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mari_raquel's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
linusnc's review against another edition
5.0
5/5
The first book I’ve read based in Iowa I actually thought was solid throughout. Very good story and told very well. Really sad how some people treat children. It does have a positive ending :)
The first book I’ve read based in Iowa I actually thought was solid throughout. Very good story and told very well. Really sad how some people treat children. It does have a positive ending :)
rseykora's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
janaidebra's review against another edition
5.0
Amazing book! Pager turner from start to finish. Could barely put it down most days. This book keeps you on your toes with its story line and is absolute perfection in my opinion. Loved every single page of it.
annies1's review against another edition
5.0
Just one of the best books I've ever listened to. Very suspenseful and the characters are easy to identify with. I highly recommend it.
butterflymorbid's review against another edition
3.0
I went into The Weight of Silence with zero expectations. I found a copy of it on my living room bookshelf and couldn't remember where or when I got it and figured why not pick it for my first book of 2024?
I'm always intrigued by stories where the protagonist is selectively mute. I'm a fan of Laurie Halse Anderson and have read Speak and wondered if this would be similar but from a 7 year olds perspective. It is but isn't.
I'm not a fan of the back and forth timeline storytelling Gudenkauf presents. While I know it had a purpose giving backstory, it felt too packed into more important parts of the story and took away from the actual plot. I think that might just be a format preference.
The ending was unexpected in a decent way. The true culprit being a character briefly mentioned once should have been obvious but slipped past me. And the even more TRUE culprit being generational trauma and domestic violence for a book written in 2009 was interesting to read.
I'm always intrigued by stories where the protagonist is selectively mute. I'm a fan of Laurie Halse Anderson and have read Speak and wondered if this would be similar but from a 7 year olds perspective. It is but isn't.
I'm not a fan of the back and forth timeline storytelling Gudenkauf presents. While I know it had a purpose giving backstory, it felt too packed into more important parts of the story and took away from the actual plot. I think that might just be a format preference.
The ending was unexpected in a decent way. The true culprit being a character briefly mentioned once should have been obvious but slipped past me. And the even more TRUE culprit being generational trauma and domestic violence for a book written in 2009 was interesting to read.
evanf's review against another edition
4.0
This book is one of the few books I gave 5 stars to. It was, in two words, absolutely beautiful. It's been a while since I can hardly make my eyes move across the page fast enough. Reading some of the reviews on here, I see not everyone thought it was as awesome as I did, but for some reason, this book really 'spoke' to me.
The characters Ben and Petra especially touched my heart.
"You ran upstairs to your room and wouldn't even look at me for the next ten days. But I knew you were sorry. I kept finding Tootsie Rolls under my pillow every day for the next two weeks." This quote (and I suppose the whole scene) was my favourite)
Also, the scene where Calli first meets Petra and the two share a sandwhich and jump rope pulled at my heart.
The characters Ben and Petra especially touched my heart.
"You ran upstairs to your room and wouldn't even look at me for the next ten days. But I knew you were sorry. I kept finding Tootsie Rolls under my pillow every day for the next two weeks." This quote (and I suppose the whole scene) was my favourite)
Also, the scene where Calli first meets Petra and the two share a sandwhich and jump rope pulled at my heart.
tania_1975's review against another edition
4.0
I loved this book. Especially for a first novel. The characters are all likeable, especially the two girls. Its a really quick book to read and the chapters are really short. The only trouble with that is you find yourself wanting to read just one more then just one more when you are supposed to be sleeping.
I think fans of Diane Chamberlain and Jodi Picoult will like this book, as I am and did.
I think fans of Diane Chamberlain and Jodi Picoult will like this book, as I am and did.