Page 3 of 3
There are currently 21 member reviews
for The Silent Period
-
Holly B. (Phoenix, AZ)
Silent Implosion
This is one of the best translations I've read. Oklap's Italian to English is nuanced and seamless. Unfortunately, I did not enjoy the story itself as much as the translation.
In the story, twenty-eight year old Cristina longs for solitude and silence. After quitting social media, she is still tired of sharing information about herself with others, even verbally, so she decides to stop talking for good. She carefully plans her silence by explaining to her best friend, making up a story about laryngitis to her boss at work, scaring off her boyfriend, and preparing her parents.
It's an interesting premise, but unfortunately, I found it mostly dull and depressing. I was never truly clear on Cristina's why. Maybe if I could relate more to that I would have connected more. Told through Christina's POV, long passages of banal narration of her actions, thoughts as she putters around her apartment, and observations of those around her create a flat narrative arc. She accomplishes her goal of displeasing others, becoming invisible and silent. To those who care about her, she seems to be self annihilating.
I would add Silent Period to a growing list of books about women who self-destruct, who transform into weaker versions of themselves. I would recommend it to those who enjoyed My Year of Rest and Relaxation and The Coin.
-
Kay D. (Strongsville, OH)
Challenging Read with Nuggets of
Not one of my favorite reads. Overall it was a difficult read for me and I found it hard to keep with reading. Some of the writing is excellent, Some great observations of human behavior and some quotable text, The premise of a "silent period" was interesting, but I did not like the main character Cristina so often had trouble with her choices and modes of fulfilling those choices, I tended to lean towards her as having a mental decline rather than a choice for choosing silence. My favorite quote, "I'm beginning to think that the problem with humanity is that stupid people are full of words, while intelligent people are full of doubt." is a sample of when the writing was insightful and brilliant. This could be a good book for a book club as it has lots for discussion. I suspect this is one of those books that could reveal more upon a second or third read at a later date.
-
Kalyn M
The Silent Period Review
The Silent Period is an interesting book with a unique idea. The writing is clear and thoughtful, and it makes you think about communication, connection, and being alone. I didn't love every part, but it kept my attention enough to finish, and I'm glad I read it. People who like quiet, character-focused stories might enjoy it.
-
Toby G. (Chapel Hill, NC)
Yawn
I regret to say that this book was very difficult to catch my interest or attention and hence had to close it with the certainty that I will never open it again. Intelligent writing but very dull writing..
-
Kathryn W. (Weatherly, PA)
A disappointing read
I was initially excited to receive this book for review as I found the subject intriguing. Unfortunately, The Silent Period turned out to be a disappointing read. There was not a clear understanding of the character's motive behind her decision to stop talking, and because of this there seemed no point to her actions. Although I finished the book it did not hold my interest and I found it difficult to remain engaged with the character and the storyline. I do not feel that I could recommend this book to anyone I know.
-
Margot P. (Mandeville, LA)
Misses the mark
If you are going to write a first person novel about a descent into mental illness, the reader needs more information as to what is triggering it. Long, rambling paragraphs were just boring because I was never developed any empathy for Christina. Seems like a very good translation so can't blame the dullness of the book on that.
-
Kathy W. (Clarion, PA)
Not for me
I received "The Silent Period" by Francesca Manfredi (translatedby Ekin Oklap) as an Advanced Reading Copy from BookBrowse. It was hard to finish, but I did. this book was just not for me. I didn't like any of the characters, most especially Cristina. The premise was different, but more might have been done to make it more interesting. I can see it being interpreted in different ways. I chose to see it as a journey through mental illness. That was the only way I could accept Cristina's ambivalence to the worry she caused her family and friends.
I didn't like this book, but I hope it is a good read for others.
