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Silence

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Silence

By: Shusaku Endo
Narrated by: David Holt
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About this listen

Recipient of the 1966 Tanizaki Prize, it has been called Endo's supreme achievement" and "one of the twentieth century's finest novels".

Considered controversial ever since its first publication, it tackles the thorniest religious issues of belief and faith head on.

A novel of historical fiction, it is the story of a Jesuit missionary sent to seventeenth century Japan, who endured persecution that followed the defeat of the Shimabara Rebellion.

©1966 Shusaku Endo (P)2009 Audible Ltd Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Fiction Heartfelt Inspiring

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Critic reviews

“Brian Moore’s Black Robe, about the fate, usually violent, of 17th century Jesuit priests bent on converting the native Canadians had to be the last grisly word on the subject. Or so I thought. Then I head this … Utterly mesmerizing.” Sue Arnold, The Guardian
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Well written and narrated, I look forward to listening to others by the same author.

An excellent story

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loved it. very engaging. very good story, well told in a very minimalist execution. I'm looking forward to other books by the author.

excellent

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I enjoyed this but I felt like it fizzled out a bit at the end

decent

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I sat in silence after listening to this book.. very thought provoking. highly recommended read.

silence

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A thought-provoking tale based on real life Japanese history that has many layers and depth of meaning. It has long lasting appeal and the characters are very human and fleshed out. Good narrator too.

A highlight

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So this book is like nothing I've read before. It's so quietly understated, and brings to bear so many complicated issues in a way that makes you wonder what you believe and why you believe it.

Its stark narrative style makes the (many) emotive passages so poignant, and without tending to melodrama, the effect is devastating and fascinating.

It's not going to be for everyone, for sure. The prose might feel a bit dry, the premise a bit strange, some of the descriptions too graphic, but for me, that's what makes this worth reading. I'll be back to read/listen again.

Beautiful writing, powerful messages

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**spoiler alert** An incredibly moving read, the novel sets up an intriguing contrast between the desire of missionaries to do good vs spread christianity in a way that I don't think has any bible based solution. The different characters demonstrate differences in their "weakness" from Kichijiro, to Garrpe with different issues of how they could have been good christians in another time without persecution, and why God would send such trials that the men and priests could not endure.

The titular Silence is interesting and the resolution of why God is silent is interesting as an interpretation. I was really reminded of 1984 in parts with the mental and physical tortures ongoing to change someone's ideology but that might just be because I recently read that book. The idea that Christianity didn't really take root in Japan because of their inability to understand the concepts of a God who is not human or of the earth is interesting but I can't seem to find any references to it outside of Silence.

A Religious Quandry

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This book is an authentic reproduction of culture and life in 17th century Japan. The author is inspired !

Amazing

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An unusual book about Portuguese missionaries in Japan. Not a wide appeal but if you find religion and belief interesting this will be for you. The danger of trying to persuade others of your faith turns out to be that they may end up persuading you. The Japanese were a hard case for spreading Roman Catholicism. They were not irreligious - had a strong faith of their own that worked for them, and the missionaries arrived in an arrogant frame of mind, not understanding the land or the people. The parallels with Islamic State are clear enough - the assumption there is only one right way to live, plus a common belief in martyrdom - some have described it as a death cult. I found the book challenging on many levels, and the ending may surprise you.

Perils of a missionary

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Hard to hear such a story but well done. Finished the Book and glad to have done so. Definitely an interesting look at the whole meaning of religion and a good reason not to go there. Not uplifting but this subject isn't so go in with your eyes open.

Very Dark Memory

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