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The Silence of Trees
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message 1: by Xe (new) - rated it 5 stars

Xe Sands (xesands) | 360 comments For those who enjoy literary/historical fiction and magical realism...

Jennifer at the Literate Housewife audio/print book blog is hosting a listen-along (think audiobook club) of The Silence of Trees by Valya Dudycz Lupescu, later this month. This is a gorgeous, lyrical novel spanning over 50 years in the life of Nadya, a Ukrainian immigrant who fled her native country during the Nazi invasion. And it is one of the beautiful books I've ever read or had the privilege of narrating.

Jennifer is also offering a free copy of the book for one participant (sign up by 4/10 to be eligible), and Iambik Audibooks has generously offered a 20% discount for all listen-along participants. They have also posted the full audio for Chapter 1 for those who would like to sample the audio more extensively.

For full details, check out her post on it (as well as the comments section):
http://literatehousewife.com/2012/04/the...

Hope some of you will join in, and if you do, will share your thoughts!


Ancestral Gaidheal (gaidheal) | 108 comments Thanks for posting this great opportunity.


message 3: by MissSusie (last edited Apr 03, 2012 06:25PM) (new) - rated it 5 stars

MissSusie | 2421 comments I signed up!I have to listen to The Weird Sisters just to refresh my memory for bookclub then I will be starting this one!


message 4: by Xe (new) - rated it 5 stars

Xe Sands (xesands) | 360 comments @Ancestral - you're welcome! I'm thrilled that Jennifer opted to do it. And there's a chance that the author will also be hosting a pysanky "cyber-club" of sorts in conjunction with the listen-along...I'll post it here if she chooses to do it.

@Susie - wonderful! Looking forward to your thoughts on it. And you enjoyed The Weird Sisters, yes?


MissSusie | 2421 comments Oh yes the Weird Sisters was great we are discussing it for bookclub next week so thought I'd give the audio a try so it will be fresh and Eleanor Brown is joining us via skype for our meeting!


MissSusie | 2421 comments If anyone else is listening to this right now I would love to discuss it!!


message 7: by Ancestral (last edited Apr 12, 2012 01:12PM) (new) - rated it 3 stars

Ancestral Gaidheal (gaidheal) | 108 comments I am about 25% through it, just as we arrive in modern day America, and Nadya is making a burnt offering of her breakfast.

I'm afraid I'm finding it very difficult to hear the narrator's voice, and so am pushing the volume levels, which, in turn is causing distortion. I think this is a book to which I ought not have listened, but read.


MissSusie | 2421 comments Oh I am loving the narration maybe the sound downloaded funky for you??


message 9: by Xe (new) - rated it 5 stars

Xe Sands (xesands) | 360 comments Ancestral wrote: "I am about 25% through it, just as we arrive in modern day America, and Nadya is making a burnt offering of her breakfast.

I'm afraid I'm finding it very difficult to hear the narrator's voice, ..."


Alas, you are right in that this is a very quiet/intimate read, so headphones will serve you best.

Such a gorgeous story and quite inexpensive on Kindle, if I remember correctly (or was) - worth switching if you feel you need to in order to enjoy the story. Her writing is so lyrical - you definitely shouldn't miss out on account of my reading volume!


message 10: by Ancestral (last edited Apr 12, 2012 01:32PM) (new) - rated it 3 stars

Ancestral Gaidheal (gaidheal) | 108 comments Xe wrote: "Alas, you are right in that this is a very quiet/intimate read, so headphones will serve you best."

I have been using headphones as it's the only way I can hear the narration.

Xe wrote: "Such a gorgeous story and quite inexpensive on Kindle, if I remember correctly (or was) ..."

I don't have a Kindle, nor do I download books on the Kindle app on my phone or PC, as I spend all of my working life in front of a computer screen and have no desire to spend more time reading books on one.


message 11: by Xe (new) - rated it 5 stars

Xe Sands (xesands) | 360 comments Ancestral wrote: "Xe wrote: "Alas, you are right in that this is a very quiet/intimate read, so headphones will serve you best."

I have been using headphones as it's the only way I can hear the narration.

Xe w..."


I'm so sorry that the narration volume is too low for you - how disappointing!

And no offense meant by suggesting reading it on a Kindle - I'm a paper book person myself :) The book is available in paperback, and hopefully from your public library.


MissSusie | 2421 comments Xe I had to go back to Storify and look through your tweets from when you were recording this one.

(view spoiler)

I have an hour and half left and am at the point where I am feeling like saying this to Nadya! Oh Nadya I just want to hug you and tell you to let things go, explain your life to your children let them know you and allow yourself to be happy!


message 13: by Xe (new) - rated it 5 stars

Xe Sands (xesands) | 360 comments Susie wrote: "Xe I had to go back to Storify and look through your tweets from when you were recording this one.

[spoilers removed]

I have an hour and half left and am at the point where I am feeling like ..."


That's exactly how I felt at that point. Oh I felt such sorrow and yet also such frustration for her. Her fear was so misplaced at that point.


message 14: by Xe (last edited Apr 12, 2012 02:07PM) (new) - rated it 5 stars

Xe Sands (xesands) | 360 comments Susie wrote: "Xe I had to go back to Storify and look through your tweets from when you were recording this one.

[spoilers removed]

I have an hour and half left and am at the point where I am feeling like ..."


Oh! And I just read your spoiler. Yes. Me too :)


message 15: by Ancestral (last edited Apr 15, 2012 12:21PM) (new) - rated it 3 stars

Ancestral Gaidheal (gaidheal) | 108 comments Susie wrote: "[spoilers removed]

I have an hour and half left and am at the point where I am feeling like saying this to Nadya! Oh Nadya I just want to hug you and tell you to let things go, explain your life to your children let them know you and allow yourself to be happy! ..."


In regard to the spoiler, Susie, I didn't feel that at all.

I felt your frustration with Nadya, but, then, I couldn't understand her reluctance, her reasoning, in the least. I felt much more empathy for other characters in the book; somehow I lost the connection to Nadya immediately after the events subsequent to her visit to the travelling woman.


MissSusie | 2421 comments I see we have felt very different about this book I am loving it very much and am just about done but life got in the way.
I really like Nadya and know people who have kept their past a secret till it was too late so I was glad when Nadya finally came clean with her family about where they came from.
I want to have a Ukranian christmas celebration and loved those traditions!
I will read more by this author!


Ancestral Gaidheal (gaidheal) | 108 comments Susie wrote: "... I want to have a Ukranian christmas celebration and loved those traditions!..."

I follow a blog of a woman of Ukranian descent who follows many of the traditions mentioned in the book and she sometimes posts pictures; it's truly beautiful.


MissSusie | 2421 comments Ancestral wrote: "Susie wrote: "... I want to have a Ukranian christmas celebration and loved those traditions!..."

I follow a blog of a woman of Ukranian descent who follows many of the traditions mentioned in the..."


Oh I'd love to check it out do you have a link??


MissSusie | 2421 comments Xe do you know the spelling of the holiday traditions at the end of the book? Thats one of the bad parts about audio is not knowing how things are spelled.


message 20: by Xe (new) - rated it 5 stars

Xe Sands (xesands) | 360 comments @Ancestral - ooo, I would love that link as well! I finished this book and immediately thought, "Why can't I be Ukrainian?!"

Susie - I'd be glad to send you the list that Valya sent me - it's a pronunciation guide to pretty much every Ukrainian word (about 100!) she used. They you'll have the spelling and the pronunciation for future reference :) I'll shoot it to you via GR message.


MissSusie | 2421 comments Thanks so much Xe!


message 22: by Xe (new) - rated it 5 stars

Xe Sands (xesands) | 360 comments Just a heads-up for any that listened to The Silence of Trees that the listen-along discussion is happening today, over at Literate Housewife Review. She's posted her questions and initial thoughts.

http://literatehousewife.com/2012/05/...


Sandra Flores (sandramaria) | 4 comments Xe wrote: "For those who enjoy literary/historical fiction and magical realism...

Jennifer at the Literate Housewife audio/print book blog is hosting a listen-along (think audiobook club) of The Silence of T..."


Thanks for the heads up. It's late for joining the listen-along but the book summary captured my attention, love magical realism and stories from WWII. I purchased the audiobook and will start listening to it today :)


message 24: by Xe (new) - rated it 5 stars

Xe Sands (xesands) | 360 comments Sandra wrote: "Xe wrote: "For those who enjoy literary/historical fiction and magical realism...

Jennifer at the Literate Housewife audio/print book blog is hosting a listen-along (think audiobook club) of The S..."


Wonderful! Definitely stay away from the discussion over there until you finish it (many spoilers).

And heads-up: this is a very subtle read so headphones or earbuds are the way to go to get the most out of it.

If the audio doesn't work for you, I hope you'll continue it in print. Such a beautifully written story :)


message 25: by Sandra (last edited May 17, 2012 03:17PM) (new) - rated it 2 stars

Sandra Flores (sandramaria) | 4 comments I'm a bit disappointed. I'm trying to download it since yesterday and it gets stuck at 223 Mb.

I'll try again tomorrow using my sister's Internet connection. Maybe it's my speed. If it doesn't work I'll get the Kindle copy from Amazon. But I did want to hear it while knitting :(

Update: It says the link is not active anymore. I wrote and asked for support, but went to Amazon and got my Kindle copy, I really want to read this book!


MissSusie | 2421 comments Sandra wrote: "I'm a bit disappointed. I'm trying to download it since yesterday and it gets stuck at 223 Mb.

I'll try again tomorrow using my sister's Internet connection. Maybe it's my speed. If it doesn't wor..."


Did you get it from iambik?They'll send you a new link.


Sandra Flores (sandramaria) | 4 comments MissSusie wrote: "Sandra wrote: "I'm a bit disappointed. I'm trying to download it since yesterday and it gets stuck at 223 Mb.

I'll try again tomorrow using my sister's Internet connection. Maybe it's my speed. If..."


Yes I did. Hope so :) Thanks!


MissSusie | 2421 comments Mine was taking a long time once too and I didn't realize the link wouldn't work and I just sent them an email saying I screwed up and turned my computer off and they sent me a new link.


Sandra Flores (sandramaria) | 4 comments MissSusie wrote: "Mine was taking a long time once too and I didn't realize the link wouldn't work and I just sent them an email saying I screwed up and turned my computer off and they sent me a new link."

They sent a new link and I just downloaded it, took a while but it seems to be fine. I'm off to start listening to it :)


MissSusie | 2421 comments Thats great hope you enjoy it as much as I did!


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