Sign in with Facebook
Christine Zibas's Reviews > Silence
Silence
by
"He made up his mind that he would not let the smile leave his lips.... He would preserve such an expression until the end. This was the face of a Christian among the infidel."
This isn't an easy book to like. Yet anyone who has had questions about faith or even just his or her own moral stance on a singular topic will have plenty to think about after having read Silence by Shusako Endo. When we are truly committed to a cause, we think that we will do anything to maintain our beliefs...but will we?
This is the dilemma of Portuguese Catholic missionary, Father Rodrigues. He believes wholeheartedly in his religious convictions. So much so that he risks life and limb to travel to Japan to spread his Christian faith. Once his ship arrives in Macao in the 1640s, Rodrigues is warned of the troubles that Christians face in Japan, but resolves himself to ultimately becoming a martyr.
He's also wondering what happened to his former teacher, Father Ferreira, who preceded him to Japan. Once Rodrigues arrives himself, he's faced with brutal conditions and is ultimately dependent upon Japanese peasants to keep him safe and (barely) alive. Not surprisingly, however, the brutal government eventually captures Rodrigues and is determined to get him to renounce his faith.
Should he make the decision to give in, he will save the lives of the very peasants he has been ministering to. His journey to his decision (to die for his faith or to renounce it) ultimately parallels the last days of Christ. Through the process, he also learns what happened to his beloved teacher, Ferreira. Then there is the very basic issue of whether a foreign religion should be imposed upon a native people, and how do those native Japanese interpret Catholicism?
There aren't a lot of answers in this novel, but it will make you think about what you are willing to sacrifice for your own beliefs. How would you measure up, given a similar situation? This is the ultimate lesson of Silence.
Thanks to Good Reads and Picador Classics for allowing me to read this book.
by
Christine Zibas's review
bookshelves: giveaways-i-ve-won, 2016-around-the-world-contest, 2016-books
Nov 10, 2016
bookshelves: giveaways-i-ve-won, 2016-around-the-world-contest, 2016-books
"He made up his mind that he would not let the smile leave his lips.... He would preserve such an expression until the end. This was the face of a Christian among the infidel."
This isn't an easy book to like. Yet anyone who has had questions about faith or even just his or her own moral stance on a singular topic will have plenty to think about after having read Silence by Shusako Endo. When we are truly committed to a cause, we think that we will do anything to maintain our beliefs...but will we?
This is the dilemma of Portuguese Catholic missionary, Father Rodrigues. He believes wholeheartedly in his religious convictions. So much so that he risks life and limb to travel to Japan to spread his Christian faith. Once his ship arrives in Macao in the 1640s, Rodrigues is warned of the troubles that Christians face in Japan, but resolves himself to ultimately becoming a martyr.
He's also wondering what happened to his former teacher, Father Ferreira, who preceded him to Japan. Once Rodrigues arrives himself, he's faced with brutal conditions and is ultimately dependent upon Japanese peasants to keep him safe and (barely) alive. Not surprisingly, however, the brutal government eventually captures Rodrigues and is determined to get him to renounce his faith.
Should he make the decision to give in, he will save the lives of the very peasants he has been ministering to. His journey to his decision (to die for his faith or to renounce it) ultimately parallels the last days of Christ. Through the process, he also learns what happened to his beloved teacher, Ferreira. Then there is the very basic issue of whether a foreign religion should be imposed upon a native people, and how do those native Japanese interpret Catholicism?
There aren't a lot of answers in this novel, but it will make you think about what you are willing to sacrifice for your own beliefs. How would you measure up, given a similar situation? This is the ultimate lesson of Silence.
Thanks to Good Reads and Picador Classics for allowing me to read this book.
Sign into ŷ to see if any of your friends have read
Silence.
Sign In »
Reading Progress
October 1, 2016
– Shelved
October 1, 2016
– Shelved as:
to-read
November 5, 2016
–
Started Reading
November 5, 2016
– Shelved as:
giveaways-i-ve-won
November 10, 2016
– Shelved as:
2016-around-the-world-contest
November 10, 2016
– Shelved as:
2016-books
November 10, 2016
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-6 of 6 (6 new)
date
newest »
newest »
message 1:
by
Fran
(new)
Nov 07, 2016 10:06AM
Christine...I would love to hear your thoughts about "Silence" It is on my TBR list!
reply
|
flag
Fran wrote: "Christine...I would love to hear your thoughts about "Silence" It is on my TBR list!"As I noted, this isn't an easy book to like, and I will be very curious to see how they make a movie of this plot (so much seems to occur in the mind of the lead character). It gave me a lot to think about, but I am not sure whether I would truly recommend the book. Perhaps that's just my taste?
Christine...my TBR list is very long and seems to increase exponentially! Based upon your thoughts I am not inclined to give "Silence" a bump to the top. Thanks for your input!
The missionary field is not for wimps, it's no different than joining the military, I know about both. But when you take the Great Commission to heart and believe God called you into this, it was for a real purpose, even if you only touch one life the entire time you were there, it was for God's higher purpose, look at Billy Sunday :) Our lives were not meant to be easy or without sacrifice. But you will be blessed beyond measure, if not here, throughout eternity and that we should strive for.
Sorry, I must have missed your review at the time. Glad you got to read it and see for yourself. :)
