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reasek's review against another edition
4.0
I wouldn't call this book a quick or easy read, but it definitely engrossed me enough that I read it quite quickly. The story is heartbreaking, but it doesn't focus so much on the tragedy of the war as the life afterwards. The guilt, the secrets, and how to deal with the choices made under intense pressure. I loved it.
shanisol's review
4.0
It is our stories that live on. Nadya's story comes together through her past choices, her regrets, her heritage, and her family. It is well done, though occasionally the building of tension is a little too self-conscious. I still thoroughly enjoyed the book - 4.5 stars.
papercuts1's review
5.0
(to read this review in German, go to www.buchstapelweise.wordpress.com)
I came to this audiobook via the tweets of the narrator herself, Xe Sands, while she was recording THE SILENCE OF TREES. The quotes were touching, mysterious, poetic. And Xe's voice, which I know from other occasions, was a very promising fit for the story. So I decided to buy the audiobook from iambik.com. (btw, they were extremely helpful when I messed up the first download attempt – great service, also for non-US customers like me!).
THE SILENCE OF TREES turned out to be a wonderful choice. It is one of those stories that are woven like a quilt. The ones that sweep you up, take you on a journey. The central element is not the plot itself – if you want to call the mystery surrounding the empty envelope a 'plot', that is. There IS a plot in the part of the book that takes place in the present, but it's sidelined for large stretches while, instead, Nadya's past is being pieced together, like a puzzle.
And that past is rich: There is little Nadya growing up in a poor family in the Ukraine; the traumatic loss of her parents and sibling; her ensuing time in Germany, first as a forced laborer, then in a displaced persons camp; her emigration to the USA – piece by piece and in a first person narration, Nadya retells her life, introducing us to the remarkable people who've crossed her path, and to those she loves.
And, over and over, that journey is defined by pain and loss, and also by guilt that Nadya places on herself. Out of fear, she changes her family name, leaving it behind in Europe. She hides the fate of her family even from her own husband – the troubled, surprising Pavlo. And there's something else she hides from him – a desperate, guilt-ridden decision that she makes in the camp in Germany.
When the story shifts from her memories to present-day Chicago, we meet Nadya's own children, grandchildren and even great-grandchildren. That's a lot of people, and the names and relations remain confusing for quite a while. I found it difficult to understand who belongs with whom and to which generation. It took me half the book to sort everyone out – the only flaw I could find in the audiobook.
Together, under Nadya's lead, the large family keeps their Ukrainian heritage and traditions alive. House spirits need to be appeased, ancestors have to be included into celebrations, and traditional dishes from the Ukraine are served on holidays, to the sound of old fairy tales and legends.
As adamant as Nadya is about keeping he painful aspects of her past a secret – she's deeply rooted in the folklore, mythology and traditions of her people. One feels her wistfulness, her pain, but also the strength Nadya gathers from holding on to her roots. Her past, just as much as it is her wound, is also her anchor.
Her daughter Katya and her granddaughter Lessia stir at these wounds, urging her to open up about the past. Pressure increases when Lessia starts dating a young man of German ancestry and an important figure from Nadya's own past suddenly reappears in her life. And then, once again, the gypsy's prophecy turns into reality. Again, Nadya is faced with loss – and the decision to either be broken by it or move on, into the future.
There is SO much packed into this journey that Nadya takes us on– pride, grief, love, prejudice, hate and friendship. Lectures on the bitterness of life and the inexorability of the people. Old wisdom encrypted in fairy-tales and stories and dreams. Rituals we cling to in times of turmoil. And one of the main themes is the connection between past, present and future. It's about holding on to the things that make you strong and letting go of the ones that pull you down.
In several aspects, THE SILENCE OF TREES reminded me of THE TIGER'S WIFE by Tea Obreht. Both books focus on stories and memories, deeply entwined with their respective folklore and culture. Both waive a linear, stringent plot in favor of these 'stories' (although Lupescu eventually and bravely returns to her storyline and leads it to a convincing ending). Both are 'slow' books, requiring breaks to process. These are not books to burn through. In terms of language, both novels are somberly sensual and poetic.
Bottom line:
THE SILENCE OF TREES is one of those books into whose hands you need to give yourself, surrendering to its themes, structure and texture. Readers/listeners interested in other cultures and history will immerse themselves in and learn a lot from it. Complex characters (above all, Nadya) and their development are the heart of this novel and touch at the reader's own experiences and emotions. Lupescu's language is that of clear poetry, perfectly relayed by the narrator.
Those expecting a swift, linear storyline with a clear-cut structure and easily categorized characters will be disappointed. To them, THE SILENCE OF TREES will appear dragging, confusing and poor in plot and action. This is not their book.
For me, personally, this audiobook was a very emotional ride and a deep experience. It made me think, it made me smirk and it also made me cry. In comparison, the thriller I began reading right after, although being really good, felt like an empty shell.
The narrator:
Xe Sands was born for this kind of story. Her voice embodies mystery, broken emotionality and gravitas. When she narrates an audiobook, she endows every sentence with depth and weight. Which doesn't mean she can't convey lightheartedness! Just look at Lessia and the cheerful power of youth she radiates, courtesy of Xe. But Nadya, with her seventy plus years, can't be narrated without a certain weight. Xe Sands wonderfully manages to equip her with toughness and matriarchal authority in the dialogues whereas, during the introspective passages and memories, she lets her appear very soft and vulnerable.
I highly recommend Xe Sands to anyone with a taste for intense narration. She always brings sensuality and drama to a book and modulates her voice accordingly. Also, she is one of those narrators who pay a lot of attention to the authenticity of accents and dialect without ever exaggerating.
And, last but not least, Xe is very active on twitter (@xesands). Tweeting back and forth with her while listening to THE SILENCE OF TREES made this listen an intensive and very special audiobook experience.
I came to this audiobook via the tweets of the narrator herself, Xe Sands, while she was recording THE SILENCE OF TREES. The quotes were touching, mysterious, poetic. And Xe's voice, which I know from other occasions, was a very promising fit for the story. So I decided to buy the audiobook from iambik.com. (btw, they were extremely helpful when I messed up the first download attempt – great service, also for non-US customers like me!).
THE SILENCE OF TREES turned out to be a wonderful choice. It is one of those stories that are woven like a quilt. The ones that sweep you up, take you on a journey. The central element is not the plot itself – if you want to call the mystery surrounding the empty envelope a 'plot', that is. There IS a plot in the part of the book that takes place in the present, but it's sidelined for large stretches while, instead, Nadya's past is being pieced together, like a puzzle.
And that past is rich: There is little Nadya growing up in a poor family in the Ukraine; the traumatic loss of her parents and sibling; her ensuing time in Germany, first as a forced laborer, then in a displaced persons camp; her emigration to the USA – piece by piece and in a first person narration, Nadya retells her life, introducing us to the remarkable people who've crossed her path, and to those she loves.
And, over and over, that journey is defined by pain and loss, and also by guilt that Nadya places on herself. Out of fear, she changes her family name, leaving it behind in Europe. She hides the fate of her family even from her own husband – the troubled, surprising Pavlo. And there's something else she hides from him – a desperate, guilt-ridden decision that she makes in the camp in Germany.
When the story shifts from her memories to present-day Chicago, we meet Nadya's own children, grandchildren and even great-grandchildren. That's a lot of people, and the names and relations remain confusing for quite a while. I found it difficult to understand who belongs with whom and to which generation. It took me half the book to sort everyone out – the only flaw I could find in the audiobook.
Together, under Nadya's lead, the large family keeps their Ukrainian heritage and traditions alive. House spirits need to be appeased, ancestors have to be included into celebrations, and traditional dishes from the Ukraine are served on holidays, to the sound of old fairy tales and legends.
As adamant as Nadya is about keeping he painful aspects of her past a secret – she's deeply rooted in the folklore, mythology and traditions of her people. One feels her wistfulness, her pain, but also the strength Nadya gathers from holding on to her roots. Her past, just as much as it is her wound, is also her anchor.
Her daughter Katya and her granddaughter Lessia stir at these wounds, urging her to open up about the past. Pressure increases when Lessia starts dating a young man of German ancestry and an important figure from Nadya's own past suddenly reappears in her life. And then, once again, the gypsy's prophecy turns into reality. Again, Nadya is faced with loss – and the decision to either be broken by it or move on, into the future.
There is SO much packed into this journey that Nadya takes us on– pride, grief, love, prejudice, hate and friendship. Lectures on the bitterness of life and the inexorability of the people. Old wisdom encrypted in fairy-tales and stories and dreams. Rituals we cling to in times of turmoil. And one of the main themes is the connection between past, present and future. It's about holding on to the things that make you strong and letting go of the ones that pull you down.
In several aspects, THE SILENCE OF TREES reminded me of THE TIGER'S WIFE by Tea Obreht. Both books focus on stories and memories, deeply entwined with their respective folklore and culture. Both waive a linear, stringent plot in favor of these 'stories' (although Lupescu eventually and bravely returns to her storyline and leads it to a convincing ending). Both are 'slow' books, requiring breaks to process. These are not books to burn through. In terms of language, both novels are somberly sensual and poetic.
Bottom line:
THE SILENCE OF TREES is one of those books into whose hands you need to give yourself, surrendering to its themes, structure and texture. Readers/listeners interested in other cultures and history will immerse themselves in and learn a lot from it. Complex characters (above all, Nadya) and their development are the heart of this novel and touch at the reader's own experiences and emotions. Lupescu's language is that of clear poetry, perfectly relayed by the narrator.
Those expecting a swift, linear storyline with a clear-cut structure and easily categorized characters will be disappointed. To them, THE SILENCE OF TREES will appear dragging, confusing and poor in plot and action. This is not their book.
For me, personally, this audiobook was a very emotional ride and a deep experience. It made me think, it made me smirk and it also made me cry. In comparison, the thriller I began reading right after, although being really good, felt like an empty shell.
The narrator:
Xe Sands was born for this kind of story. Her voice embodies mystery, broken emotionality and gravitas. When she narrates an audiobook, she endows every sentence with depth and weight. Which doesn't mean she can't convey lightheartedness! Just look at Lessia and the cheerful power of youth she radiates, courtesy of Xe. But Nadya, with her seventy plus years, can't be narrated without a certain weight. Xe Sands wonderfully manages to equip her with toughness and matriarchal authority in the dialogues whereas, during the introspective passages and memories, she lets her appear very soft and vulnerable.
I highly recommend Xe Sands to anyone with a taste for intense narration. She always brings sensuality and drama to a book and modulates her voice accordingly. Also, she is one of those narrators who pay a lot of attention to the authenticity of accents and dialect without ever exaggerating.
And, last but not least, Xe is very active on twitter (@xesands). Tweeting back and forth with her while listening to THE SILENCE OF TREES made this listen an intensive and very special audiobook experience.
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