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A review by onmalsshelf
Silence Is a Sense by Layla AlAmmar
challenging
emotional
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Thank you Algonquin Books and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Forgive me if this review doesn't seem to give Silence is a Sense justice, but I'm finding it difficult to find words for how much I love this book. Silence is a Sense is remarkable. Both lyrical and brutal, I found myself being pulled into the story at every turn. I don't know if I can even think of the last time I read a book that gave me such a sense of place and emotion.
Be aware that it does cover hard topics and comes with some content warnings as the narrator, whom we are introduced to as a Syrian refugee writing under the pseudonym, 'The Voiceless', shares both non-fiction and fictional depictions on her life in Syria and her journey to England from war-torn Syria. As she watches her neighbors from her windows while having little to no communication with them as she has chosen to be mute, several events concerning her neighbors and her neighborhood lead her to finally find her voice again.
Please, please consider picking up this book because it deserves to be widely read. The fact that Layla AlAmmar packed so much into under 300 pages is astounding. This book - and Layla AlAmmar - deserve the world and I hope it is nominated for awards. I'll be reading her other works soon because I have a feeling she'll now be one of my favorite authors.
Forgive me if this review doesn't seem to give Silence is a Sense justice, but I'm finding it difficult to find words for how much I love this book. Silence is a Sense is remarkable. Both lyrical and brutal, I found myself being pulled into the story at every turn. I don't know if I can even think of the last time I read a book that gave me such a sense of place and emotion.
Be aware that it does cover hard topics and comes with some content warnings as the narrator, whom we are introduced to as a Syrian refugee writing under the pseudonym, 'The Voiceless', shares both non-fiction and fictional depictions on her life in Syria and her journey to England from war-torn Syria. As she watches her neighbors from her windows while having little to no communication with them as she has chosen to be mute, several events concerning her neighbors and her neighborhood lead her to finally find her voice again.
Please, please consider picking up this book because it deserves to be widely read. The fact that Layla AlAmmar packed so much into under 300 pages is astounding. This book - and Layla AlAmmar - deserve the world and I hope it is nominated for awards. I'll be reading her other works soon because I have a feeling she'll now be one of my favorite authors.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Islamophobia, Self harm, Racism, Racial slurs, Physical abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Hate crime, and Domestic abuse