lukereads97's review against another edition
After coming off of watching the movie, the book is very similar. Might need some time apart from it
19mfelix's review against another edition
4.0
A meditation on the symbiotic/parasitic relationship between faith and suffering. An expression of true faith and compete desolation all at once. Does suffering truly redeem, or do we sometimes just suffer without learning anything from it? What does God’s silence teach us in the end?
caenisreads's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
aver8040's review against another edition
4.0
Such a great look at religion and spirituality. Reversed the narrative of a religious text and I enjoyed the exploration of what it is to believe and have faith. A good read that challenges your thoughts on faith.
silverthane's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-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? It's complicated
4.0
mrivera23's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-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
4.5
Powerful book about the very deep sense of what makes us human. Highly recommend.
stevensabby's review against another edition
5.0
In his book A Grief Observed, C.S. Lewis says, "Talk to me about the truth of religion and I'll listen gladly. Talk to me about the duty of religion and I'll listen submissively. But don't come talking to me about the consolations of religion or I shall suspect that you don't understand."
Faith, for me, has brought little in the way of consolation. For 35 years it has brought me joy, discomfort, belonging, understanding, confusion, purpose, hope, change, resistance, struggle, identity, love, even work . . . but it has not brought consolation. If anything, it has done the opposite. It is this terribly beautiful part of belief that Silence seeks to examine.
Shusaku Endo has managed to capture the agony of faith. As Martin Scorsese asks in the foreward, "How do you tell the story of Christian faith? The difficulty, the crisis of believing?"
Endo does just that. In 17th Century Japan, having finally unified the country, a series of rulers set about ridding the small island country of Christianity. Hunted and, when captured, tortured, Christians were forced to apostasize by stepping on a small image of Christ, called a fumie. Those who refused died slowly and publicly. One apparent favorite was the pit -- a deep hole dug in the earth that often contained excrement. Christians were hung upside down inside the pit, just above the filth on the bottom, and small cuts were made on their faces to allow the blood to drain. This allowed them to live longer and allowed their captors to prolong their suffering.
This is the fate that likely awaits Father Sebastian Rodrigues, a Jesuit priest who leaves behind safety in Portugal in order to discover the fate of his teacher and mentor. Said to have apostazied, the old man hasn't been heard from by his superiors in Portugal. Quickly captured, as he suspected he would be, Padre Rodrigues is soon faced with the questions that once would have lead him to theological answers -- the "consolations of religion" that Lewis wrote about -- that he never imagined he'd have to live. And he's left to find those answers on his own.
"And like the sea God was silent." It is this silence of God in the face of the suffering faithful that leads Padre Rodrigues to his own dark night of the soul.
"'I understand your pain and suffering. It is for that reason that I am here.'
'Lord, I resented your silence.'
'I was not silent. I suffered beside you.'
He loved him now in a different way from before."
Faith, for me, has brought little in the way of consolation. For 35 years it has brought me joy, discomfort, belonging, understanding, confusion, purpose, hope, change, resistance, struggle, identity, love, even work . . . but it has not brought consolation. If anything, it has done the opposite. It is this terribly beautiful part of belief that Silence seeks to examine.
Shusaku Endo has managed to capture the agony of faith. As Martin Scorsese asks in the foreward, "How do you tell the story of Christian faith? The difficulty, the crisis of believing?"
Endo does just that. In 17th Century Japan, having finally unified the country, a series of rulers set about ridding the small island country of Christianity. Hunted and, when captured, tortured, Christians were forced to apostasize by stepping on a small image of Christ, called a fumie. Those who refused died slowly and publicly. One apparent favorite was the pit -- a deep hole dug in the earth that often contained excrement. Christians were hung upside down inside the pit, just above the filth on the bottom, and small cuts were made on their faces to allow the blood to drain. This allowed them to live longer and allowed their captors to prolong their suffering.
This is the fate that likely awaits Father Sebastian Rodrigues, a Jesuit priest who leaves behind safety in Portugal in order to discover the fate of his teacher and mentor. Said to have apostazied, the old man hasn't been heard from by his superiors in Portugal. Quickly captured, as he suspected he would be, Padre Rodrigues is soon faced with the questions that once would have lead him to theological answers -- the "consolations of religion" that Lewis wrote about -- that he never imagined he'd have to live. And he's left to find those answers on his own.
"And like the sea God was silent." It is this silence of God in the face of the suffering faithful that leads Padre Rodrigues to his own dark night of the soul.
"'I understand your pain and suffering. It is for that reason that I am here.'
'Lord, I resented your silence.'
'I was not silent. I suffered beside you.'
He loved him now in a different way from before."