The Weight of Silence

I loved the characters telling the story! I felt like the book had a sea quality, ebbing and flowing as the book revealed the events! I gave this book 5 stars because I will continue to remember and consider the outcome, as I go about my daily life.

Plot/Storyline: 4 StarsThis novel had a fascinating plot that kept me turning pages to find out what happened to those two missing girls. As the novel opened with a prologue that let readers know that Calli returns from the woods safely, it was truly fear for Petra that was the driving force.With the prologue, after only a few pages, I knewthat Calli will return from the woods and we know that she will speak her first word in years. So, with that knowledge, I read the first half of the book to `catch up' to the events in the prologue, wondering what that word would be. Finally, I was at that point in the book; it came sooner than expected, toward the middle, rather than at the very end. Calli emerged from the woods and said her first word in years. However, making readers wait through half of the novel was just not enough for this author. She then dragged out the 'suspense' for THREE MORE chapters. After a point, it's no longer `building suspense', it's just irritating. It reminded me of my teenage years when I would watch soap operas; The writers of those soap operas could drag out an hour long event for over a week. I think this novel would have been better had it just left out the prologue; that way, that first half of the book anticipation would have been mitigated somewhat.The love story thread that was told in flashbacks by Calli's mother and the police officer in charge of the case, while interesting, was still a disappointment. No grand event caused them to break up; it was nothing but Calli's mother's immaturity and selfishness.Having Calli's brother's viewpoint told in the form of `letters' to Calli was a little offputting. There didn't seem to be a reason for this change in form.When I finally found out the reason for Calli's silence, I was pleasantly surprised. Unlike many books I have read, the basis for the trauma was acutely realistic.The ending was practical and satisfying. Ms. Gudenkauf pulls no punches and ensures that taste of reality in her work by NOT giving all of her characters happy endings.Character Development: 4 1/4 StarsCalli's mother was not only a selfish person, but she was a rather unrealistic one. She knows why her daughter won't speak, or at least she has some idea, but she lets it go on for four years without questioning her? In her own way, she abuses her daughter as much as Calli's father did by being silent herself.Calli's father was not as well-developed as he could have been. I also had trouble believing that he could have maintained intoxication for the time period required for his actions, especially with so much physical exercise.The police officer was also not very likable as he seemed very weak and did not care much about his own family. However, his wife was equally despicable with her rantings.Calli and her brother were very well drawn. Ms. Gudenkauf certainly knows how to portray children.Writing Style: 5 StarsThe writing style of Ms. Gudenkauf in this novel wass of a caliber that will keep you turning pages. Her descriptions were tightly formatted, making for vivid pictures. The dialogue was realistic and of good voice.Editing/Formatting: 5 StarsBoth were of professional quality.Rating: PG-16 for Adult Situations and references to Child Abuse and Child Rape

Smooth ending

Calli, 7 is an elective mute. The cause of her self-imposed silence is her abusive father who drinks too much. Her brother Ben, 12 is a loving and protective brother who, along with Calli's best friend Petra, act as her "voices" and help her navigate socially. Petra is especially attuned to Calli's needs and sticks by her side at all times, ready to defend her from cruel peers.Calli's other allies include a very kind school counselor who makes it clear it is up to her when and if she chooses to speak. He provides her with notebooks so she can draw events and communicate through art.The story opens with a bang. Calli awakens in the early hours of the morning, afraid to leave her room to go to the bathroom as she will have to pass her father. As it turns out, Calli does leave her room and her father absconds with her into a nearby forest.Meanwhile, Petra slips out of her house as she sees her friend being taken into the woods. She searches for Calli, only to be found hours later severely injured. Calli escapes her father and hides in the woods, also eluding the search party.Once she is found, it is Ben and Petra who come to her aid along with kind hospital personnel. It is Ben who helps direct Calli back to her voice and the sound is .... intense and shattering. Simon & Garfunkel's "The Sound of Silence" could easily be the soundtrack for this book.An excellent book where there is no clear cut villian, although Calli's father is a truly reprehensible and abusive man. One has to wonder at Calli's mother who, knowing the man's cruel tendencies and having been the recipient of his abuse (with devastating results), why continue to stay in that relationship and risk the safety of her children. It bothers me that she condones the man's actions to her children and does not question Ben more closely, as Ben, also has been severely abused on more than one occasion.Still, I recommend this book and find it an intensely excellent read. An ideal companion book to this one is  After You: A Novel

An easy 5 stars. Loved this book. Do give this author a go if you haven't already-she's good. Yet her books usually centre around kids so not what you'd expect to draw me to them if you know me. However, they have mystery and plenty of "secret stuff" going on which greatly appeals to me. (I really like her covers too).In this one I really was quite taken by some of the quaint little observations she made.......for example a squirrel wringing its paws. You know that's what they do but for somebody with the proper words they bring that to life before your eyes. I like that. Some of the things Ben observed throughout and the way he described them I found very appealing as well. He was sweet.Antonia I thought more than once a pretty atrocious mother at times with little backbone I wanted to shake !!I got a bit baffled when it was mentioned that November of her senior year she was serious with somebody in a relationship but then on ensuing pages it seemed she was dating someone else in April of her senior year.....I flicked back 'n' forth but didn't get to the bottom of that puzzle.I spotted a random space added into hap pen for no good reason and a missing one in collegeeducated then a dropped hyphen in faceto-face and she used hand and hand as opposed to hand in hand. That was IT for errors though so even I couldn't knock off a star for those !!As I said, I'd really recommend you at least try this author.....you can thank me later !!

When I started reading this book, I was a bit disappointed. Although I was enjoying the style of each character having a chapter each to describe the story from their point of view (3rd person for selective mute, Callie), I felt that it seemed obvious what the big mystery was. It was slow to get going.Then at almost exactly half way through, I changed my mind! Events in the second half of the book move very quickly and it became much more of a page-turner from that point on.I thought it was generally well written. I was invested in the characters, particularly Ben and Callie. I enjoyed everyone's backstory and the different points of view from which they viewed the situation.I agree with other reviewers that there wasn't as much depth to the story as there could have been. I was disappointed with the big reveal at the end, but obviously can't explain why due to spoilers! I also thought that the reason for Callie's selective mutism was explained far, far too early, which drained away any potential suspense from that part of the story.However, I thought it was a gripping enough thriller and I would recommend it.-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Kindle: the Kindle edition was well-formatted and had no errors.

This is the second book I have read by Heather Gudenkauf and it was just as brilliant the first one (although for different reasons).I loved the story and the characters and Heather writes so beautifully that I felt as if I wanted to be a part of it.It was just brilliant and it conjured up all sorts of emotions including tears and smiles.I would recommend this book to anyone give it a go you will enjoy it.Karrie

Having read all 3 of Gudenkaufs books I find it hard to choose my favourite between this and One Breath Away.This book had many twists and turns, it kept me turning the pages into the wee hours of the night! I just couldn't get enough, I had to know what the outcome would be. I must say I was not disappointed with the outcome, there is a few twists in this story that I certainly did not see coming! The characters are likable and believable, I became emotionally attached to them and continued to think about them when the story was over. For me that is the essence of a good book.A fab read!!!

I ordered this book for my kindle as it was recommended as similar to Jodi Picoult. Thoroughly enjoyed the story, lots of twists and turns to keep you clicking to the next page. Although it was quite easy to guess who the bad guy was the story kept changing to make you wonder if you were right. Will certainly be reading some more by this author.