Silence, a review by Susan

I love historical fiction about the times of the Salem Witch trials and it has been a long time since I have read one. This one was well worth my time. This is a very economically written novel about a woman named Silence who suffers loses that no one should have to face in a Puritan community in the 1700’s. The author captured the essence of what Puritan life feels like, especially for women. The language seems authentic for the time period, which is importance since this is a first person narrative. While the language takes a little getting used to, it is not difficult. Silence, as a result of her losses, questions life, and God, in particular, which results in her being censured. She is literally not allowed to speak. The book tells readers how women who are rebellious are perceived and what can happen as a result. It is a story that most of us who remember our early American history know, so the events that unfold are not surprising. However, the story is told so well that it doesn’t matter if the content feels familiar because it is taken from the pages of history.

By the way, this book was published by Sibylline Press, which is a publishing company that specializes in female authors over the age of 50. I am providing my unbiased opinion of this book in exchange for a free copy of this book, although I am a bit bewildered as to how. I did not, as far as I could tell, request this book; it just showed up at my door one day.