jacinta_almeida's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
The narrative possesses a deep meaning to the Sakoku as well as the history of Jesus Christ.
As Portuguese myself, this part of Japanese history is blended with the other more relevant discoveries of the Golden Age of Portugal. As such, we forget the pressure which we place in other cultures without we even understanding them.
Despite the characters not being real, they are based on true Portuguese and Japanese people, which they die to defend the fine line between selfish love to ourselves or the love to something grater like God and Jesus. The tenue difference is somewhat hard to explain, and the book explains that (mainly in chapters 8, 9, and 10).
As Portuguese myself, this part of Japanese history is blended with the other more relevant discoveries of the Golden Age of Portugal. As such, we forget the pressure which we place in other cultures without we even understanding them.
Despite the characters not being real, they are based on true Portuguese and Japanese people, which they die to defend the fine line between selfish love to ourselves or the love to something grater like God and Jesus. The tenue difference is somewhat hard to explain, and the book explains that (mainly in chapters 8, 9, and 10).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture
Moderate: Colonisation
thelizardqueen's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
A masterpiece. An excellent example of epistolary fiction. Raises crucial questions of faith and international influence. A must for students of Asian history.
readindigo's review against another edition
4.0
Made me question elements of my faith that I have never looked in the face. I would recommend it.
yawningtiger's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
wydra's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
izzymark's review against another edition
dark
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
jbmorgan86's review against another edition
5.0
This is one of the most beautiful and haunting books I've ever read. It troubles me deeply. Essentially, it is a story of historical fiction that deals with the idea of God's silence. If God is truly all-loving, all-knowing, and all-powerful, why is God silent in the face of suffering? This is going on my favorite shelf and I cannot wait for the Scorsese movie to come out next year.
rainpunk's review against another edition
4.0
Heartbreaking and beautiful. Scorsese's adaptation is the best book-to-film adaptation I've ever encountered, so you won't get much more from reading this than you will from watching the movie. But the book is still well worth your time.
Although it's about a Christian's experience, you don't need any Christian background to empathize with the difficult plight of the Jesuit Priest and the hidden Christians he interacts with. The story is about the pains of reconciling part of your core identity when faced with extreme opposition and hardship. I know the author Shusaku Endo was Catholic, but the book does not preach about what Truth is. If anything, the book skirts around a lot of deep discussion of Truth, and is much more about inclined to discuss the division between internal beliefs and external actions. Religion is treated equal parts a belief system and equal parts a practice, and anthropologically it is absolutely a tool of trade and dominance.
Although it's about a Christian's experience, you don't need any Christian background to empathize with the difficult plight of the Jesuit Priest and the hidden Christians he interacts with. The story is about the pains of reconciling part of your core identity when faced with extreme opposition and hardship. I know the author Shusaku Endo was Catholic, but the book does not preach about what Truth is. If anything, the book skirts around a lot of deep discussion of Truth, and is much more about inclined to discuss the division between internal beliefs and external actions. Religion is treated equal parts a belief system and equal parts a practice, and anthropologically it is absolutely a tool of trade and dominance.
mayatatiana's review against another edition
4.0
sick. and shoutout to the translator too bc it was rly beautifully written