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Summary: The Raging Quiet by Sherryl Jordan
Review: Sherryl Jordan, author of The Raging Quiet, tells the intriguing story of a young woman named Marnie and the village 'madman' named Raver. Marnie becomes a widow only two days after her unwilling marriage to Isake Isherwood, son of a wealthy landowner. The setting of the story takes place in the New England village of Torcurra during the time of the witch trials. After her husband's accident, Marnie befriends Raver and she renames him Raven. She develops a form of sign language to communicate with her new friend, who is deaf, much to the surprise of Father Brannan, the priest of Torcurra. Father Brannan tries to defend and protect Marnie after the villagers witness her silent communication with Raven and subsequently accuse her of practicing witchcraft. The author weaves a story of servitude, ignorance, tragedy, horror, faith, and love in this book. The Raging Quiet proves to be an 'I could not put it down until I finished' book for students in middle school and higher grades. This story integrates the studies of geography, history, and social relationships that both teachers and parents could use for children.
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Summary: My favorite book
Review: This book is brilliant. I reccomend it to anyone who really enjoys a great story. It is about a young girl living in medevil times who meets a strange boy named raver by the village he lives in.
It's different but still classical.
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Summary: Very Sweet
Review: I won't clutter my review with what the story is about, but I will say that it is very touching, romantic, and strong. It shows how important it is to understand and accept differences. You'll love the innocence of Raven, the kindness of Father Brannan, the stubborness of Marnie, and you'll equally hate the ignorance of everyone else. This is a must read!
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Summary: Incredibly romantic! Historical romance at its best!
Review: I absolutely loved this book. LOVED it. Marnie and Raven are wonderful. Raven is exactly the kind of man I hope to marry! Historically correct and unbelievably dreamy. I felt like I was at a loss when I finished it. I liked all of the infromation on which trials and the beautiful friendship and love that all of the characters shared. It's a a sort of drama, but mostly about a young adult romance. ... Although Sherryl Jordan's "The Juniper Game" was a huge disappointment to me , this one made up for everything. The kindest girl, a wonderfully friendly priest, and a warm hearted young man. Just make sure not to read the last page (as I frequently do before finishing it) so it can have the greatest impact on you.
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Summary: My all time favourite book!
Review: This definatly the most brilliant book I've ever read. To sum it up, it's about a lovely, kind, sixteen-year-old girl named Marnie who comes to a tiny seaside town called Torcurra with her (considerably older) new husband. As they arrive, they witness the beating of a mad boy. Marnie gives him some food while her husband is in the Alehouse. That night, her husband, drunk and with a "thirst for lust" rapes Marnie. Two days later, he falls from a ladder, and dies. She has befriended the priest, who is the only one who believes that Marnie didn't put a curse on her husband. She has also befriended Raver, the very same village madboy whom the villagers were beating when she came. She renames him Raven of the fields, and, after spending more and more time with him, discovers Raven is not crazy, or mad, he is deaf. Over time, they invent a sign-language of sorts. The villagers notice a change in Raven, who has become civil and no longer has noticable "fits of madness." Well, one thing leads to another, and the villagers get a notion that Marnie murdered her husband, and bewitched Raven and Father Brannan (the priest). She is tried for witchcraft... and you'll have to read the book to find out.
I won't go saying that Marnie, doesn't have her flaws, because she does. But what do you want, a perfect main charachter?? I've read books that have the same perfect, unflawed main character, and you know what it is?? BORING! No one is perfect (although we hate to admit it), and we all have charachter flaws that get us into trouble...Marnie is very outspoken for a woman of her time, but whose wrong, here. The townspeople and Marnie's family who are unwilling to accept Raven? (and everyone else who is different)Or a young woman who is willing to give everyone a chance, even if they "aren't normal." Early in the book, in answer to Isake's remark about the townspeope beating Raven which was something like "oh, look, a group of sages beating the devils out of a fool," Marnie says "or maybe its a group of fools trying to beat the devils out of a sage." That is one of the best things I've ever heard, thats all I want to say.
I just read a review that said that there was too much sexual content for the age group. First of all, what age group would that be? Sure, a bit advanced for a ten-year-old, maybe, but it says on the back of the book ages 12 and up. Second of all, WHAT SEXUAL CONTENT?? If one beautifully written (pretty tame) love scene between two exuisite characters is that bad...Well this is neither the time or the place.
As an aspiring writer, I was entranced by the beautiful imagery, and amazing character development. You hate the evil charachters, and you love the nice ones. Just the right amout of romance (I have to say that I am one giant hopeless romantic) the right amount of exitetment and agitation, and fantasy. A picture perfect read!
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Summary: I can hear clearly now
Review: The Civil Rights Movement, and the American Disability Act are results of a historical trend of discrimination. However, with the civil rights movement and others like it, there was a triumph and an overcoming of strife. Just like in The Raging Quiet written by Sherryl Jordan. This book accurately explores the power of young love, the determination and tolerance of a young woman, while also describing the perseverance of a young man. At the same time you laugh with the characters and weep with them as if you were a close friend. This book can make you question yourself and how you treat people of different backgrounds. Raven, who is deaf, shows Marnie how to love, and Marnie in return gives him words with which to express himself.
Jordan makes sure to address the fragility of Marnie compared with the roughness of a late husband. She makes the character of Marnie feel so strongly about her actions and herself that there is no reason why no young woman cannot relate to her. Seeing how many young girls and teenagers feel strongly about many things. In the end Marnie's faith in herself and her love for Raven are rewarded. While Raven is constantly rewarded with the gift of silent speech. Looking at the trials and tribulations of the two in this love story there is something horrifying about not being able to express oneself and at the same time being beaten for that disability. Which is why I feel for Raven.
Another detail that enjoyed about this book is that Raven and Marnie didn't develop their relationship that would be considered cliché, as in boy meets girl, boy likes girl, so boy and girl go far away to happy land. It all started with one helping the other out of their own good will, rather than two characters forced together, a reader can see a delicate merging of the two. All in all this is a good book and the reason why I can hear clearly now.
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Summary: A Truly Wonderful Book
Review: Okay, this book is one of the best books I have ever read. It's in my top-five list of favorite books. I won't tell you every detail because you've probably read every other review already. But this book is splendid. Though, like other people, I would reccommend it for uh...older teens because of the rape. But don't take like 'Oh it has rape in it so I can't read it!' I think that this book is for anyone who is mature enough to take it. I think that Marnie is a very smart, stubburn girl, but she is nice too and reminds me of myself. I think that this book is a great romance and also teaches you that, it doesn't matter who you love, that love comes in different unexpected ways.
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Summary: Amazing
Review: From the beautiful cover by Kinuko Y. Craft to the very end, this is a wonderful book. Marnie is a young woman, married to a much older man who turns out not to be much like she thought. They move to a new town, down by the river, in a house he owns. After he dies in a freak accident, she does her best to fit into the community, but the people are set in their ways and don't want a new person. She makes friends with the priest, who is in his own way an outsider, and with the village 'lunatic'. Problems ensue when she and the 'lunatic' (who turns out to be deaf, not crazy) become closer and closer . . .The best part about this book was probably the characterization. No one is completely good. No one is completely evil. Everyone has human traits. The priest, while essentially one of the most compassionate people in the story, still lost his patience with the 'lunatic' (Raven) often. Marnie herself does. Raven, the deaf young man, isn't miraculously transformed into the Model Citizen after Marnie and he invent a sign language -- he changes, yes, but not all at once, and not always progressively forward. It's completely recommended for anyone over, maybe, twelve years of age, and that involves all adults. It may be a 'children's' book, but that's not for lack of maturity.
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Summary: A truly wonderful book
Review: This beautiful book tells the story of Marnie, a young woman who has married a much older man to save her family from homelessness. Her experiences with him are not exactly what you would call wedded bliss, and when he dies a few days later the villagers suspect her of cursing him. Shunned by these ignorant people Marnie turns to the village priest for help and also becomes friends with the village "Lunatic", Raver (whom she renames Raven.) She discovers he is not mad, but deaf, and he, like her, is misunderstood and hated by the villagers. As their relationship develops, so does the suspicion and hostility towards them until at last Marnie is subjected to a barbaric witch trial.
This book is so brilliant! I couldn't put it down. The characters are believable and lovable and the writing and imagery is beautiful. The conclusion is also very satisfying. I would recommend this to anyone and everyone of 12 years +.
Totally fantastic!
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Summary: A Moon Good Beautiful Book
Review: Since my words cannot do this fine piece of literature justice, I will try my best to define the utter beauty of this book. I just finished it this morning after reading it all night and I couldn't put it down! I thought the bonds between Marnie and Raven and Marnie and Father Brannan were so beautifully written and I could feel what the characters were feeling. I was happy when they were happy, and clutching the book in anger when I read how the people treated Marnie and poor Raven (who are now both on my top ten literary character list) because they were different. I also loved how Marnie still stuck with Raven even after feeling so frustrated when she was trying to teach him sign language. It showed me that true friendship and love can do anything and the dangers there were and are for being different. I told you my words weren't going to do the book justice. This book is for people who are suckers for beautifully written and developed characters, a bit of sweet and innocent romance, a story of friendship, and the hardships they must face.......than this books is more than perfect for you.
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