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3.41 AVERAGE
3.41 AVERAGE
Going to be thinking about this for a while! it went wildly away from where I expected in the last 50 or so pages, to the better. This might be big in the spring - keep an eye out.
The Quality of Silence is one of the most beautiful books I’ve read in a long time. Just watching Ruby and Yasmin come to terms with so many things in themselves and each other fascinated me. Being constantly in danger of dying, with no one else to talk to, forces everyone to take a good hard look at themselves. While this book is probably technically a thriller, it’s the soul-searching that makes it lovely. I particularly love Ruby’s take on things, because it opened my eyes (and ears) to unusual pieces of beauty. The majority of the book is introspective, and yet it gripped me as thoroughly as any action-filled thriller. It’s a work of art.
The point of view can be a bit hard to follow sometimes. It follows the mother in third person, and the daughter in first. This is a great way to differentiate, but there wasn’t a consistent visual delineation between the two, and they went back and forth very frequently at times. Occasionally I had to back up to be sure of where the PoV changed.
Fracking is both a part of the setting and a part of the plot. For the most part there aren’t a lot of lectures on it, although the author clearly is anti-fracking. I’ll give her serious points for managing to work the one real lecture into the climactic thriller-portion scene without entirely derailing the pace. She came up with a brilliant reason why the characters would argue about the subject, even as action proceeds around them. It went a little far IMO, but I’m still impressed with how well it worked in general.
The story gets rather dark. The situation feels hopeless in places, and there were times when I just couldn’t figure out how on earth they’d get out of one fix or another. There’s one plot development that felt a tad too convenient, but not enough so as to disrupt my enjoyment.
I wholly recommend reading The Quality of Silence. It’s riveting, painfully beautiful, and filled with danger both man-made and natural.
NOTE: Review book provided free for review by publisher
Original review on my site: http://www.errantdreams.com/2016/02/review-the-quality-of-silence-rosamund-lupton/
The point of view can be a bit hard to follow sometimes. It follows the mother in third person, and the daughter in first. This is a great way to differentiate, but there wasn’t a consistent visual delineation between the two, and they went back and forth very frequently at times. Occasionally I had to back up to be sure of where the PoV changed.
Fracking is both a part of the setting and a part of the plot. For the most part there aren’t a lot of lectures on it, although the author clearly is anti-fracking. I’ll give her serious points for managing to work the one real lecture into the climactic thriller-portion scene without entirely derailing the pace. She came up with a brilliant reason why the characters would argue about the subject, even as action proceeds around them. It went a little far IMO, but I’m still impressed with how well it worked in general.
The story gets rather dark. The situation feels hopeless in places, and there were times when I just couldn’t figure out how on earth they’d get out of one fix or another. There’s one plot development that felt a tad too convenient, but not enough so as to disrupt my enjoyment.
I wholly recommend reading The Quality of Silence. It’s riveting, painfully beautiful, and filled with danger both man-made and natural.
NOTE: Review book provided free for review by publisher
Original review on my site: http://www.errantdreams.com/2016/02/review-the-quality-of-silence-rosamund-lupton/
I am not one to judge a book by its cover, but that is what first caught my attention when it comes to The Quality of Silence. At first glance, it looked like some kind of brightly lit altar in a snowy landscape. A closer look revealed it to be the bottom half of a truck, headlights illuminating an icy road, but leaving everything else to the imagination of the observer. And just like that, I was hooked.
The book begins with Yasmin and her daughter Ruby arriving at Fairbanks airport in Alaska. Yasmin is here to confront her husband Matt, a wildlife photographer, who she suspects is having an affair with an Inupiaq woman. Ruby wants to spend time with her father, exploring the Arctic wildlife and work on a blog that she and her father have decided to write together. They are met at the airport however, not by Matt, but by the police who tell Yasmin that Matt is dead. Anaktue, the village in which he is believed to have been staying, has been razed to the ground, all its residents dead and no survivors have been found. In spite of receiving proof in the form of Matt's wedding ring, recovered from among the ashes, Yasmin refuses to believe that her husband is dead. Afraid that her husband is out there somewhere in the Arctic winter, and frustrated that no one believes her enough to look for him, Yasmin sets out on a rescue mission, into an Arctic storm along with Ruby.
The rest of the book is a road trip peppered with increasingly troubling questions --is Matt really alive, or are Yasmin and Ruby in denial? How will they survive the hostile Arctic winter? Who is ending Yasmin pictures of dead Arctic animals and why? Who is stalking them in the cold and dark?
The book is a thoroughly chilling narrative, almost to the point of transforming into a physical sensation. The numbing cold is a theme that runs through the book, describing not only the weather, but also the "frozen" quality of the relationship between Matt and Yasmin; and the desolate chill that comes from being "alone" and misunderstood (in Ruby's case).
Most books in the genre require a suspension of disbelief, but one wonders if The Quality of Silence demands too much. It is difficult the accept that a mother would drag her child into such a dangerous situation or that driving an eighteen wheeler through a treacherous landscape is possible for an amateur guided purely by the "power of love". If one accepts these however, one embarks on a truly memorable adventure.
One sees the world in The Quality of Silence through two viewpoints- Yasmin's and Ruby's. Ruby's first person narratives are innocent and poetic. In the best traditions of books that use a child's voice, Ruby's perspective is unique and forces us adult readers to look at things we take for granted in a new way. Yasmin, in comparison to Ruby, seems a less "alive" character, but provides the "adult" perspective on a difficult situation. Dangers that Ruby is blissfully unaware of are hulking monsters in Yasmin's mind. What Yasmin believes is important for Ruby is what Ruby finds negating of her own existence. This contrast in POVs is interesting and makes a great scaffolding for the story.
The last three chapters seem a bit rushed after the long journey that the reader has just been on. It feels like breathing too fast after having held one's breath till one is blue in the face. However, this section answers all the questions and leaves no loose ends. It would have benefited from a slower, more graceful unraveling though.
Imagine a winter snowstorm, the wind whistling menacingly through the black heaviness outside. Rosamund Lupton's The Quality of Silence is the perfect read for such a night. As the time the storm rages, one has the warmth of a good story.
FTC disclaimer: I received this book from Blogging for Books for this honest review.
The book begins with Yasmin and her daughter Ruby arriving at Fairbanks airport in Alaska. Yasmin is here to confront her husband Matt, a wildlife photographer, who she suspects is having an affair with an Inupiaq woman. Ruby wants to spend time with her father, exploring the Arctic wildlife and work on a blog that she and her father have decided to write together. They are met at the airport however, not by Matt, but by the police who tell Yasmin that Matt is dead. Anaktue, the village in which he is believed to have been staying, has been razed to the ground, all its residents dead and no survivors have been found. In spite of receiving proof in the form of Matt's wedding ring, recovered from among the ashes, Yasmin refuses to believe that her husband is dead. Afraid that her husband is out there somewhere in the Arctic winter, and frustrated that no one believes her enough to look for him, Yasmin sets out on a rescue mission, into an Arctic storm along with Ruby.
The rest of the book is a road trip peppered with increasingly troubling questions --is Matt really alive, or are Yasmin and Ruby in denial? How will they survive the hostile Arctic winter? Who is ending Yasmin pictures of dead Arctic animals and why? Who is stalking them in the cold and dark?
The book is a thoroughly chilling narrative, almost to the point of transforming into a physical sensation. The numbing cold is a theme that runs through the book, describing not only the weather, but also the "frozen" quality of the relationship between Matt and Yasmin; and the desolate chill that comes from being "alone" and misunderstood (in Ruby's case).
Most books in the genre require a suspension of disbelief, but one wonders if The Quality of Silence demands too much. It is difficult the accept that a mother would drag her child into such a dangerous situation or that driving an eighteen wheeler through a treacherous landscape is possible for an amateur guided purely by the "power of love". If one accepts these however, one embarks on a truly memorable adventure.
One sees the world in The Quality of Silence through two viewpoints- Yasmin's and Ruby's. Ruby's first person narratives are innocent and poetic. In the best traditions of books that use a child's voice, Ruby's perspective is unique and forces us adult readers to look at things we take for granted in a new way. Yasmin, in comparison to Ruby, seems a less "alive" character, but provides the "adult" perspective on a difficult situation. Dangers that Ruby is blissfully unaware of are hulking monsters in Yasmin's mind. What Yasmin believes is important for Ruby is what Ruby finds negating of her own existence. This contrast in POVs is interesting and makes a great scaffolding for the story.
The last three chapters seem a bit rushed after the long journey that the reader has just been on. It feels like breathing too fast after having held one's breath till one is blue in the face. However, this section answers all the questions and leaves no loose ends. It would have benefited from a slower, more graceful unraveling though.
Imagine a winter snowstorm, the wind whistling menacingly through the black heaviness outside. Rosamund Lupton's The Quality of Silence is the perfect read for such a night. As the time the storm rages, one has the warmth of a good story.
FTC disclaimer: I received this book from Blogging for Books for this honest review.
This book was good, but I say that hesitatingly. The writing was razor sharp, and so specifically immersive. The characters were written vibrantly and honestly, so I wanted to follow them through their story (10-year old Ruby, whose deaf, is terrific). Lupton created incredible plot tension and suspense -- I read the majority of the book in just a few hours. The eco-consciousness was interesting and thought provoking
But...that suspenseful plot that made me keep reading was also unbelievable.
I'd recommend it, because it has so many strong points, and if you can get around implausibility (as we SO OFTEN DO to read anything), it's so enjoyable. However, if you can't get around circumstances that feel extraordinarily far-fetched, this could be a hard book to stomach. A beautiful astrophysicist (I did NOT like the beautiful-woman-as-plot-point thing) with a dead daughter drives across Alaskan ice roads in the middle of of a furious snowstorm? Tough.
I received a copy of this book through a Goodreads giveaway, FYI.
But...that suspenseful plot that made me keep reading was also unbelievable.
I'd recommend it, because it has so many strong points, and if you can get around implausibility (as we SO OFTEN DO to read anything), it's so enjoyable. However, if you can't get around circumstances that feel extraordinarily far-fetched, this could be a hard book to stomach. A beautiful astrophysicist (I did NOT like the beautiful-woman-as-plot-point thing) with a dead daughter drives across Alaskan ice roads in the middle of of a furious snowstorm? Tough.
I received a copy of this book through a Goodreads giveaway, FYI.
I'm a fan of Rosamund Lupton's previous novels Sister and Afterwards and have been anxiously awaiting a third novel for what feels like ages. Sadly, I'm of two minds about The Quality of Silence.
Lupton's newest novel is, just like the others, very well written. Her characters are carefully constructed, particularly Ruby who is deaf. The way she writes about the Alaskan landscape plonks you down right in the middle of one of the most isolating and unforgiving settings in the world. All of that? Brilliant. The final plot twist however? That left me a little shaky.
While the book was well written and had a very unique main character, the overall message of the book was a little preachy for me.
And here's where I have to get vague--I can't tell you what that preachy message is without giving away the end of the book and 'whodunnit'. What I will say is that I felt like Lupton had departed from her usual thriller style which I know and love and went kind of 'Green Party' on the whole thing at the end. A bit disappointing, but I'm sure The Quality of Silence will reach a whole new fan base.
Lupton's newest novel is, just like the others, very well written. Her characters are carefully constructed, particularly Ruby who is deaf. The way she writes about the Alaskan landscape plonks you down right in the middle of one of the most isolating and unforgiving settings in the world. All of that? Brilliant. The final plot twist however? That left me a little shaky.
While the book was well written and had a very unique main character, the overall message of the book was a little preachy for me.
And here's where I have to get vague--I can't tell you what that preachy message is without giving away the end of the book and 'whodunnit'. What I will say is that I felt like Lupton had departed from her usual thriller style which I know and love and went kind of 'Green Party' on the whole thing at the end. A bit disappointing, but I'm sure The Quality of Silence will reach a whole new fan base.
I've got to say, I was impressed by this book. I read her previous work [b:Sister|8196732|Sister|Rosamund Lupton|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1320189763s/8196732.jpg|13043611] and while it wasn't bad, I didn't think it was that great. I'm really glad I gave this one a shot as it has much improved my opinion of her work!
I think my favorite aspect of this novel was the author's sheer talent for descriptions of the setting. As I was reading I could have sworn I was trekking through the snow in Alaska with Yasmine and Ruby. The writing is beautiful and almost felt like poetry. This was a unique feeling for me that has taken time to process.
****** Possible spoiler in this next paragraph even though it is mentioned very early on******
I also really enjoyed the narration from Ruby's perspective as she is deaf. This added a whole other level of expert writing I felt and was very impressed with how this played into weaving the overall story together.
I also found myself holding my breath at times. I wouldn't call this novel "edge of your seat action and suspense", but it was a slow, steady building of terror. I could have sworn I felt a set of icing fingers wrapping around my neck while reading this; there was a creepiness and suspense that had a quiet power to it.
I don't really want to say much more; I'd rather you just read it yourself! What a beautiful, haunting read.
Thank you Netgalley for my copy in exchange for an honest and fair review.
I think my favorite aspect of this novel was the author's sheer talent for descriptions of the setting. As I was reading I could have sworn I was trekking through the snow in Alaska with Yasmine and Ruby. The writing is beautiful and almost felt like poetry. This was a unique feeling for me that has taken time to process.
****** Possible spoiler in this next paragraph even though it is mentioned very early on******
I also really enjoyed the narration from Ruby's perspective as she is deaf. This added a whole other level of expert writing I felt and was very impressed with how this played into weaving the overall story together.
I also found myself holding my breath at times. I wouldn't call this novel "edge of your seat action and suspense", but it was a slow, steady building of terror. I could have sworn I felt a set of icing fingers wrapping around my neck while reading this; there was a creepiness and suspense that had a quiet power to it.
I don't really want to say much more; I'd rather you just read it yourself! What a beautiful, haunting read.
Thank you Netgalley for my copy in exchange for an honest and fair review.
Not really a 'thriller', but a fairly nice enough read. Too bad the deaf girl is once more portrayed as very vulnerable, that theme is getting a bit old, although the emphasis on sign language and the fact that she's bright and funny are quite 'new'. Easy read, would recommend it if you're into very soft thrillers ;-)
The star of this story is Alaska-unrelenting dark, frigid,silent, cruel, lonely, vast, monochrome, perilous. So many adjectives. If only the story was about that. Other reviewers are spot on about the implausibility of events. Ridiculous. But I liked the deaf daughter perspective. Three and a half juddering stars