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The Raging Quiet
A newcomer to the tiny village of Tocurra befriends a young man whose deafness has left him isolated from his fellow villagers. Marnie and Raver learn to communicate through a series of hand gestures, but when a death shakes the village, their special, silent bond causes the two to fall under suspicion of witchcraft. A compelling, romantic, and revealing story for young readers, Sherryl Jordan's The Raging Quiet is an ideal kids' feature for a month of romance.
368 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1999
39 people are currently reading
5720 people want to read
About the author
Sherryl Jordan
40 books325 followersAward-winning New Zealand author Sherryl Rose Jordan (née Brogden) (1949-2023) began her writing career with picture books, but soon moved on to novels for older readers. Her breakthrough came with Rocco, published in the United States as A Time of Darkness, and since that time she has gone on to pen many more titles for young adult and juvenile readers that have been published both in her native New Zealand and throughout the world.
The recipient of a 1993 fellowship to the prestigious writing program at the University of Iowa, Jordan used her time in the United States to speak widely at schools and conferences about her books, which blend fantasy with bits of science fiction and romantic realism. "All my young adult novels have been gifts," she noted in the St. James Guide to Children's Writers. "I don't think them up. They hit me over the head when I least expect them; overwhelm me with impressions, sights, and sounds of their new worlds; enchant me with their characters; and dare me to write them."
The recipient of a 1993 fellowship to the prestigious writing program at the University of Iowa, Jordan used her time in the United States to speak widely at schools and conferences about her books, which blend fantasy with bits of science fiction and romantic realism. "All my young adult novels have been gifts," she noted in the St. James Guide to Children's Writers. "I don't think them up. They hit me over the head when I least expect them; overwhelm me with impressions, sights, and sounds of their new worlds; enchant me with their characters; and dare me to write them."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 479 reviews
February 20, 2015
4.5 stars. I never imagined I would enjoy this as much as I did. This book has been on my mental TBR list since long before I even had a goodreads account, because it seems that everyone who reads it recommends it to me and yet it's taken me so long to get around to it. I would guess The Raging Quiet struggles to find an audience when historical fiction is not very popular in YA, and especially the ones that don't feature corsets and dramatic love affairs.
Possibly the first thing I noticed and loved about this novel was the setting. It's a very cold, dark, pastoral and gothically beautiful place. It reminded me a lot of Wuthering Heights with that sense of isolation and wilderness. The author captures the lonely, eerie atmosphere of her story's setting perfectly.
The tale is about two outsiders - Marnie and Raven - and how they come to develop an understanding of one another. Marnie arrives in Tocurra with her new and much older husband who she has married to save her family from poverty and who also tells her she will "learn to like it" after he rapes her. Raven is the village madman - believed so because he is deaf - and the locals attempt to beat the demons out of him. Marnie first comes under suspicion of withcraft when her husband falls to his death; a suspicion that only grows when her and Raven develop a sign language to communicate with each other. And trust me, this isn't the time or place to be suspected of witchcraft.
This is an extremely powerful novel that creeps up one you. You don't realise how emotionally invested you are until your heart is suddenly pounding and your emotions are in overdrive. I've always found it particularly horrifying to read some of the things done to young women who were accused of being witches and this book may be labelled "fantasy", but the rituals are entirely real.
But, in the end, this is also a very sweet and touching novel about two people who don't fit in finding their own little world together, their own way of living that suits them both, others be damned. I was moved by it and I think it will be hard to find a reader who isn't.
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Possibly the first thing I noticed and loved about this novel was the setting. It's a very cold, dark, pastoral and gothically beautiful place. It reminded me a lot of Wuthering Heights with that sense of isolation and wilderness. The author captures the lonely, eerie atmosphere of her story's setting perfectly.
The tale is about two outsiders - Marnie and Raven - and how they come to develop an understanding of one another. Marnie arrives in Tocurra with her new and much older husband who she has married to save her family from poverty and who also tells her she will "learn to like it" after he rapes her. Raven is the village madman - believed so because he is deaf - and the locals attempt to beat the demons out of him. Marnie first comes under suspicion of withcraft when her husband falls to his death; a suspicion that only grows when her and Raven develop a sign language to communicate with each other. And trust me, this isn't the time or place to be suspected of witchcraft.
This is an extremely powerful novel that creeps up one you. You don't realise how emotionally invested you are until your heart is suddenly pounding and your emotions are in overdrive. I've always found it particularly horrifying to read some of the things done to young women who were accused of being witches and this book may be labelled "fantasy", but the rituals are entirely real.
But, in the end, this is also a very sweet and touching novel about two people who don't fit in finding their own little world together, their own way of living that suits them both, others be damned. I was moved by it and I think it will be hard to find a reader who isn't.
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April 30, 2023
I'm not sure I understand what this novel wanted to achieve, because if it was disability representation and/or denouncing prejudice for reasons of ability and beliefs, then it did a poor job at that.
The time this happens in is unspecified as well as the location, so all you get is a generic pseudo-Salem town in a generic 18th century faux-New England town. So generic it can fit in any time and any place and is described in such a watered down generic way that does the story no favours. If the location and period are merely stage decoration, the story becomes a blank canvas on which to pour clichés and generalities in a plot played by a Special Snowflake female protagonist and a disabled male protagonist that "overcomes" his disadvantages after decades of no help just because of the love of a newcomer that found a way nobody else did. And he's hot and handsome as well. Why do authors feel the need to "sexy-fy" disability instead of describing it as is?
It strikes me as laughably implausible that the Marnie, the female lead, suddenly can see in just a few days after arriving, that Raven is deaf when the village that have known him since birth don't. Not even the local pastor is able to say he's deaf, not possessed by demons, and suddenly this girl out of the blue can? And on top of that, she invents a sign language that miraculously will make things right for him? Sorry, this is ridiculous and seems to have been written merely so Sherryl Jordan could have her cake and eat it too by creating a Salem-clone town where villagers are over-the-top superstitious and witch-hunty for the sake of witch hunting, and so she can get preachy through this special girl with progressive notions ahead of her time. Saviour complex right here.
In reality, the villagers in such a town would've known what was wrong with the boy long ago. People in the past had their weird beliefs and superstitions but they weren't as stupid as we like to think. That cliché that every disability was seen as demon-caused is that: a cliché, that many repeat without bothering to research the actual history. Easier to use a vague timeline that resembles a known mass hysteria phenomenon and blame religion for it all, because it wasn't a clergyman who in real history invented sign language so the deaf could communicate back in the 1700s, no sir! It was all like in Salem, and only a Not Like Other Girls character could've possibly shown compassion towards a disabled man and taught him sign language and improved his quality of life through pure luuurve (helps that he's so hot, I guess, who'd pay attention to a plain/ugly disabled man in this book?).
It also bothers me that Sherryl Jordan says in her notes that sign language didn't exist in those times. What times, if you said it was generic and could be anytime even our modern times? And in any case, if it is the 18th century as the book seems to imply, then her assertion isn't accurate. Father De l'Épée had already invented sign language by then and there's earlier, more rudimentary sign languages as well.
So, in sum, a cliché romance, cartoonish villagers, special Mary Sue heroine, sexy-fied and poorly represented deaf hero, incorrect history, and preachy undertones don't make this a novel I cared about in the least. It's not the good disability rep book it is claimed.
The time this happens in is unspecified as well as the location, so all you get is a generic pseudo-Salem town in a generic 18th century faux-New England town. So generic it can fit in any time and any place and is described in such a watered down generic way that does the story no favours. If the location and period are merely stage decoration, the story becomes a blank canvas on which to pour clichés and generalities in a plot played by a Special Snowflake female protagonist and a disabled male protagonist that "overcomes" his disadvantages after decades of no help just because of the love of a newcomer that found a way nobody else did. And he's hot and handsome as well. Why do authors feel the need to "sexy-fy" disability instead of describing it as is?
It strikes me as laughably implausible that the Marnie, the female lead, suddenly can see in just a few days after arriving, that Raven is deaf when the village that have known him since birth don't. Not even the local pastor is able to say he's deaf, not possessed by demons, and suddenly this girl out of the blue can? And on top of that, she invents a sign language that miraculously will make things right for him? Sorry, this is ridiculous and seems to have been written merely so Sherryl Jordan could have her cake and eat it too by creating a Salem-clone town where villagers are over-the-top superstitious and witch-hunty for the sake of witch hunting, and so she can get preachy through this special girl with progressive notions ahead of her time. Saviour complex right here.
In reality, the villagers in such a town would've known what was wrong with the boy long ago. People in the past had their weird beliefs and superstitions but they weren't as stupid as we like to think. That cliché that every disability was seen as demon-caused is that: a cliché, that many repeat without bothering to research the actual history. Easier to use a vague timeline that resembles a known mass hysteria phenomenon and blame religion for it all, because it wasn't a clergyman who in real history invented sign language so the deaf could communicate back in the 1700s, no sir! It was all like in Salem, and only a Not Like Other Girls character could've possibly shown compassion towards a disabled man and taught him sign language and improved his quality of life through pure luuurve (helps that he's so hot, I guess, who'd pay attention to a plain/ugly disabled man in this book?).
It also bothers me that Sherryl Jordan says in her notes that sign language didn't exist in those times. What times, if you said it was generic and could be anytime even our modern times? And in any case, if it is the 18th century as the book seems to imply, then her assertion isn't accurate. Father De l'Épée had already invented sign language by then and there's earlier, more rudimentary sign languages as well.
So, in sum, a cliché romance, cartoonish villagers, special Mary Sue heroine, sexy-fied and poorly represented deaf hero, incorrect history, and preachy undertones don't make this a novel I cared about in the least. It's not the good disability rep book it is claimed.
January 31, 2022
Bumping up to 5. They really don't publish YA like this anymore.
We are reading this for my YA book club, and I'll be sad if no one appreciates it like I do.
P.S. Why didn't I try reading any more of Sherryl Jordan's books?
P.P.S. As far as the vibe, I would add Portrait of a Lady on Fire to it.
______
The Raging Quiet is a teen-oriented mix of The Scarlet Letter, Tess of the D'Urbervilles and The Crucible. A story of a woman who dares to be different and has to be punished for it.
Marnie has had it coming. First, she marries a wealthy older man (who cares if she does it only to save her family from poverty) and moves with him into his decrepit and allegedly cursed house in a seaside village populated by ignorant bigots. When Marnie's husband suddenly and accidentally dies, all attention focuses on her. You see, she makes a mistake of blaming herself publicly for his death because in a moment of weakness she prayed that her rapy, you-will-learn-to-enjoy-it husband would leave her alone.
Marnie's problems only become bigger when she befriends a local devil-possessed madman - a young fellow who, the young widow learns, is deaf and not crazy. She feels compassion towards him and invents a sign language to help him communicate. This sign language makes the villagers even more suspicious. The rumors about the young woman run rampant, especially when her neighbors find out she allows the mad young man live in her home. A little push from Marnie's brother-in-law who has an eye on her inheritance, and all hell breaks loose. She is a witch, she is a fallen woman. Burn her!
It is a sad, beautiful, infuriating and surprisingly sensuous story. Beauty of the nature and beauty of the budding love between two lonely, peculiar, misunderstood souls are tarnished by intolerance, baseless hatred and cruelty. Of course, I cried.
We are reading this for my YA book club, and I'll be sad if no one appreciates it like I do.
P.S. Why didn't I try reading any more of Sherryl Jordan's books?
P.P.S. As far as the vibe, I would add Portrait of a Lady on Fire to it.
______
The Raging Quiet is a teen-oriented mix of The Scarlet Letter, Tess of the D'Urbervilles and The Crucible. A story of a woman who dares to be different and has to be punished for it.
Marnie has had it coming. First, she marries a wealthy older man (who cares if she does it only to save her family from poverty) and moves with him into his decrepit and allegedly cursed house in a seaside village populated by ignorant bigots. When Marnie's husband suddenly and accidentally dies, all attention focuses on her. You see, she makes a mistake of blaming herself publicly for his death because in a moment of weakness she prayed that her rapy, you-will-learn-to-enjoy-it husband would leave her alone.
Marnie's problems only become bigger when she befriends a local devil-possessed madman - a young fellow who, the young widow learns, is deaf and not crazy. She feels compassion towards him and invents a sign language to help him communicate. This sign language makes the villagers even more suspicious. The rumors about the young woman run rampant, especially when her neighbors find out she allows the mad young man live in her home. A little push from Marnie's brother-in-law who has an eye on her inheritance, and all hell breaks loose. She is a witch, she is a fallen woman. Burn her!
It is a sad, beautiful, infuriating and surprisingly sensuous story. Beauty of the nature and beauty of the budding love between two lonely, peculiar, misunderstood souls are tarnished by intolerance, baseless hatred and cruelty. Of course, I cried.
August 31, 2011
It isn't often that I begin writing a review with trepidation and insecurities, thinking that my thoughts and feelings can't possibly do the book justice. This isn't because I have a great esteem for myself; no, it is because, while a lot of what I read I enjoy, I'm not fooling myself into thinking that the majority of it is what most would consider quality literature. It is with those kinds of books that I figure that whatever I type should suffice. But there are those times, like when I reviewed Emma and Jellicoe Road not so long ago, that I get nervous. This is another of those times.
I've always had a fascination with books and things set in this era. And I won't lie — that had a large influence in me loving this book. This is the kind of book that I can slip into like a warm fleece on a cold winter's night and feel cozy and comforted in. But I think most would agree that there is something special about this diamond in the rough.
The Raging Quiet is a true hidden gem. It snared my attention from the first chapter and surpassed any level of expectations I could've had going in. The characters are so rich and real and believable in their pain and love and loss and joy that I know I shall never forget them. I wept for Marnie, I was grateful for the priest's charity and kindness to two lost souls, and the boy without the blessing of sound stole my heart.
The subject of religion is handled perfectly IMO; it doesn't preach to non-believers, nor does it offend believers. Marnie is religious, but she has her struggles with God because of the terrible things she goes through in such a short time. The priest that helps Marnie and Raven isn't portrayed as a saint, but merely a spiritually faithful man with faults. And there isn't any explicit content, but the author doesn't refrain from dealing with tough subjects, either.
Sadly, this book doesn't seem to be receiving much recognition around these parts. But it is twelve years old and, although to me it is simple yet beautiful and fits the story perfectly, the cover is no longer in vogue; it is not flashy and bedazzled enough to catch the eye of most readers in today's market. It is my hope that I can bring this book at least a small portion of the attention it deserves.
I've always had a fascination with books and things set in this era. And I won't lie — that had a large influence in me loving this book. This is the kind of book that I can slip into like a warm fleece on a cold winter's night and feel cozy and comforted in. But I think most would agree that there is something special about this diamond in the rough.
The Raging Quiet is a true hidden gem. It snared my attention from the first chapter and surpassed any level of expectations I could've had going in. The characters are so rich and real and believable in their pain and love and loss and joy that I know I shall never forget them. I wept for Marnie, I was grateful for the priest's charity and kindness to two lost souls, and the boy without the blessing of sound stole my heart.
The subject of religion is handled perfectly IMO; it doesn't preach to non-believers, nor does it offend believers. Marnie is religious, but she has her struggles with God because of the terrible things she goes through in such a short time. The priest that helps Marnie and Raven isn't portrayed as a saint, but merely a spiritually faithful man with faults. And there isn't any explicit content, but the author doesn't refrain from dealing with tough subjects, either.
Sadly, this book doesn't seem to be receiving much recognition around these parts. But it is twelve years old and, although to me it is simple yet beautiful and fits the story perfectly, the cover is no longer in vogue; it is not flashy and bedazzled enough to catch the eye of most readers in today's market. It is my hope that I can bring this book at least a small portion of the attention it deserves.
April 8, 2022
I've been trying to remember the title of this one for years! Today I bought a copy of another book by the author, The Anger of Angels, and it mentioned this book on the cover. While I had to check to be sure, I knew that I had finally found it! I read it at least 10 years ago, loved it, and clearly it meant enough to me that my inability to remember the title so I could buy my own copy was a persistent bother to me!
I'll have to find a copy and reread it, but for now I'm just so excited to know just what book it is I'm looking for!😄
UPDATED: I now have my very own copy, found second hand in excellent condition! I will read it when the time feels right. 📖
I'll have to find a copy and reread it, but for now I'm just so excited to know just what book it is I'm looking for!😄
UPDATED: I now have my very own copy, found second hand in excellent condition! I will read it when the time feels right. 📖
June 8, 2012
The Raging Quiet is without doubt a Rey-The-Teen-Years book. Which is not to say it is not a Rey-Now book, (it is), but this is the sort of novel I would have adored without reservation in high school. As a teenager that read almost exclusively classics and historical literature of any kind, and possibly had somewhat overly romantic ideas about life, I would have been completely enamoured with Jordan’s sweeping story of love triumphing over evil.
The deliberate ambiguity of the setting and time period in which The Raging Quiet takes place allows the story to straddle a line between historical fiction and fantasy, and frees it from some of the rigidity a straight historical fiction novel would demand. Jordan has created a world that borrows heavily from our own past and is told in a traditional style, yet allows the plot to unfold in a manner that resonates with its contemporary audience.
While The Raging Quiet could be classified as a romance, its central themes are prejudice and injustice –the hate bred from fear and ignorance, fostered by close-mindedness. In the small, withdrawn community of Torcurra, difference is perceived as an evil, and those who do not fit neatly within its social norms are shunned or outright abused. The characters of Marnie and Raver/n are distrusted by the villagers, though for different reasons. Marnie for her rumoured complicity in her husband’s death, and Raven for his (unrealised) deafness and subsequent inability to communicate or conduct himself in a manner they deem acceptable. But for the local priest, Father Brannan, Marnie and Raven find themselves ostracised from society, living in almost complete isolation.
Jordan walks a fine line here by creating main characters that are almost uniformly sympathetic amid a cast of narrow-minded fear-mongers. Even Father Brannan’s eventual willingness to bend his moral principles somewhat where they concern Marnie’s choices seems dangerously close to making him more of an idealised concept than a flawed and realistic character. However, Jordan manages to sidestep the problem of too much polarity and too little dimension amid her cast of characters by imbuing her protagonists with the emotional and physical scars of their pasts. These are two characters who desperately deserve a measure of happiness, having suffered so much at the hands an unjust society.
Where Jordan really excels as a storyteller is in her crafting of the relationship that develops between Raven and Marnie. While their closeness grows as a by-product of their ability to communicate with each other, there’s also something to be said for the capacity to empathise that seems inherent in both of them. This mutual affinity, a deep understanding of each other’s pain, is the tie that really binds Marnie and Raven together.
The progression of this relationship is handled delicately, and Jordan does not overlook the obstacles that stand in their way, not just in the form of societal opposition, but their own doubts and fears. This is particularly so in the case of Marnie, a young woman who suffered emotionally and sexually during her short marriage. The role of intimacy based on trust and respect is beautifully explored, the scenes between Marnie and Raven all the more poignant for their healing, profound nature.
Interestingly, while the novel is deliberately vague on its time and location particulars, Jordan bases her portrayal of witch trials and rituals on historical fact. These are among the most powerful scenes in the book, such cruelty levied against a young woman simply for being different.
Despite the message-based content of The Raging Quiet, it is not a didactic or overtly moralising novel. Rather, Jordan has written a compelling story that speaks eloquently about the effects of prejudice, the transformative power of empathy, and the simple, human need to be heard.
The deliberate ambiguity of the setting and time period in which The Raging Quiet takes place allows the story to straddle a line between historical fiction and fantasy, and frees it from some of the rigidity a straight historical fiction novel would demand. Jordan has created a world that borrows heavily from our own past and is told in a traditional style, yet allows the plot to unfold in a manner that resonates with its contemporary audience.
While The Raging Quiet could be classified as a romance, its central themes are prejudice and injustice –the hate bred from fear and ignorance, fostered by close-mindedness. In the small, withdrawn community of Torcurra, difference is perceived as an evil, and those who do not fit neatly within its social norms are shunned or outright abused. The characters of Marnie and Raver/n are distrusted by the villagers, though for different reasons. Marnie for her rumoured complicity in her husband’s death, and Raven for his (unrealised) deafness and subsequent inability to communicate or conduct himself in a manner they deem acceptable. But for the local priest, Father Brannan, Marnie and Raven find themselves ostracised from society, living in almost complete isolation.
Jordan walks a fine line here by creating main characters that are almost uniformly sympathetic amid a cast of narrow-minded fear-mongers. Even Father Brannan’s eventual willingness to bend his moral principles somewhat where they concern Marnie’s choices seems dangerously close to making him more of an idealised concept than a flawed and realistic character. However, Jordan manages to sidestep the problem of too much polarity and too little dimension amid her cast of characters by imbuing her protagonists with the emotional and physical scars of their pasts. These are two characters who desperately deserve a measure of happiness, having suffered so much at the hands an unjust society.
Where Jordan really excels as a storyteller is in her crafting of the relationship that develops between Raven and Marnie. While their closeness grows as a by-product of their ability to communicate with each other, there’s also something to be said for the capacity to empathise that seems inherent in both of them. This mutual affinity, a deep understanding of each other’s pain, is the tie that really binds Marnie and Raven together.
The progression of this relationship is handled delicately, and Jordan does not overlook the obstacles that stand in their way, not just in the form of societal opposition, but their own doubts and fears. This is particularly so in the case of Marnie, a young woman who suffered emotionally and sexually during her short marriage. The role of intimacy based on trust and respect is beautifully explored, the scenes between Marnie and Raven all the more poignant for their healing, profound nature.
Interestingly, while the novel is deliberately vague on its time and location particulars, Jordan bases her portrayal of witch trials and rituals on historical fact. These are among the most powerful scenes in the book, such cruelty levied against a young woman simply for being different.
Despite the message-based content of The Raging Quiet, it is not a didactic or overtly moralising novel. Rather, Jordan has written a compelling story that speaks eloquently about the effects of prejudice, the transformative power of empathy, and the simple, human need to be heard.
June 13, 2025
A million stars for this beautiful little book, which features one of the most perfect romances I’ve ever read. Marnie is a teenage girl who is suddenly widowed soon after her unwanted marriage to a bad man, and the village that is her new home suspects her of murdering him, while Raven is a boy who is thought by the village to be mad and possessed by devils but is in truth simply deaf. They are both reviled outcasts who have suffered a great deal, and they gradually learn to communicate (developing their own sign language!!), understand each other, stand by each other against a world that is unkind to them both and then love each other.
Marnie is a total badass and Raven is a total sweetie, and their relationship is beautiful. There are ample descriptions of their daily life together in their cottage, the food they eat and the things they do together, and all of this is incredibly cozy. I also love the relationship - especially the theological arguing and funny banter - between Marnie and Father Brannan, the local priest who demonstrates the true ideals of Christian goodness, generosity and compassion as opposed to the villagers’ sanctimonious judgment, cruelty and violence in the name of holiness. Top it off with a pitch perfect happy ending, and I’m glad to say that this is one of my new favorites of all time. It’s pretty much the epitome of a hidden gem, and I really hope that I can encourage even just a few more people to give it a try.
Marnie is a total badass and Raven is a total sweetie, and their relationship is beautiful. There are ample descriptions of their daily life together in their cottage, the food they eat and the things they do together, and all of this is incredibly cozy. I also love the relationship - especially the theological arguing and funny banter - between Marnie and Father Brannan, the local priest who demonstrates the true ideals of Christian goodness, generosity and compassion as opposed to the villagers’ sanctimonious judgment, cruelty and violence in the name of holiness. Top it off with a pitch perfect happy ending, and I’m glad to say that this is one of my new favorites of all time. It’s pretty much the epitome of a hidden gem, and I really hope that I can encourage even just a few more people to give it a try.
June 9, 2017
Chapter One
The afternoon Marnie came to Torcurra, the villagers were whipping the devils out of a mad boy. She knew he was mad by the way he cried, his voice high and unnatural, with no words but only strange, wild sounds.
Witnessed by the sixteen-year-old, there was nothing she could do. After all, it was her wedding day. Her new husband, the much-older Isake, stopped their wagon to purchase an ale before heading to their cottage on the beach. Marnie watched at a distance while a priest came running to disburse the crowd and untie the young man's hands.
~~~~~
When I first read The Raging Quiet in 2011, I fell passionately in love with the earthy yet haunting setting, the cautionary Marnie and guarded but playful Raven. Both of the young people were outsiders in the small religious community but for different reasons.
Taking place during medieval times, Ms. Jordan balanced this YA tale with toxic suspicions locked into one way of thinking, the repressive views of the sheltered townspeople and a patriarchal philosophy to master women's liberties. A priest provided balance.
All Marnie wanted was for people to accept her. After discovering that Raven was not mad, she made it her mission to help him overcome his lack of hearing. It wasn't easy and no pun intended, but it fell on deaf ears.
I am finished with The Raging Quiet and this time I would rate it a solid 4 stars rather than 5. Even though it is not Christian fiction, the religious overtones are felt in each chapter. It was the guiding force that shaped the characters.
I sensed a heartbeat of tangled perspectives; I was highly aware of Marnie's youth with her strong opinions and rashness. I empathized with Father Brennan's fragility trying to cope as a priest. He had no wife or other support but he was expected to fix everyone's problems. And Raven. I can't imagine what it must have been like for someone with a physical disability tolive survive during those tenuous years.
The afternoon Marnie came to Torcurra, the villagers were whipping the devils out of a mad boy. She knew he was mad by the way he cried, his voice high and unnatural, with no words but only strange, wild sounds.
Witnessed by the sixteen-year-old, there was nothing she could do. After all, it was her wedding day. Her new husband, the much-older Isake, stopped their wagon to purchase an ale before heading to their cottage on the beach. Marnie watched at a distance while a priest came running to disburse the crowd and untie the young man's hands.
~~~~~
When I first read The Raging Quiet in 2011, I fell passionately in love with the earthy yet haunting setting, the cautionary Marnie and guarded but playful Raven. Both of the young people were outsiders in the small religious community but for different reasons.
Taking place during medieval times, Ms. Jordan balanced this YA tale with toxic suspicions locked into one way of thinking, the repressive views of the sheltered townspeople and a patriarchal philosophy to master women's liberties. A priest provided balance.
All Marnie wanted was for people to accept her. After discovering that Raven was not mad, she made it her mission to help him overcome his lack of hearing. It wasn't easy and no pun intended, but it fell on deaf ears.
I am finished with The Raging Quiet and this time I would rate it a solid 4 stars rather than 5. Even though it is not Christian fiction, the religious overtones are felt in each chapter. It was the guiding force that shaped the characters.
I sensed a heartbeat of tangled perspectives; I was highly aware of Marnie's youth with her strong opinions and rashness. I empathized with Father Brennan's fragility trying to cope as a priest. He had no wife or other support but he was expected to fix everyone's problems. And Raven. I can't imagine what it must have been like for someone with a physical disability to
July 2, 2010
I think this book was "moon-good beautiful." The characters grabbed me from the first page and kept my interest all the way through. I thought they were well-developed and grew in lots of great ways during the course of the story. I couldn't read it fast enough, wanting to know what happened next.
The characters of Raven and Marnie, both injured in different ways from the world they live in, each struggling to make a life, are people you want to see succeed. All the various threads are pulled together by the final pages and the ending was just right.
I would recommend this story for adults as well as older teens. I know this says it is for children 12 and over but I think it has some very adult themes and situations which would not be suitable for younger teens, in my opinion.
I enjoyed this book so much that I didn't want it to end and will look for more from Sherryl Jordan. I loved it.
The characters of Raven and Marnie, both injured in different ways from the world they live in, each struggling to make a life, are people you want to see succeed. All the various threads are pulled together by the final pages and the ending was just right.
I would recommend this story for adults as well as older teens. I know this says it is for children 12 and over but I think it has some very adult themes and situations which would not be suitable for younger teens, in my opinion.
I enjoyed this book so much that I didn't want it to end and will look for more from Sherryl Jordan. I loved it.
December 17, 2023
Profoundly moving. I have to say, get your Kleenex ready when you are reading this beautiful book. It's a very dark book. It's a cautionary tale about the devastation wrought by prejudice, ignorance and bigotry. It is also a tale about hope, love and resilience among these hateful elements. You definitely will root for this young couple and hopefully, learn something good from this tale.
March 5, 2013
What a beautiful book! I thank my goodreads pals for recommending this gem of a book which takes place a very long time ago, when people believed in witchcraft and faeries.
Marnie is a young woman of sixteen years who is forced into marriage with an older man to save her family from certain poverty when her father is struck down by illness and can no longer perform his duties as overseer on their lord's estate.
Luke Isherwood, Marnie's husband, is one of the lord's sons and his inheritance is an old, rundown cabin by the sea. He is happy with this arrangement because the cabin holds a hidden treasure that will make him richer than a king, and it is to this place that he brings Marnie to start their new life. Marnie, young and inexperienced, soon finds marriage to Luke an ordeal and though he is not a cruel man, Luke is neither interterested in making his wife happy nor willing to ease her distress, as he is consumed with the search for treasure.
When a horrible fall removes Luke from Marnie's life, it seems that all will be well with Marnie, but for the suspicions of the villagers who believe that Marnie is responsible for Luke's death. The fact that she has befriended the town madman, Raver, and has taken him into her home doesn't help Marnie's situation.
Sheryl Jordan writes a beautiful story of love and innocence, in the face of hatred, prejudice and ignorance. It is a timeless tale that is still relevant as it describes the consequences that arise from gossip, false witness, and a desire to unwittingly commit evil for the sake of "justice".
This is one little book that you just can't put down. Ms. Jordan is an exceptionally talented writer who effortlessly draws you into her story, making you care instantly for Marnie, Father Brannan and, most of all, for Raver--lovingly renamed Raven by Marnie because she is able to look beyond the obvious into the beauty within--unlike her hateful neighbors.
A+ read.
Marnie is a young woman of sixteen years who is forced into marriage with an older man to save her family from certain poverty when her father is struck down by illness and can no longer perform his duties as overseer on their lord's estate.
Luke Isherwood, Marnie's husband, is one of the lord's sons and his inheritance is an old, rundown cabin by the sea. He is happy with this arrangement because the cabin holds a hidden treasure that will make him richer than a king, and it is to this place that he brings Marnie to start their new life. Marnie, young and inexperienced, soon finds marriage to Luke an ordeal and though he is not a cruel man, Luke is neither interterested in making his wife happy nor willing to ease her distress, as he is consumed with the search for treasure.
When a horrible fall removes Luke from Marnie's life, it seems that all will be well with Marnie, but for the suspicions of the villagers who believe that Marnie is responsible for Luke's death. The fact that she has befriended the town madman, Raver, and has taken him into her home doesn't help Marnie's situation.
Sheryl Jordan writes a beautiful story of love and innocence, in the face of hatred, prejudice and ignorance. It is a timeless tale that is still relevant as it describes the consequences that arise from gossip, false witness, and a desire to unwittingly commit evil for the sake of "justice".
This is one little book that you just can't put down. Ms. Jordan is an exceptionally talented writer who effortlessly draws you into her story, making you care instantly for Marnie, Father Brannan and, most of all, for Raver--lovingly renamed Raven by Marnie because she is able to look beyond the obvious into the beauty within--unlike her hateful neighbors.
A+ read.
April 13, 2010
A Raging Quiet by Sherryl Jordon is such a flawlessly written novel. I was truly captivated by the characters, plot and setting. Despite the setting of the novel being historical, the message resonates to any time and place. This book is about people's prejudices and ignorance, and about a girl being wrongly accused, where her only crime is being different than others.
Marnie is a newlywed girl of sixteen who is taken to a seaside cottage by her husband, Isake, who is more than twice her age and a lord's middle son. Married for a brief two days, she is left shocked, alone and accused of casting a curse that caused her husband's death. Rumors begin to circulate in the village that Marnie is a witch and suspicion grows as she befriends the village "mad" boy named Raven. As Marnie and Raven foster a relationship, she learns that he is not mad at all, but rather unable to communicate because he is deaf. Marnie begins to develop a means of communication with him through a series of hand gestures, which the villagers interpret as witchcraft and casting curses. As the villagers become unsettled, Marnie is persecuted and wrongly accused.
This story was truly magical and enchanting, as the characters and story came to life for me in such a vivid, energetic way. The love and friendship between Marnie and Raven was innocent and absolutely beautiful. I highly recommend this book to readers of all ages. Great read!
Marnie is a newlywed girl of sixteen who is taken to a seaside cottage by her husband, Isake, who is more than twice her age and a lord's middle son. Married for a brief two days, she is left shocked, alone and accused of casting a curse that caused her husband's death. Rumors begin to circulate in the village that Marnie is a witch and suspicion grows as she befriends the village "mad" boy named Raven. As Marnie and Raven foster a relationship, she learns that he is not mad at all, but rather unable to communicate because he is deaf. Marnie begins to develop a means of communication with him through a series of hand gestures, which the villagers interpret as witchcraft and casting curses. As the villagers become unsettled, Marnie is persecuted and wrongly accused.
This story was truly magical and enchanting, as the characters and story came to life for me in such a vivid, energetic way. The love and friendship between Marnie and Raven was innocent and absolutely beautiful. I highly recommend this book to readers of all ages. Great read!
March 15, 2022
What a gem of a book.
I won't lie - when it started, I thought "Oof. This isn't gonna go well." The first 20 pages or so didn't grip me at all. And yet, as I continued, I was more and more hooked.
I loved the way communication was displayed in here. Honestly it's even relevant to my work in early intervention with a variety of language disorders/delays - I try to coach my families in encouraging speech but also being mindful of total communication. Mouth words aren't the only form of communication and if you try to meet a kid on their level instead of pushing them to where you think they should be, you'll be able to communicate so much more effectively. I felt that was perfectly depicted in this book.
I also really liked the setting - just some older time where society opinions and reputation are so important. And those same "devoutly religious" people exist now - the ones who think they're so worthy and righteous without realizing that they are the worst kind of evil.
I can't believe how much I enjoyed this. It was just such a surprise and I'll be thinking about it for a long time afterward.
I won't lie - when it started, I thought "Oof. This isn't gonna go well." The first 20 pages or so didn't grip me at all. And yet, as I continued, I was more and more hooked.
I loved the way communication was displayed in here. Honestly it's even relevant to my work in early intervention with a variety of language disorders/delays - I try to coach my families in encouraging speech but also being mindful of total communication. Mouth words aren't the only form of communication and if you try to meet a kid on their level instead of pushing them to where you think they should be, you'll be able to communicate so much more effectively. I felt that was perfectly depicted in this book.
I also really liked the setting - just some older time where society opinions and reputation are so important. And those same "devoutly religious" people exist now - the ones who think they're so worthy and righteous without realizing that they are the worst kind of evil.
I can't believe how much I enjoyed this. It was just such a surprise and I'll be thinking about it for a long time afterward.
July 24, 2011
The Raging Quiet is a book I never would have read. The cover is juvenile at best, cheesy at worst. It's a romance and I'm a tomboy. Yes sometimes I have girly moments (Archer Cross, Peeta Mellark, I'm looking at you) but I didn't think I could read a straight-up romance. My friends on goodreads told me to read this book. They said it was a romance, but it wasn't that type of romance.
They were right.
The Raging Quiet is not like the romances I've avoided. The characters are well developed and the romance takes time. The story is a historical romance without a specific time period, something that adds to the timeless fairytale feel. The story lacks the magic that's normally associated with such myths, relying on realistic events and the chemistry between the two main characters to push the story forward instead of devices like fairy godmothers and cursed apples. I like that.
The book starts with Marnie leaving her home, wed to Sir William Isherwood's son. She's only 16 and he's twice her age. She marries for the pragmatic reasons of the past: to protect her families livelihood after her father falls ill and to escape the rumors circulating about her. This is not glorified or turned into a horror, the book appropriately shows the fears of a reluctant bride without making her husband Isake fully hero or bad guy.
"Her face was striking, with astonishing blue eyes and forthright look that got her into trouble on the farm. Various youths, reading her boldness as brazenness had at different times tried to grab her in the hay barn or behind the stables, and been soundly walloped for their trouble." (Description of Marnie)
When Marnie arrives at her new home Torcurra they're beating the devils out of the local mad boy. It's a chilling image of the times and the town Marnie lives in. Two days after her arrival her husband dies and the town, leery of anyone different or unknown, becomes suspicious.
Facing a town that doesn't like or understand her, Marnie doesn't cower but continues to do what she thinks is right regardless of the consequences. She befriends the local madman, a young man who grunts and rages, but is unable to communicate. The villagers think he's possessed by demons but he reminds Marnie of her sick father. In some ways Marnie is too good to be true, too good for the world that she lives in, but that's part of what makes her such a lovable heroine. She's sweet and kind, with a rare empathetic heart that she always follows. That's why she helps the madman and it's one of the truest examples of Christian-love I've ever seen in a novel. (This isn't a "Christian novel" but it's set in a Christian time period/village). Even the town priest learns from Marnie's example. Though the madman scares her, she also pities him, understands his isolation and eventually tries to find ways to communicate with him.
I worry that talking much about Raven would be considered spoilers. But this is as much his story as Marnie's and I really admire what the author has done with his character. She's created a believable character with a disability and plopped him into a time period that is unwilling to accept him. Once you understand Raven, his fits of anger and confusion are completely understandable. I'll leave it at that and let you discover Raven on your own.
Calling The Raging Quiet a "romance" doesn't seem to do this book justice. Yes there is a love story at it's center. But for me romance has become a dirty word in books. This book isn't about love at first site or long overwrought crushes. It's about the friendship that blossoms between two people and over time becomes something more. To me that's what love is. It's not this flashy, sparkly, mopey or otherwise unbelievable stuff we normally see in books. It's friendship that grows until it's so big there aren't words to describe it anymore.
In some ways this book is as much about friendship and kindness as love. That's what I feel like most romances are lacking. That's what pulled me in and made this book different. It's a simple story, but a believable story. The relationship builds naturally and nothing ever feels forced.
I'm glad that people pushed me to read this book. I'll probably always be leery of romance novels, but this book proves that sometimes a story can surpass it's label. This book worked because it gave me what I want from EVERY book--likable main characters, believable character development and a story that deserves to be told.
(Hope you guys like the expanded review & I hope it does the book justice)
Original review (because people liked it)
Yes everyone was right. This book was very good. I apparently can read a romance. But this is romance was sweet & genuine, not forced, mopey or love at first sight. It built from pity, to friendship to something more. Why don't more people try to write stories like that?
I will try to give this a proper review. It deserves that. But it was a lovely read. Thanks Catie for telling me to read it!
They were right.
The Raging Quiet is not like the romances I've avoided. The characters are well developed and the romance takes time. The story is a historical romance without a specific time period, something that adds to the timeless fairytale feel. The story lacks the magic that's normally associated with such myths, relying on realistic events and the chemistry between the two main characters to push the story forward instead of devices like fairy godmothers and cursed apples. I like that.
The book starts with Marnie leaving her home, wed to Sir William Isherwood's son. She's only 16 and he's twice her age. She marries for the pragmatic reasons of the past: to protect her families livelihood after her father falls ill and to escape the rumors circulating about her. This is not glorified or turned into a horror, the book appropriately shows the fears of a reluctant bride without making her husband Isake fully hero or bad guy.
"Her face was striking, with astonishing blue eyes and forthright look that got her into trouble on the farm. Various youths, reading her boldness as brazenness had at different times tried to grab her in the hay barn or behind the stables, and been soundly walloped for their trouble." (Description of Marnie)
When Marnie arrives at her new home Torcurra they're beating the devils out of the local mad boy. It's a chilling image of the times and the town Marnie lives in. Two days after her arrival her husband dies and the town, leery of anyone different or unknown, becomes suspicious.
Facing a town that doesn't like or understand her, Marnie doesn't cower but continues to do what she thinks is right regardless of the consequences. She befriends the local madman, a young man who grunts and rages, but is unable to communicate. The villagers think he's possessed by demons but he reminds Marnie of her sick father. In some ways Marnie is too good to be true, too good for the world that she lives in, but that's part of what makes her such a lovable heroine. She's sweet and kind, with a rare empathetic heart that she always follows. That's why she helps the madman and it's one of the truest examples of Christian-love I've ever seen in a novel. (This isn't a "Christian novel" but it's set in a Christian time period/village). Even the town priest learns from Marnie's example. Though the madman scares her, she also pities him, understands his isolation and eventually tries to find ways to communicate with him.
I worry that talking much about Raven would be considered spoilers. But this is as much his story as Marnie's and I really admire what the author has done with his character. She's created a believable character with a disability and plopped him into a time period that is unwilling to accept him. Once you understand Raven, his fits of anger and confusion are completely understandable. I'll leave it at that and let you discover Raven on your own.
Calling The Raging Quiet a "romance" doesn't seem to do this book justice. Yes there is a love story at it's center. But for me romance has become a dirty word in books. This book isn't about love at first site or long overwrought crushes. It's about the friendship that blossoms between two people and over time becomes something more. To me that's what love is. It's not this flashy, sparkly, mopey or otherwise unbelievable stuff we normally see in books. It's friendship that grows until it's so big there aren't words to describe it anymore.
In some ways this book is as much about friendship and kindness as love. That's what I feel like most romances are lacking. That's what pulled me in and made this book different. It's a simple story, but a believable story. The relationship builds naturally and nothing ever feels forced.
I'm glad that people pushed me to read this book. I'll probably always be leery of romance novels, but this book proves that sometimes a story can surpass it's label. This book worked because it gave me what I want from EVERY book--likable main characters, believable character development and a story that deserves to be told.
(Hope you guys like the expanded review & I hope it does the book justice)
Original review (because people liked it)
Yes everyone was right. This book was very good. I apparently can read a romance. But this is romance was sweet & genuine, not forced, mopey or love at first sight. It built from pity, to friendship to something more. Why don't more people try to write stories like that?
I will try to give this a proper review. It deserves that. But it was a lovely read. Thanks Catie for telling me to read it!
May 19, 2011
4.5 stars! Just so we're clear, I had NO idea what this book was about. I didn't read the synopsis, I didn't read reviews, nothing. I think part of that is why I liked the book so much. I came in with a clean slate, not knowing anything (other than I didn't like the cover), and I really believe it was a bonus. Everything was new and a surprise. I personally think the synopsis gives away a lot. Especially the jacket flap, if you get the hardcover version DO NOT read the flap, it practically tells the whole story!
So again, I loved it. It was so good I stayed up all night to finish it. But then hubby asked if I was ever going to go to sleep so I had to finish the rest in the morning. The book is about accepting differences. Well, not really. Maybe.
The townspeople were funny and scary at the same time. Funny because they loved the gossip and a bit scary because of their reactions to the new people.
I really liked the main characters in the story. Marnie, is very likable. I wanted to scream at the people to just listen to her. Sheesh already! Oh man, at times I felt so bad for her. She just wanted to do her own thing and just live life and it seemed like people would only look for fault and what "the neighbors were thinking". One of her thoughts: "Was there no limit to their dreadful stupidity?". I was thinking the same thing!
And Raven, sigh. I wanted to hug him. He was so endearing. I loved his interactions with Marnie and Father Brannan. Just seeing him progress was enough for me to wish the book was twice as long. He was so sweet and innocent!
I loved how Father Brannan was there for everyone. I shudder to think what would have happened if he weren't around. Plus, the banter between him and Marnie was hilarious at times.
So do I recommend this one? Yes! It's fun and sweet and at the end I wanted to cry happy tears. One of the best and sweetest romances I've read. You'll find yourself rooting the "good guys" and for Raven (I know I was). Better for older teens because there are a few adult situations.
Ah, so romantic!!
So again, I loved it. It was so good I stayed up all night to finish it. But then hubby asked if I was ever going to go to sleep so I had to finish the rest in the morning. The book is about accepting differences. Well, not really. Maybe.
The townspeople were funny and scary at the same time. Funny because they loved the gossip and a bit scary because of their reactions to the new people.
I really liked the main characters in the story. Marnie, is very likable. I wanted to scream at the people to just listen to her. Sheesh already! Oh man, at times I felt so bad for her. She just wanted to do her own thing and just live life and it seemed like people would only look for fault and what "the neighbors were thinking". One of her thoughts: "Was there no limit to their dreadful stupidity?". I was thinking the same thing!
And Raven, sigh. I wanted to hug him. He was so endearing. I loved his interactions with Marnie and Father Brannan. Just seeing him progress was enough for me to wish the book was twice as long. He was so sweet and innocent!
I loved how Father Brannan was there for everyone. I shudder to think what would have happened if he weren't around. Plus, the banter between him and Marnie was hilarious at times.
So do I recommend this one? Yes! It's fun and sweet and at the end I wanted to cry happy tears. One of the best and sweetest romances I've read. You'll find yourself rooting the "good guys" and for Raven (I know I was). Better for older teens because there are a few adult situations.
Why?
Because I want you to be happy.
I'll be happy if I can see your face. That is all I want.
One day my face will get old and ugly.
It's ugly now...
Ah, so romantic!!
January 25, 2025
Rating: 5 / 5
There is something...unspeakably beautiful about this, and even amidst all the available books out there, it's rare for me to come across a story that genuinely makes me think that.
Marnie is a young woman forced to marry a rich older man, just so that her family won't be evicted from their home. And while Marnie doesn't per se hate her new husband, it's clear he has a drinking problem and that theirs is not going to be a happy marraige.
That includes the marriage bed, unfortunately, as Marnie all too painfully finds out--though thankfully, not graphically for us readers.
Anyway, her husband does her the good grace of dying in an accident only two days into their marriage, leaving Marnie free to do as she chooses. As for what she chooses, rather than go home to be overworked as she was before, instead she wants to continue living in the hovel that they made their home, right by a beautiful cove near a village. She gets off on quite the wrong foot with all of the villagers apart from the priest, Father Brannon, however, and this sows the seeds for some conflict that she has to overcome later on.
Alongside her is Raver, whom she names Raven instead, a young man who's often been beaten and abused by others. As Marnie learns however, this is because he's deaf, and slowly but surely the pair start to become closer once Marnie makes the effort of trying to communicate with him using their own special sign language. However, this being a strange and unusual thing for others around them, thus the accusations of "witchcraft" crop up, setting in motion one of the main conflicts of the story.
__________
Now, on the one hand, I've read some of the harsher reviews on this story, which complain that neither the time nor the place are very clear, and...yeah, this is true. In terms of the names of the three locations mentioned, I had no idea where they were, but just assumed east England and used my imagination that way. As for the time period, this is even less clear, and just a pre-Industrial Revolution time is all I could think of, though apparently some readers want things clearer, based on whether official sign language was around or not at the time. Meh, personally I wasn't the pickiest on this, as I felt the story had a timeless quality to it, kind of like Beauty and the Beast, or other such fairy tales where time isn't really important. Still, I will acknowledge it as a valid critique.
A somewhat less-valid critique though, for me, is about the representation of a deaf hero and how his disability is portrayed. Personally...I thought it was pretty great. Like, in particular, I appreciated the scenes in which Raven describes how he experienced the world before meeting Marnie, and how he just thought that there was something wrong with others and that they were "stupid for moving their mouths open and closed like fish", not realizing that he's the one who's always been different. This caused an argument between them, as well as a moment of revelation for Raven, perhaps realizing that, just as Marnie could never really explain sound to him, maybe there was something about others that he never truly did nor could ever understand. It just felt like such a powerful moment to me, and made my love for Raven as a character all the greater as he realizes for the first time just how truly alone he is in the world.
Another part of the book that I also really appreciated was how, while the bad characters are clearly bad, none of the good characters are purely good or perfect, or even get redeemed or anything.
For instance, Marnie's mother is quite set against Raven and can't accept him, or even Marnie's way of life, given how she continues to flaunt convention and just live the way she wants to. The mother pretty much orders Marnie out of her house and...that's it. We never see the mother again, and have no idea whether or not Marnie ever reconciles with her. That hits deep, given the many real-life scenarios that play out just that way.
Then, there's also the priest, Father Brannon, who helps Marnie from day one. He's also the only one who tried helping out Raven as well, but he acknowledges that he didn't always do the best by Raven, including hitting him and getting mad at him and even being wary of what he thought were Raven's "demons" when he got angry or tried to make sounds. This is a priest character who openly admits how he was far more of a hypocrite in the past, and how in many ways Marnie is more of a saint than he can ever be. Even once he knows that Raven's problem is deafness, he still isn't perfect, and he also loses his temper with Marnie as well. He just...felt like such a genuine character, and while I'll be honest that I never 100% understood why he was as kind to Marnie as he was--because there's no romantic relationship between them at all, more like a familial one, I'd say, and I don't think he ever outright explains why either--I did like having him as a major support and character (especially during the witch trial stuff, which I DID feel he was managing as best as he could, given the circumstances).
As for Marnie and Raven, yeah neither of them are perfect either. Marnie flaunts convention, but we never quite get why, as she seems to be a normal girl by all accounts. She thoroughly reproaches the physical side of marriage after her experience with her husband, even as she and Raven do fall in love, and she does need to be convinced into things in order to accept that that's a part of life and physical relationships. Additionally, while you'd think that she's selfless and gives a lot of attention to Raven and everything once she's decided to look after him, some of the times she does push him away and try to insist on her own point of view and that's...well, that's realistic too! No matter how much you love a person, you can't be 100% pleasant to them all the time, whether from an actual reason or just from being in a bad mood. I didn't like when they were apart or had their arguments, but I understood it and appreciated that it was realistic.
As for Raven, he was definitely the nearest to perfect goodness from everyone, as he's the more innocent, childlike person who hasn't really done evil in the world; just had it done to him. However, he has quite a personality apart from that, including thinking that others are stupid before learning words from Marnie, as well as admitting that he does have anger issues in getting frustrated when he can't be understood. Heck, once he even slaps Marnie out of frustration when she talks with her mouth instead of her hands, and that's just not something I've seen heroes do often. It's done in the same way that the Beast first yells at and commands Belle around though: more of a reflection of his own insecurities and temper, but with no real meanness behind it.
_____________
Anyway, I think that taking these things all in all, especially in making the characters feel so genuine, the narrative therefore feels more genuine and takes on a much more timeless quality.
And while I am rating it the full five stars, one thing that my own romance-starved heart can complain about is that I really wish that we had gotten more lover scenes from Marnie and Raven, since while we do progress into how they fall in love, just more mentions of kisses and embraces and dances and whatnot would've been welcome on my end. Ahem, but that's more of a minor complaint rather than a major one though, and therefore shouldn't be taken too seriously.
All in all, for anyone considering to read this, I do agree that I don't think everyone might like it, especially depending on what other things you're exposed to in romance; however, for ME, it's definitely a balm for my soul and gives me all I could desire from a beautiful, timeless romance.
There is something...unspeakably beautiful about this, and even amidst all the available books out there, it's rare for me to come across a story that genuinely makes me think that.
Marnie is a young woman forced to marry a rich older man, just so that her family won't be evicted from their home. And while Marnie doesn't per se hate her new husband, it's clear he has a drinking problem and that theirs is not going to be a happy marraige.
That includes the marriage bed, unfortunately, as Marnie all too painfully finds out--though thankfully, not graphically for us readers.
Anyway, her husband does her the good grace of dying in an accident only two days into their marriage, leaving Marnie free to do as she chooses. As for what she chooses, rather than go home to be overworked as she was before, instead she wants to continue living in the hovel that they made their home, right by a beautiful cove near a village. She gets off on quite the wrong foot with all of the villagers apart from the priest, Father Brannon, however, and this sows the seeds for some conflict that she has to overcome later on.
Alongside her is Raver, whom she names Raven instead, a young man who's often been beaten and abused by others. As Marnie learns however, this is because he's deaf, and slowly but surely the pair start to become closer once Marnie makes the effort of trying to communicate with him using their own special sign language. However, this being a strange and unusual thing for others around them, thus the accusations of "witchcraft" crop up, setting in motion one of the main conflicts of the story.
__________
Now, on the one hand, I've read some of the harsher reviews on this story, which complain that neither the time nor the place are very clear, and...yeah, this is true. In terms of the names of the three locations mentioned, I had no idea where they were, but just assumed east England and used my imagination that way. As for the time period, this is even less clear, and just a pre-Industrial Revolution time is all I could think of, though apparently some readers want things clearer, based on whether official sign language was around or not at the time. Meh, personally I wasn't the pickiest on this, as I felt the story had a timeless quality to it, kind of like Beauty and the Beast, or other such fairy tales where time isn't really important. Still, I will acknowledge it as a valid critique.
A somewhat less-valid critique though, for me, is about the representation of a deaf hero and how his disability is portrayed. Personally...I thought it was pretty great. Like, in particular, I appreciated the scenes in which Raven describes how he experienced the world before meeting Marnie, and how he just thought that there was something wrong with others and that they were "stupid for moving their mouths open and closed like fish", not realizing that he's the one who's always been different. This caused an argument between them, as well as a moment of revelation for Raven, perhaps realizing that, just as Marnie could never really explain sound to him, maybe there was something about others that he never truly did nor could ever understand. It just felt like such a powerful moment to me, and made my love for Raven as a character all the greater as he realizes for the first time just how truly alone he is in the world.
Another part of the book that I also really appreciated was how, while the bad characters are clearly bad, none of the good characters are purely good or perfect, or even get redeemed or anything.
For instance, Marnie's mother is quite set against Raven and can't accept him, or even Marnie's way of life, given how she continues to flaunt convention and just live the way she wants to. The mother pretty much orders Marnie out of her house and...that's it. We never see the mother again, and have no idea whether or not Marnie ever reconciles with her. That hits deep, given the many real-life scenarios that play out just that way.
Then, there's also the priest, Father Brannon, who helps Marnie from day one. He's also the only one who tried helping out Raven as well, but he acknowledges that he didn't always do the best by Raven, including hitting him and getting mad at him and even being wary of what he thought were Raven's "demons" when he got angry or tried to make sounds. This is a priest character who openly admits how he was far more of a hypocrite in the past, and how in many ways Marnie is more of a saint than he can ever be. Even once he knows that Raven's problem is deafness, he still isn't perfect, and he also loses his temper with Marnie as well. He just...felt like such a genuine character, and while I'll be honest that I never 100% understood why he was as kind to Marnie as he was--because there's no romantic relationship between them at all, more like a familial one, I'd say, and I don't think he ever outright explains why either--I did like having him as a major support and character (especially during the witch trial stuff, which I DID feel he was managing as best as he could, given the circumstances).
As for Marnie and Raven, yeah neither of them are perfect either. Marnie flaunts convention, but we never quite get why, as she seems to be a normal girl by all accounts. She thoroughly reproaches the physical side of marriage after her experience with her husband, even as she and Raven do fall in love, and she does need to be convinced into things in order to accept that that's a part of life and physical relationships. Additionally, while you'd think that she's selfless and gives a lot of attention to Raven and everything once she's decided to look after him, some of the times she does push him away and try to insist on her own point of view and that's...well, that's realistic too! No matter how much you love a person, you can't be 100% pleasant to them all the time, whether from an actual reason or just from being in a bad mood. I didn't like when they were apart or had their arguments, but I understood it and appreciated that it was realistic.
As for Raven, he was definitely the nearest to perfect goodness from everyone, as he's the more innocent, childlike person who hasn't really done evil in the world; just had it done to him. However, he has quite a personality apart from that, including thinking that others are stupid before learning words from Marnie, as well as admitting that he does have anger issues in getting frustrated when he can't be understood. Heck, once he even slaps Marnie out of frustration when she talks with her mouth instead of her hands, and that's just not something I've seen heroes do often. It's done in the same way that the Beast first yells at and commands Belle around though: more of a reflection of his own insecurities and temper, but with no real meanness behind it.
_____________
Anyway, I think that taking these things all in all, especially in making the characters feel so genuine, the narrative therefore feels more genuine and takes on a much more timeless quality.
And while I am rating it the full five stars, one thing that my own romance-starved heart can complain about is that I really wish that we had gotten more lover scenes from Marnie and Raven, since while we do progress into how they fall in love, just more mentions of kisses and embraces and dances and whatnot would've been welcome on my end. Ahem, but that's more of a minor complaint rather than a major one though, and therefore shouldn't be taken too seriously.
All in all, for anyone considering to read this, I do agree that I don't think everyone might like it, especially depending on what other things you're exposed to in romance; however, for ME, it's definitely a balm for my soul and gives me all I could desire from a beautiful, timeless romance.
October 27, 2014
I'm astonished to see this book classified as "fantasy" by so many people--I read quite a bit of fantasy and historical fiction, and this belongs solidly in the second category. There's no magic here--well, the story is about two young people who create a sign language and fall in love, which is magical in its own way, but nothing that couldn't happen in our world. And although Jordan claims in the afterward that there's something mythological about this tale because she didn't specify the historical setting, it's obvious from the characters' names, the social structure and customs, and the landscape that the book is set in medieval Ireland (more or less; the "mythological" comment may be intended to cover a few minor deviations, and to give the author free rein with geography). I wonder if people are confused because some of the author's other books are actual fantasy?
At any rate, The Raging Quiet is a beautiful story set in a realistic medieval world. The good-hearted but naive Marnie moves to an unwelcoming coastal village with her new husband, only for him to die shortly thereafter. The only people who will have anything to do with her are the kindly, liberal priest, Father Brannan, and the village madman, Raven, who turns out to be not crazy but deaf. Marnie decides to learn to communicate with Raven, and things go from there; the plot is interesting throughout, although a couple of Marnie's choices seem a bit senseless. The characters are three-dimensional if a bit advanced for their medieval setting, which is beautifully depicted. There is a fair bit of nastiness in this book--and a plot twist or two I didn't expect in a young adult novel--but Jordan resists the temptation to create lots of one-dimensional nasty characters, portraying them instead in shades of gray. It's obvious from the writing that she has some familiarity with both deaf people and the Middle Ages, and the romance will appeal to anyone who likes a good love story. I do agree with the reviewers who have commented that the book sets Marnie on too much of a pedestal, though; she's a sympathetic character, and given what she goes through it makes sense for Father Brannan to encourage her, but his praise and indulgence are a little much.
This book may be labeled "young adult," but there is plenty for older readers to enjoy as well. Still, the label seems to have upset a few people when they found that sex is present (although anything but graphic--and while trying to avoid spoilers, I would argue that the sex that occurs is entirely appropriate and necessary in context), so keep that in mind if looking for a book for a small child. For the rest of us, I highly recommend this one.
At any rate, The Raging Quiet is a beautiful story set in a realistic medieval world. The good-hearted but naive Marnie moves to an unwelcoming coastal village with her new husband, only for him to die shortly thereafter. The only people who will have anything to do with her are the kindly, liberal priest, Father Brannan, and the village madman, Raven, who turns out to be not crazy but deaf. Marnie decides to learn to communicate with Raven, and things go from there; the plot is interesting throughout, although a couple of Marnie's choices seem a bit senseless. The characters are three-dimensional if a bit advanced for their medieval setting, which is beautifully depicted. There is a fair bit of nastiness in this book--and a plot twist or two I didn't expect in a young adult novel--but Jordan resists the temptation to create lots of one-dimensional nasty characters, portraying them instead in shades of gray. It's obvious from the writing that she has some familiarity with both deaf people and the Middle Ages, and the romance will appeal to anyone who likes a good love story. I do agree with the reviewers who have commented that the book sets Marnie on too much of a pedestal, though; she's a sympathetic character, and given what she goes through it makes sense for Father Brannan to encourage her, but his praise and indulgence are a little much.
This book may be labeled "young adult," but there is plenty for older readers to enjoy as well. Still, the label seems to have upset a few people when they found that sex is present (although anything but graphic--and while trying to avoid spoilers, I would argue that the sex that occurs is entirely appropriate and necessary in context), so keep that in mind if looking for a book for a small child. For the rest of us, I highly recommend this one.
May 1, 2023
Not sure why I gave this book four stars. I don’t recall actively liking it, yet I wrote the below. I read a friend’s review that has made me re-think my original position and have revised from four to 2 stars. I think I’ll need to re-read it to write a more detailed for my reference review.
Original review below this point.
Very well written book. I enjoyed the historical time period it was written in. I found it interesting that I am studying sign language and when I picked up this book, didn't realize that one of the characters in it is deaf. The plot was multi-layered and the characters well written. I think it may be a bit too strong for middle schoolers, as the main female character is married at the age of 16 to someone twice her age who has kids all older than her from a first wife. He's also not gentle in introducing her to "married" life. It's not described, but the trauma is made very real through the thoughts and actions of the girl. Very deep, thought provoking book. Highly recommended.
Original review below this point.
Very well written book. I enjoyed the historical time period it was written in. I found it interesting that I am studying sign language and when I picked up this book, didn't realize that one of the characters in it is deaf. The plot was multi-layered and the characters well written. I think it may be a bit too strong for middle schoolers, as the main female character is married at the age of 16 to someone twice her age who has kids all older than her from a first wife. He's also not gentle in introducing her to "married" life. It's not described, but the trauma is made very real through the thoughts and actions of the girl. Very deep, thought provoking book. Highly recommended.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
November 29, 2025Hoping to reread this so bad!
I read this when I was a teenager over 17 years ago! It's been so long and I still remember it to this day; how tender their love was. 🥹
I read this when I was a teenager over 17 years ago! It's been so long and I still remember it to this day; how tender their love was. 🥹
April 30, 2021
Thank you so much for breaking my heart, Ms Jordan. And thank you for putting it back together afterwards, possibly better than it was before.
Not going to lie, I cried so much reading this. Even now my eyes are stinging a little just thinking about what it must be like to grow up alone, not realising you're deaf, not understanding why others hate and beat you, but still seeing the beauty in the world...
I'm not crying (again), you're crying!
Will humans ever stop fearing those who are different, in one way or another, from what they think is normal? Yes, we've evolved a lot since medieval times (when this story is set), but our nature still seems to have this hostility towards what is 'other', which makes me very sad.
PS: Kinuko Y. Craft's cover illustration is so beautiful! No idea how I'd never heard of her before, she's so talented and I love her aesthetic!
Not going to lie, I cried so much reading this. Even now my eyes are stinging a little just thinking about what it must be like to grow up alone, not realising you're deaf, not understanding why others hate and beat you, but still seeing the beauty in the world...
I'm not crying (again), you're crying!
Will humans ever stop fearing those who are different, in one way or another, from what they think is normal? Yes, we've evolved a lot since medieval times (when this story is set), but our nature still seems to have this hostility towards what is 'other', which makes me very sad.
PS: Kinuko Y. Craft's cover illustration is so beautiful! No idea how I'd never heard of her before, she's so talented and I love her aesthetic!
January 23, 2022
All I am going to say is that this book was mentioned in passing by https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/8148929-nabilah(Sorry, I can NOT remember how to edit that hyperlink so it just shows a name or whatever I want to call...if anyone knows please remind me...)
Either way, don't regret reading this at all. It did take me back to when I read The Witch of Blackbird Pond way back in highschool but I felt this a bit darker, a bit more touching and I loved the characters. For some reason, I especially loved the priest and found him to be both funny and tortured by being put in such a difficult place.
Thanks Nabilah!
Either way, don't regret reading this at all. It did take me back to when I read The Witch of Blackbird Pond way back in highschool but I felt this a bit darker, a bit more touching and I loved the characters. For some reason, I especially loved the priest and found him to be both funny and tortured by being put in such a difficult place.
Thanks Nabilah!
November 27, 2010
The Raging Quiet is a beautiful treasured story that is written with passion and grace.
It's a story about people who don't understand those who are different and how prejudice can be judged harshly and cruelly. It's story about acceptance and the power of love.
I absolutely feel in love with Marnie and Raven. Marnie is so kind and loving and what she did, what's she's done for Raven was inspiring and heartwarming.
Raven is such a joyous character, so tender and kind. No doubt, one of the sweetest characters I've ever meet.
This story hurt my heart and lifted it. Simply a gorgeous read!
It's a story about people who don't understand those who are different and how prejudice can be judged harshly and cruelly. It's story about acceptance and the power of love.
I absolutely feel in love with Marnie and Raven. Marnie is so kind and loving and what she did, what's she's done for Raven was inspiring and heartwarming.
Raven is such a joyous character, so tender and kind. No doubt, one of the sweetest characters I've ever meet.
This story hurt my heart and lifted it. Simply a gorgeous read!
March 9, 2022
4.5 ⭐
Since I read the blurb I haven't been able to get it out of my head, and it's an old book (first published a whooping 20 years ago!) so it took me some effort to find it. I ended up finding it by chance at a second hand bookstore in England.
This book deserves all the praise. You can really tell Sherryl Jordan understands deaf people because I've never read a better depiction of their struggles and joys. A very sweet and moving story.
I loved it. That's it. If you can get your hands on a copy, please give it a chance.
Since I read the blurb I haven't been able to get it out of my head, and it's an old book (first published a whooping 20 years ago!) so it took me some effort to find it. I ended up finding it by chance at a second hand bookstore in England.
This book deserves all the praise. You can really tell Sherryl Jordan understands deaf people because I've never read a better depiction of their struggles and joys. A very sweet and moving story.
I loved it. That's it. If you can get your hands on a copy, please give it a chance.
November 22, 2008
This book was written in 1999, but the story is really sort of a indefinite historical fiction. The time period is sometime during the 1700's, but the exact location is not given. All we know is that it is set in a small village by the sea.
The Raging Quiet would be a great historical peace for the classroom. Elements like persecution, potential demonic possession, and a witch trail are both exciting and fairly accurate historically. This novel would also give students to opportunity to interact with more dated or archaic sounding language (such as they will encounter in the works of my Classic authors). However, Jordan's language still has a modern tinge to it which could serve as a foot hold while students gain familiarity. Because the chapters often contain shifts in location, time, or perspective, this novel could provide good practice for developing close reading habits and gaining competency with context clues.
The book also has a great message about being yourself, the importance of understanding others, being slow to judge, and overcoming hardship. It is also a particularly good account of how "differentness" (i.e. deafness, eccentricity etc) have been viewed throughout history and what that means to us today.
A decent read, but it didn't change my life or anything. On the plus side, I think it could easily be taught in the classroom, and there is much that students could learn from it.
The Raging Quiet would be a great historical peace for the classroom. Elements like persecution, potential demonic possession, and a witch trail are both exciting and fairly accurate historically. This novel would also give students to opportunity to interact with more dated or archaic sounding language (such as they will encounter in the works of my Classic authors). However, Jordan's language still has a modern tinge to it which could serve as a foot hold while students gain familiarity. Because the chapters often contain shifts in location, time, or perspective, this novel could provide good practice for developing close reading habits and gaining competency with context clues.
The book also has a great message about being yourself, the importance of understanding others, being slow to judge, and overcoming hardship. It is also a particularly good account of how "differentness" (i.e. deafness, eccentricity etc) have been viewed throughout history and what that means to us today.
A decent read, but it didn't change my life or anything. On the plus side, I think it could easily be taught in the classroom, and there is much that students could learn from it.
July 5, 2016
It's been so long since I've just sat down and stayed glued to a book until I reached the last page. One of the best friendships I've read in a book. The characters are what really hook you into this story. The setting is also vivid and atmospheric - evoking serious prosy envy. Recommended to anyone seeking really good YA.
November 28, 2012
this book is everything i wanted by these ten bones by clare b dunkle to be and then some!
book pairings:
plain kate by erin bow
foxmask by juliet marillier
the near witch victoria schwab
wuthering heights by emily bronte
book pairings:
plain kate by erin bow
foxmask by juliet marillier
the near witch victoria schwab
wuthering heights by emily bronte
July 31, 2017
I wasn't at all sure about this book in the beginning but was soon hooked and had that GOTS TO KNOW feeling as the fate of Marnie and Raven slowly unfolded. Village life can be brutal when you start to buck the trend. I also had no idea that author was from NZ (this doesn't have any bearing on the story - just a fun fact)
November 24, 2016
It reads like classic lore and perfectly captures the hysteria of the period, and yet through that darkness the triumph of the human spirit makes it a really uplifting, hug-to-your-chest kind of book.
Full review here:
http://strikingkeys.blogspot.com/2016...
Full review here:
http://strikingkeys.blogspot.com/2016...
Want to read
July 10, 2019that poor boy on the cover of this edition needs some good meals
December 4, 2025
4★'s they don’t write YA like this anymore. it reminds me of deerskin by robin mckinley—dark, bold, hard to read (and recommend), beautifully written about a heroine and disabled hero who endures so much pain and still keeps going.
i came across a one-star review claiming it's “generic” and it “sexy-fies” disability, and that the novel doesn't know what it's trying to achieve since it's a bad rep of disability... i honestly wondered if we read the same story. since this is YA and “generic”, the message is naturally simple to understand, it's about compassion, patience, and not judging people who are different. prejudice against disability is still very real today, and you’d be surprised how many people lack empathy.
as for “sexy-fy”? i genuinely don’t see that anywhere — it’s a strange accusation. the heroine wasn’t even lusting after him and thought he's hot. they became close because of understanding, empathy, and compassion, and being disabled doesn’t mean a character can’t be attractive.
i really think this is a book best approached without preconceived judgments. you might find yourself appreciating it far more than expected.
trigger warnings: disability prejudice, rape, torture.
the story follows the hardships of marnie, sixteen and newly widowed just two days after her unwanted marriage. she finds unexpected comfort in her growing friendship with raver—a young man shunned, outcast yet brave, and abused by the townspeople calling him the “madman”. but raver isn't mad, he's deaf. so marnie, moved by compassion, teaches him sign language to help him understand the world and communicate. but in the small, narrow-minded town they lived in, the ignorant bigots soon accuse her of witchcraft for “speaking” to him with her hands.
this was such a sad and infuriating read. nearly every side character made me furious with the sheer injustice and cruelty they inflicted on marnie and raver. it takes almost 200 pages before anything good happens to them, and the entire time i felt helpless reading their suffering. just thinking about something good to happen to them feels like a fantasy. no wonder it was titled ‘the raging quiet’. you could feel all the rage these characters went through but you are helpless, you can’t do anything about it but be quiet and endure.
i kept wondering, why isn’t the author giving them even a moment of relief? but then i realized... that’s the point. changing people’s views on disability isn’t magical or easy. this isn’t a fairytale, and the book never sugarcoats that.
historically, people really did believe disabilities were signs of demonic possession. it wasn’t easy to change anyone’s limited worldview. the trials and tortures written here aren't an exaggeration, they were documented, and just deeply disturbing. tbh, i’m so relieved i wasn’t alive during that era, because reading this alone had my blood pressure skyrocketing.
the author’s depiction of marnie teaching raver sign language felt incredibly authentic—the patience it demands, the frustration when you have no more words or gestures left, the despair of feeling stuck, and then suddenly overwhelmed with joy when you finally understand each other. it felt very real. in college, we had a large deaf community and regular FSL workshops. i tried learning it myself, and trust me, it’s not easy. that’s why this aspect of the book really resonated.
thankfully, the ending of them deciding to start anew brought relief and healing to them, and their gentle, blossoming romance was beautifully written, i just wished there was more to it. there is one intimate scene but it was closed-door, and i wish modern romances would write the way sherryl jordan does it.
i came across a one-star review claiming it's “generic” and it “sexy-fies” disability, and that the novel doesn't know what it's trying to achieve since it's a bad rep of disability... i honestly wondered if we read the same story. since this is YA and “generic”, the message is naturally simple to understand, it's about compassion, patience, and not judging people who are different. prejudice against disability is still very real today, and you’d be surprised how many people lack empathy.
as for “sexy-fy”? i genuinely don’t see that anywhere — it’s a strange accusation. the heroine wasn’t even lusting after him and thought he's hot. they became close because of understanding, empathy, and compassion, and being disabled doesn’t mean a character can’t be attractive.
i really think this is a book best approached without preconceived judgments. you might find yourself appreciating it far more than expected.
trigger warnings: disability prejudice, rape, torture.
the story follows the hardships of marnie, sixteen and newly widowed just two days after her unwanted marriage. she finds unexpected comfort in her growing friendship with raver—a young man shunned, outcast yet brave, and abused by the townspeople calling him the “madman”. but raver isn't mad, he's deaf. so marnie, moved by compassion, teaches him sign language to help him understand the world and communicate. but in the small, narrow-minded town they lived in, the ignorant bigots soon accuse her of witchcraft for “speaking” to him with her hands.
this was such a sad and infuriating read. nearly every side character made me furious with the sheer injustice and cruelty they inflicted on marnie and raver. it takes almost 200 pages before anything good happens to them, and the entire time i felt helpless reading their suffering. just thinking about something good to happen to them feels like a fantasy. no wonder it was titled ‘the raging quiet’. you could feel all the rage these characters went through but you are helpless, you can’t do anything about it but be quiet and endure.
i kept wondering, why isn’t the author giving them even a moment of relief? but then i realized... that’s the point. changing people’s views on disability isn’t magical or easy. this isn’t a fairytale, and the book never sugarcoats that.
historically, people really did believe disabilities were signs of demonic possession. it wasn’t easy to change anyone’s limited worldview. the trials and tortures written here aren't an exaggeration, they were documented, and just deeply disturbing. tbh, i’m so relieved i wasn’t alive during that era, because reading this alone had my blood pressure skyrocketing.
the author’s depiction of marnie teaching raver sign language felt incredibly authentic—the patience it demands, the frustration when you have no more words or gestures left, the despair of feeling stuck, and then suddenly overwhelmed with joy when you finally understand each other. it felt very real. in college, we had a large deaf community and regular FSL workshops. i tried learning it myself, and trust me, it’s not easy. that’s why this aspect of the book really resonated.
thankfully, the ending of them deciding to start anew brought relief and healing to them, and their gentle, blossoming romance was beautifully written, i just wished there was more to it. there is one intimate scene but it was closed-door, and i wish modern romances would write the way sherryl jordan does it.
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