The Year of Silence

by Madison Smartt Bell

The death of Marian, a modestly successful illustrator in Manhattan, touches the lives of many people in surprising ways

Genres: Fiction, Literature, Literary Fiction, Novels

144 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1987

About the author

Madison Smartt Bell is a critically acclaimed writer of more than a dozen novels and story collections, as well as numerous essays and reviews for publications such as Harper’s and the New York Times Book Review. His books have been finalists for both the National Book Award and the PEN/Faulkner Award, among other honors. Bell has also taught at distinguished creative writing programs including the Iowa Writer’s Workshop, Johns Hopkins, and Goucher College. His work is notable for its sweeping historical and philosophical scope matched with a remarkable sensitivity to the individual voices of characters on the margins of society.

Reviews

[Ray LaManna · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novel, though well written, was a bit disjointed and somewhat confusing. It was difficult to connect each of the stories with the main plot-the death of Marian. I think the author should have been more precise in his development of plot and even the arranging of the chapters.

[Chloe · Rating 1 out of 5]

I picked up this book at random from the stacks of $1 books at the Strand during my first ever visit to New York City this January. I was absolutely in love with the beautiful cover - the foggy city perched atop a little piano - and it was short and only a dollar. I decided it was worth taking back home. Now, however, I'm half tempted now to tear off the cover and throw the rest of the book away, since the cover is the only appealing thing about it.

It's not a long book, and I began it with the resolution that no matter how much I liked or disliked it, I would finish it. After all, you can't appreciate a truly great book until you've read a few truly terrible (or simply mediocre) ones. 108 pages into this, however, I decided that life is indeed to short to waste on bad books. The shifts in perspective (from third to first person, and back again) are jolting, and although I see how each narrator relates to the main character of the story, the execution was terribly done. I don't care about any of the characters, and the writing fails to enchant me. I could see this concept working out better as a film, but I think perhaps, overall, the whole thing bores me.

The only real dilemma is: DO I tear off the cover and keep it, since I'm so enchanted with it? Do I have it in me to mutilate a book, any book, no matter how dreadful the material between the covers?

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first chapter was so beautifully written that I became more interested in the story of Tom and his brother than in the tale of Marian. I love clever stuff, so the way these chapters intertwine, so subtly, with gaps of many pages before the reader can make the connections, was a joy. Very clever structure.

[Paul Wilner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just (re)read this. Wow.

[Matilde Fonseca · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,8
I liked how all the characters where somehow connected but didn’t liked the transitions between their stories much. Each chapter cuts before their stories fully develop, not having really an ending. However, that may be on purpose , which gives more space for the reader to question what’s next

[Jonathan Norton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short but tough work
https://discontinuednotes.com/2023/01...

[Lucia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a small book, sort of experimental fiction in that it is written from the perspective of something like 10 or 11 different characters. It is remarkable in that while the writing style doesn’t change all that dramatically between the different voices, the character regardless really comes through, excellently, in each section. And it does weave a portrait of a person so much more broad, and in some ways even more deep, than a single account. The chapter thing is a little gimmicky, and the plot is lame sort of, no real motive or understanding of the driving force (the suicide of a character). Overall very masterful, but not really epic.

[Kelli Oliver George · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this probably in 93 or 94 - I remember it being a very haunting read and marked it as a favorite. I found a recent re-read to be more difficult and I had a hard time keeping track of the story and the characters. Huh. That was interesting.

[Sue · Rating 1 out of 5]

Just didn't like it at all.

[Patia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Technically the writing is excellent and the story okay. Not sure I'd choose to read anything else by him.