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amblygon_writes's review against another edition
3.0
I probably need to re-read this. I bought this on my first trip to Japan (because I was looking for something a bit like James Clavell's Shogun and this reminded me of it), but I struggled to understand it. It's quite simple on the surface, but probably needs more time and thought to tackle properly.
_nijinska's review
3.0
Intensa e densa leitura que permite muitos questionamentos até aos que não são cristãos ou religiosos. O que é ser forte ou fraco? Felizmente muitos de nós não tivemos que ser colocados à prova...
Achei interessante as constantes referências ao rosto, tanto de Jesus como dos companheiros do protagonista. Rostos (masculinos) que sofrem, que se resignar, que são alterados... Quase sensuais. O rosto de um homem que levou este missionário tão longe.
Apostatizar através do mero calque do 'fumie' será uma mera formalidade? Se a fé está no coração, Deus deve poder vê-la e não ligar às questões formais a que os seus fiéis foram levados por tortura. Mas se um crê com muita força em algo fundamental para a sua existência, seja uma crença religiosa ou não, e só a manter no coração não agindo de acordo com ela nos momentos cruciais, será que é uma verdadeira crença? Será que há diferença entre crenças religiosas e outros tipos de crença?
Achei interessante as constantes referências ao rosto, tanto de Jesus como dos companheiros do protagonista. Rostos (masculinos) que sofrem, que se resignar, que são alterados... Quase sensuais. O rosto de um homem que levou este missionário tão longe.
Apostatizar através do mero calque do 'fumie' será uma mera formalidade? Se a fé está no coração, Deus deve poder vê-la e não ligar às questões formais a que os seus fiéis foram levados por tortura. Mas se um crê com muita força em algo fundamental para a sua existência, seja uma crença religiosa ou não, e só a manter no coração não agindo de acordo com ela nos momentos cruciais, será que é uma verdadeira crença? Será que há diferença entre crenças religiosas e outros tipos de crença?
commykaze's review
challenging
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
dallasfangmann's review
challenging
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
cshelton002's review
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
zmorgason's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Narrow is the path, watch your step.
mihalis_kokkoni's review
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
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
5.0
This is my new favourite book.
lozzcatt's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
mrwednesday's review
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
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
I'm not entirely sure how to word my thoughts on this novel. It is a beautiful story, not in that it makes me feel good about myself or the world, but because it is a painfully honest depiction of the struggles of faith during difficult times.
The outcome of the story is foreshadowed right from the beginning. It is not, as the protagonist might believe, a story about a white saviour bringing faith back to the oppressed Japanese Christians, it is about failure; about the pitfalls of pride, about the power (and at times, the cost) of faith, of hope or the lack thereof, of persecution of shame.
I probably have more thoughts, the kind other people can put in words more clearly. I'm not a religious or spiritual person, though I find the effects of religion on culture and history to be a fascinating subject, and Silence explored the topic thoroughly without feeling at all like I was being preached to - sometimes we fail, sometimes we are forced to start again, whether blame or pity is the more appropriate emotion may not always be clear.
The outcome of the story is foreshadowed right from the beginning. It is not, as the protagonist might believe, a story about a white saviour bringing faith back to the oppressed Japanese Christians, it is about failure; about the pitfalls of pride, about the power (and at times, the cost) of faith, of hope or the lack thereof, of persecution of shame.
I probably have more thoughts, the kind other people can put in words more clearly. I'm not a religious or spiritual person, though I find the effects of religion on culture and history to be a fascinating subject, and Silence explored the topic thoroughly without feeling at all like I was being preached to - sometimes we fail, sometimes we are forced to start again, whether blame or pity is the more appropriate emotion may not always be clear.