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Silence by Shūsaku Endō
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This is certainly one of the most difficult books I have ever reviewed, I find myself really unsure in the face of this reading.
The plot is truly shocking, it is about the missionary journey of two Portuguese priests who, at the end of 17° century will embark for Japan with the desire to bring the word of Christ among these brothers. Father Rodrigues and Father Garrpe will find different destinies, the latter will still remain to a living faith dying in martyrdom together with other Catholic Japanese, the first instead.... devastated by a faith crushed by psychological torture on the part of a magistrate of Nagasaki, who managed to capture him, came to give up his whole life donated to Christ until to abjure trampling on the Funie ( image of the Virgin with the child). Father Rodrigues will not be the only priest in Japan who will be reduced to abjuration, others before him will abandon faith under torture, including Father Ferreira, who participated in his psychological exhaustion together with the Magistrate Inue, in such a way as to make him yield, the famous Silence, is nothing other than the absence of a living presence of a response of Christ among us.
I was hurt by this book, you get enraged in the first part by making you believe in a true missionary path, of friendship between the japanese farmers and the two priests until reaching an epilogue of this kind... there is nothing but present and verifiable in reality.
The weakness of Father Rodrigues, will be the shoulder of Kihijiro's one, a poor Japanese man who was the first to betray the Priest. Perhaps the only positive character i liked is him, who even in his repugnant weakness selling the Priest to the Samurai, will always be in search and follow the priest in his every move. Despite in the depths of his corrupt soul, weak, devious and tormented life ...he will always be drawn to the end by that gaze of truth that many years before, he had known in a priest who had come to evangelize in Japan, well before Rodrigues' arrival. Yes, Kighijiro remembers in a certain way the figure of Zacchaeus on the Sycamore, curious and eager to follow the one who brings salvation, despite himself always ready to betray everything and everyone.
I am very perplexed by what I have read...... What does Shūsaku Endō want to communicate with this novel? it is very controversial and i do not understand his purpose. The pain is reading about a Christ without the gift of Mistery and Salvation in the middle the men. Or Christ came to save the whole of humanity through a taste of new life or it has been greatest lie ever pulled to the destiny of man.


Caravaggio -Juda's kiss (the odessa painting)

Questo è sicuramente uno dei libri piu' difficili che mi sia mai capitato di recensire, mi trovo veramente insicura di fronte a questa lettura.
La storia è veramente sconvolgente, altro non è che il cammino missionario di due preti portoghesi che nella fine del 1600 si imbarcheranno per il Giappone con il desiderio di portare la parola d Cristo tra questi fratelli. Padre Rodrigues e Padre Garrpe troveranno destini differenti, quest' ultimo rimarrà sempre ancorato ad una vita di fede, morendo in martirio insieme ad altri fedeli giapponesi. Il primo invece....devastato ormai da una fede schiacciata dalla tortura psicologica di un magistrato di Nagasaki che riuscì a catturarlo, arrivò a cedere tutta la sua vita donata a Cristo sino ad abiurare calpestando il Funie ( immagine della Vergine con il bambino). Padre Rodrigues non sarà l'unico Prete che in Giappone si ridurrà all'abiura, altri prima di lui abbandoneranno la fede sotto tortura, tra cui Padre Ferreira, che partecipò a sfiancarlo psicologicamente insieme al Magistrato Inue in modo tale da farlo cedere, il famoso Silenzio, altro non è che l'assenza di una presenza viva di una risposta di Cristo tra di noi.
Io sono rimasta ferita da questo libro, ti irretisce nella prima parte facendoti credere ad una vero percorso missionario, di amicizia tra i contadini e i due preti, sino ad arrivare ad un epilogo del genere......ovvero, nulla vi è, se non presente e verificabile nella realtà.
La debolezza di Padre Rodrigues, farà da spalla a quella di Kihijiro, un pover'uomo giapponese che fu il primo a tradire il Prete,offrendogli riso e pesce secco durante un lungo cammino per sfuggire ai Samurai, sino alla consegna in pieno tradimento, del prete a questi ultimi. Forse l'unico personaggio positivo, che pur nella sua ripugnante debolezza vendendo il Prete ai Samurai, è Kihigijiro. Egli rimarrà sempre in cerca e al seguito del prete in ogni suo spostamento, perchè nel profondo del suo animo corrotto, debole, subdolo e tormentato...sarà sempre sino alla fine attratto da quello sguardo di verità che tantissimi anni prima aveva conosciuto e trovato in un Prete arrivato ad evangelizzare in Giappone, ben prima dell' arrivo di Rodrigues. Si, Kighijiro ricorda in un certo verso la figura di Zaccheo sul Sicomoro, curioso e desideroso di seguire colui che porta la salvezza nonostante sia sempre pronto a tradire tutto e tutti.
Sono molto perplessa per ciò che ho letto, cosa mi è rimasto? La verità di Cristo che senso può mai avere senza il Mistero che ognuno di noi si porta nella propria anima? cosa vuol comunicare Shūsaku Endō con questo suo romanzo? O Cristo è venuto a salvare l'umanità intera attraverso un gusto di vita nuova o è la piu grande menzogna mai tirata al destino dell'uomo.

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Reading Progress

November 18, 2019 – Shelved
November 18, 2019 – Shelved as: to-read
November 23, 2019 – Started Reading
November 27, 2019 –
page 178
81.28% "i am crying..."
December 7, 2019 – Finished Reading

Comments Showing 1-14 of 14 (14 new)

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message 1: by [deleted user] (new)

Aw!


message 2: by Beata (new)

Beata Beautiful review, Ines ...


Ines Beata wrote: "Beautiful review, Ines ..."
thank you very much Beata!!


message 4: by Orsodimondo (new)

Orsodimondo


message 5: by Jan-Maat (new)

Jan-Maat I recently saw the film, that was less perplexing the ending suggested that Father Rodrigues remains catholic, but is persuaded by the argument of ex-Father Ferreira to minimise the sufferings of the villagers - but it would not be the first time that a film has simplified a book! Indeed it seemed to me even from the title there was a strong argument about if God is or is not which the film sidestepped.


Ines Jan-Maat wrote: "I recently saw the film, that was less perplexing the ending suggested that Father Rodrigues remains catholic, but is persuaded by the argument of ex-Father Ferreira to minimise the sufferings of t..."
Thank you Jan!! well.. there is this kind of malice in the very first part of the book that lead the reader to believe a certain kind of plot's path.......now, with an ended book in my lap i found it very petty and narrow. The end is completely different as you are describing from the movie. Here, it is like the author wanted to underline with Rodrigues and Ferreira's figures this: " See,... your religion is pathetic, your are just apostasy's sons!!" Rodrigues will be buried and cremated as a Buddist, nothing Christian will remain after him in his family (yes, he will marry at the end) and among his fellows .


Ines Orsodimondo wrote: ""
Grazie Orso, Jan mi diceva che il fine del film e completamente diverso rispetto al libro... magari nei giorni post Natale lo guarderò.😉


message 8: by Jan-Maat (new)

Jan-Maat Here, it is like the author wanted to underline with Rodrigues and Ferreira's figures this: " See,... your religion is pathetic, your are just apostasy's sons!!" Rodrigues will be buried and cremated as a Buddist, nothing Christian will remain after him in his family (yes, he will marry at the end) and among his fellow - the film shows him being cremated but with a crucifix in his hands, which changes the whole direction of the story!


message 9: by MarilynW (new)

MarilynW Beautiful and sad review Ines 🧡


message 10: by Ines (new) - rated it 3 stars

Ines marilyn wrote: "Beautiful and sad review Ines 🧡"

Yes, it is....😔
Thank you for your message!!


message 11: by Laysee (new)

Laysee This sounds like a devastating story to read and your sincere review captured the pain and perplexity a reader can feel. Great job, Ines.


Fonch It is a very difficult book despite liking me very much i do not totally agree with the ordeal that Endo made to pass to his characters. Although in my opinión it is a big book. Despite the fact it is my 4th favorite Shusaku Endo`s book.


message 13: by Dolors (new)

Dolors I have this novel on my shelf, pending to read, but after reading your honest review I am no longer sure this is for me. Great review, Ines.


Fonch Dolors wrote: "I have this novel on my shelf, pending to read, but after reading your honest review I am no longer sure this is for me. Great review, Ines."

If you let me participate in the discussion. I would advise to read it. It is truth that i do not agree with the ending, but Endo wrote really good, and the objective it is not the apostasy of the Christian on contrary is that the Christian can defend his faith and something more controversial neither i totally agree a native chritian who has roots in Japan to the christianity was not strange in Japan.


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