Review: “Weight of Silence”
Regular readers of this blog, if there are such people, will know I often read books based on the recommendations of my family and friends. This one was suggested to me by my teenage daughter.
Understand, my kiddo and I have very different ideas when it comes to pleasure reading. Her tastes run more toward literature and chick lit. My taste, in case you haven’t noticed, run more toward the mystery genre. (By the way, I’m fortunate enough to have a kid who really does enjoy reading and discussing the things she learns from books.) Anyway, Weight of Silence was a book my daughter read and wanted me to read as well.
In the story Callie and Petra are typical 7-year-old best friends. Even more, though, Petra is literally Callie’s voice. Callie hasn’t spoken in years. Not even to explain why she won’t speak. Her reasoning is known to Callie and Callie alone. In typical little girl logic, however, Callie’s silence means nothing to Petra.
One night a parent’s worst nightmare comes true — for both families. The girls are missing.
In Gudenkauf’s debut novel, she keeps the suspense going in a way that the reader really doesn’t know what’s going to happen next. The action was fast-paced and easy to follow, even though the novel uses multiple points of view. Gudenkauf captures the feeling of the situation, as well as the emotions of the people involved in a way which seems realistic. (Hey, she portrayed exactly the emotions I expect I would have if such a tragedy befell my family.) The only criticism I have of the novel, is the multiple veiwpoints, though I’m not sure how Gudenkauf could have told the story as effectively using any other technique.
Gudenkauf also ties up all the “loose ends” of the story in a believable manner, so I don’t foresee a sequel to Weight of Silence.
In my opinion, the book is very literary, but Gudenkauf doesn’t speak “above” readers. I don’t think she even tried to make it a literary novel. There was a slight mystery in the story, but I wouldn’t classify the book in that genre, either.
If you’re looking for a well-written tale with a touch of mystery and a fair dose of the unexpected, pick up Weight of Silence. I warn you, however, that you may find yourself so engrossed in the tale that hours slip by before you realize it.
Blessings!
Nichole