone doesn't want them looking ... or finding ... what really happened.
What I really, really liked about this book is the wonderfully descriptive words. Living in Arizona, I don't get a lot of snow or cold weather .. actually, I get none. The author's words sent me to the closet for a blanket ... and I actually wore a pair of socks to bed. I may hang onto this one and re-read it this coming summer when it's 120 degrees out.
As far as this being a thriller ... I did not find it thrilling at all. The pacing was rather slow. It seemed to be more about the relationships between Matt, Jasmine, and Ruby. Yes, there was a crime where people were killed, but the characters were so remote, it felt more like something you read in the newspaper.
The three main characters were okay... but it was Ruby who was the star. Living in a world of silence, she sees and feels and 'hears' things that most of us never do. She was captivating and I was hoping she would have a happy ending.
I would have rated this one at 3.5 ... but because of Ruby, I gave it a 4.
My thanks to the author and The Reading Room who furnished an ARC. I was only asked to give a review if I chose and since I did choose to review, this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
Stunning poetry weaves itself through totally engaging prose. Layers of the subtle tension of imagined dangers push in against the hammering tension of immediate and very real ones. And then there is the gift of experiencing it all through the eyes and beautiful wisdom of a deaf child. I've already ordered Lupton's other novels and am grateful I discovered her through this one.
I totally enjoyed the Alaskan snow descriptions. I loved the plot, the scenery described and man I love Alaska.
I also saw being Deaf from a different perspective and it really gave me thinking pause.
Ruby and her mom are going against what everyone thinks and head into the Arctic circle to find her dad. Though its come through the wire that her dad was killed in an explosion along with many others in a village. Ruby does not believe her dad is dead. Her mom refuses to accept his demise. So they follow a dangerous path and set out to find him, though he could be anywhere in the white expanse. While traveling in a rig they hit a huge snow storm and start noticing headlights behind them, realizing they are being followed by someone. This was the part I really enjoyed. Surviving in that tractor trailer. I enjoyed this book a lot! Super surprise ending.
I also saw being Deaf from a different perspective and it really gave me thinking pause.
Ruby and her mom are going against what everyone thinks and head into the Arctic circle to find her dad. Though its come through the wire that her dad was killed in an explosion along with many others in a village. Ruby does not believe her dad is dead. Her mom refuses to accept his demise. So they follow a dangerous path and set out to find him, though he could be anywhere in the white expanse. While traveling in a rig they hit a huge snow storm and start noticing headlights behind them, realizing they are being followed by someone. This was the part I really enjoyed. Surviving in that tractor trailer. I enjoyed this book a lot! Super surprise ending.
