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  • Silence

  • By: Shusaku Endo
  • Narrated by: David Holt
  • Length: 7 hrs and 39 mins
  • 4.0 out of 5 stars (362 ratings)
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Silence cover art

Silence

By: Shusaku Endo
Narrated by: David Holt
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Summary

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

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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What listeners say about Silence

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

How a man comes face to face with God

This novel follows the journey, literal and metaphysical, of one man, a missionary in 17th century Japan. He realises how human he is, and how inhumane his fellow humans can be. In the end he comes face to face with his own humanity, and in doing so comes face to face with God. Endo reaches the heart of the link between faith and the church. At times I found this novel sad, sickening, disheartening, yet as it progressed it became illuminating, challenging and ultimately life-affirming. A truly remarkable novel, one of the best books I have ever come across.

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29 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Endo's masterpiece

I highly recommend this audio book; for me, a somewhat complex Catholic, 'Silence' lived up to its reputation as one of the greatest novels of the 20th-century. It is similar in theme to Graham Greene's 'Power and the Glory' but far better. The narrator was excellent, he did countless voices and I felt like I was listening to a radio play. I look forward to Scorsese's coming film adaption.

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21 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Gripping and thought provoking

I found it hard to put down. The story is a fascinating account of the outer and inner trials of a Catholic priest under a regime of cruel persecution. Ultimately the ending doesn't fully explore the truth that the martyrs witness to. It certainly explores the depth of temptation but the reader would need to look elsewhere to find a satisfactory answer to the need for fidelity to faith in the face of human suffering.

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15 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

excellent

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

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14 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

The silence of God in the face of suffering.

The story of a Portuguese missionary in 17th century Japan and how he comes to explain to himself God's silence in the face of persecution and suffering. It is a study in betrayal, with the story of Judas as a persistent theme. Inevitably, the readers (listeners) religious beliefs will colour the message and understanding of the novel, but not I think, of his or her enjoyment, of what is an excellent, well written novel, beautifully read.

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8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Silently haunting

A beautiful novel depicting a Jesuit priest who questions his faith after landing in Japan during the 17th century. It is a story with many temptations and plot twists set to test the priest to his limit. All around him, Christians fall to apostasy. A simple, yet touching tale.

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

The romanticising of gods silence


God never answers unless we suffer from a dilution of understanding the silence itself. the absence is most obvious to the unbelievers, be they atheists or of a different religion, because they have not invested a life in that one god's theology and imagery.
This is not a large book but I did struggle to finish it, the stupidity and the waste of life on the basis of spreading a religion are as sad then as they are now; martyrdom is such a misguided and dangerous idea, to blow yourself up or allow someone to drown you for not stepping on an icon is just not logical.
As an atheist, this book is just confirmation that the silence is real and implacable.

“Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent.
Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent.
Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil?
Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God?”
― Epicurus

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Beautiful writing, powerful messages

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.

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Perils of a missionary

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.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Fascinating study of Faith

Would you consider the audio edition of Silence to be better than the print version?

Silly question.

Any additional comments?

Given the limited nature of the plot, it is a surprisingly pacey narrative. There is a good deal of reflection on the nature of the 'silence' of God. Now of course to me it is perfectly obvious why God is silent, as there isn't one, but for one who believes in an omniscient deity it must be very frustrating. This novel explores that psychological struggle brilliantly. The translation is a little bland at times, but you soon get used to it.

Nice neutral and unobtrusive reading.

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3 people found this helpful