(72) The Weight of Silence by Heather Gudenkauf

Saturday, August 29, 2009

It has been a while since I have read a book where the title of the book really made a statement about the story told within it's pages. The Weight of Silence is very, very descriptive of the story the the author tells. Selective mute, Calli Clark has the weight of that silence on her little seven year old shoulders.

Callie has chosen to remain silent since she was four and she witnessed a tragic event that took place in her home. But make no mistake, just because she chooses not to speak, does not mean that she can not communicate. Calli has found a voice in her best friend, Petra. When the two of them come up missing their small community takes to the woods of eastern Iowa to try to find them.

The Weight Of Silence was a good book. I won't say it was a great book or one of the best books of the year, but it was just okay. The author, Heather Gudenkauf, wrote her book in the style of Jodi Picoult and Diane Chamberlain. Each chapter represents a different character's viewpoint. There is a Readers Guide included in the book for Book Club's, but honestly it is not a book I would choose for a selection. I just can't see much conversation being generated from what happens in the book.

The Weight of Silence was a fast read, but it wasn't a real engaging read. It doesn't generate a lot of emotion in the reader. I liked that the book was set in Iowa and I caught a few references to Iowa "landmarks" hidden in the story. It was an okay read, not a great read. Passable for a lazy afternoon read.

Latest Instagrams

© Charlotte's Web of Books. Design by FCD.