The Silence of Bonaventure Arrow

by Rita Leganski

Conceived in love and possibility, Bonaventure Arrow didn’t make a peep when he was born, and the doctor nearly took him for dead. No one knows Bonaventure's silence is filled with resonance - a miraculous gift of rarified hearing that encompasses the Universe of Every Single Sound. Growing up in the big house on Christopher Street in Bayou Cymbaline, Bonaventure can hear flowers grow, a thousand shades of blue, and the miniature tempests that rage inside raindrops. He can also hear the gentle voice of his father, William Arrow, shot dead before Bonaventure was born by a mysterious stranger known only as the Wanderer.

Bonaventure's remarkable gift of listening promises salvation to the souls who love him: his beautiful young mother, Dancy, haunted by the death of her husband; his Grand-mere Letice, plagued by grief and long-buried guilt she locks away in a chapel; and his father, William, whose roaming spirit must fix the wreckage of the past. With the help of Trinidad Prefontaine, a Creole housekeeper endowed with her own special gifts, Bonaventure will find the key to long-buried mysteries and soothe a chorus of family secrets clamoring to be healed.

Genres: Fiction, Magical Realism, Historical Fiction, Book Club, Fantasy, Mystery, Historical

378 pages, Paperback

First published February 26, 2013

About the author

Rita Leganski holds an MA in writing and publishing and a BA in literary studies and creative writing from DePaul University. She teaches a writing workshop at DePaul's School for New Learning and was a recipient of the Arthur Weinberg Memorial Prize for a work of historical fiction.

Reviews

[Will Byrnes · Rating 5 out of 5]

The past is never dead. It’s not even past.

 William Faulkner

It is this notion, of the past steering the present away from a true course, that drives the narrative in The Silence of Bonaventure Arrow, and in at least one way, it is the past that helps steer it back onto the road.


Rita Leganski - image from The Quivering Pen

If you liked Edgar Sawtelle, the story or film of Benjamin Button, the TV show Pushing Daisies or the more imaginary tales of Alice Hoffman, you will love this book, a tale imbued with a few large dollops of magical realism. Like Edgar, Bonaventure is born somewhat different from other children. Like Edgar, he makes no sound. But while Edgar has a particular Mowgli-like talent for relating to his pooches, Bonaventure is possessed of an otherworldly sense of hearing. The medical term for one aspect of this is synaesthesia. He is able to hear color. But his gift goes far beyond the odd skills that as many as one in twenty-three humans might have. As he grows into his gift, he can hear the stories of inanimate objects. Eventually, Bonaventure is able to hear at a molecular level. He is even able to hear sounds that happened long ago.

Bonaventure never met his father, William, at least while he was alive. Before the boy’s birth, Dad was shot down on the streets of New Orleans by a madman known only as “the Wanderer.” But William hangs around, having a few tasks to complete before he can graduate from Almost Heaven, and helps his unusual son adapt to the world and complete his own mission. Bonaventure’s mother, Dancy, lives with a burden of guilt originating in the day her husband was killed. Dancy’s mother, Letice, carries a heavy load of sorrow from her adolescence. It is only through Bonaventure’s gift, with the help of his father, that these decent people can move ahead with their lives. Another force is at play here as well, in the person of Trinidad PreFontaine, maker of healing potions, and well versed in the potential of most plant life. She feels the presence of Bonaventure as if they are connected by a personal, psychic tether. She has a role to play as well in seeing Bonaventure realize his potential.

It is easy for a story with a fair bit of magic in it to get caught up in the pyrotechnics (verbotechnics?) of the incredible. (See The Night Circus) But that is not a fate suffered here. We are acutely aware of the humanity of these characters, and it is their emotional life that drives the story. The Magic takes an appropriate, supportive role.

We follow the Wanderer, a physically maimed and mentally ravaged war veteran, from his constricted life in Detroit, as he sets out on a mission of unknown origin, to the point of his deed, and after that we see him occasionally in an asylum. He is very fixated on Alexandre Dumas, particularly The Count of Monte Cristo. One wonders what the wrong is that he is avenging.

It is possible that there may be readers who are put off by the obvious religious perspective presented in Bonaventure’s world. Like the Blues Brothers, some characters here are most definitely on a mission from God.

Bonaventure Arrow had been chosen to bring peace. There was guilt to be dealt with, and poor broken hearts, and atonement gone terribly wrong. And too there were family secrets to be heard; some of them old and all of them harmful.

One cannot help but wonder if Trinidad PreFontaine, given her evocative name, might have some sort of baptismal relationship with BA. But take it from this atheist. It is worth the weight of Leganski’s perspective to gain the benefit of this wondrous landscape. And she does offer an image, as well, of some who would use religion for unseemly purposes.

Leganski feathers her literary nest with some lovely imagery. Sparrows flit in and out, standing in for, probably, a variety of things. Birds, as a group are a significant presence

In the middle of her sleepless night, Trinidad experienced a vision. A scavenging raven circled the room, its beady eyes questing after death. The bird spread its wings to swoop and glide, its feathers sounding like rustling silk. From the bird’s shaggy throat came a prruk-prruk call and a toc-toc click and a dry, rasping kraa-kraa cry. After the raven came a pure white dove, and after the dove, a sparrow.

Later,

Trinidad regarded circles as symbols of God’s eternal love. Her favorite circle was that which is found in the small dark eye of a sparrow.

And again

Tristan had rescued a bird—a sparrow—and needed her [Letice’s] help. It was a life or death situation…The bird seemed no more than a wisp, nearly weightless. She believed she could feel its bones and imagined them to be made of straw, all hollowed-out and light. Letice decided the bird was a girl sparrow, a young and delicate one. The tiny creature lay on its left side, breathing very fast. Letice could feel its heart beating in sync with her own

Are sparrows the souls of these characters? Angels? Don’t know, maybe, or maybe something else entirely. Bonaventure associates another character with an eagle later in the book, keeping the bird imagery aloft. There are plenty more, but I will stop there.

There is a lovely sequence in which a few of the characters incorporate some voodoo gris gris into their experience, in a very warm, nurturing way. No black magic here, thank you very much, but maybe a bit of the sympathetic variety

Some characters seem to have maybe a bit too much of a vision, if not always an absolute road map, directing them toward their goals. Trinidad certainly has a finger on the pulse of the force. William seems to have gotten a bullet-pointed memo from the Almighty in his in-box, and Bonaventure has his father to show him the way. While this may be tactically a bit convenient, strategically it supports the emotional journey of others. Bonaventure struggles to adapt to a world that is not all that accepting of someone as different as he is, particularly in the social cacophony of school, where he tries mightily to feel normal despite his large difference. I wish that we had gotten to see more of that effort. But the boy remains a pretty nifty character on his own for someone charged with helping change others. Really, it is the women whose journey we follow most here, Dancy, Letice, and Adelaide, Dancy’s awful mother, who could easily be a member of the De Vil clan, and who adds a layer of unpleasantness to the expression going postal.

Along the way, Leganski offers a fascinating look at a time and place, New Orleans and the fictitious town of Bayou Cymbaline of the 1950s, primarily. The author, although from Wisconsin, and currently residing in Chicago, has a Southern heart. She has always been enamored of many great southern writers, Faulkner, Eudora Welty, Tennessee Williams, and Harper Lee, among others. That sensibility comes through. Despite her northern Midwest DNA, the soul of this book resides in the South. She all but strokes the landscape with her rich, languid prose. There are enough overt literary references to offer tethers to other works. Dancy is, like her creator, a huge fan of Faulkner. From a different, if no less wonderful world, C.S. Lewis gets a mention, as does Lewis Carroll.

Leganski writes with conviction about a sense of god, but not in a good versus evil way, although there is a bit of that in this tale. Here the battle is, mostly, about good versus despair, belief as a tool to help one overcome barriers and find again one’s better personal paths. Her notion of god, while clearly Christian in origin, extends the concept to a sort of areligious universality. Hers is not one of those church-bound deities, but a wondrous extra layer of existence that embraces profound beauty, kindness, forgiveness and understanding. The Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God sorts are anathema here. The story of Bonaventure Arrow takes place in a universe of love, a universe in which bad things certainly can and do happen, but in which there are forces at work trying to heal wounds and make things right. In addition to lifting up some of its characters, this is a book that will lift up its readers. Enjoy it as pure fantasy if that works for you. Embrace the religious aspect if you prefer. The characters feel real and their struggles are all too mortal. The Silence of Bonaventure Arrow is most assuredly worth shouting about.


==============================UPDATES

March 18, 2013 - I just came across this - lovely interview with the author. It adds a lot to one's appreciation of the novel.

March 21, 2013 - I just learned that Bonnie made the Indie Next list for March

==============================EXTRA STUFF

I stumbled on a fascinating web site pertaining to Bonaventure's particular talent

[Diane S ☔ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you , thank you Rita Leganski for writing this wonderful and magical novel, In a week that has seen so much tragedy in so many places, involving so may people, I was sorely in need of a little magic. This novel features some wonderful people, not least little Bonaventure Arrow who cannot speak but can hear things other people cannot. The prose is like liquid, it flows fluently and freely. Yet all is not sweetness and light, it is New Orleans in the 1950's, a place of root and voodoo and hoodoo and some strange going ons. There are family secrets, religion and sadness and one particular dark happening that will tragically effect the future. Ultimately there is a secret and once that is found there will be forgiveness and love and new chances at life. I often see authors asked what one novel did they wish they could read again for the first time. I wish I could start this one over but alas. I may have found one of the few books I can see myself reading again. One must suspend a little belief, and like the atmospheric New Orleans and quite a bit of magical realism to love this novel.

[Greg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Know what you're getting into: This is soooooper sentimental. Like a Frank Capra directing The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry from a screenplay by Paolo Coelho, starring Michael Landon, with a soundtrack by Andrew LLoyd Webber level of sentimentality. Rita Leganski has built a sentimentality amplifier that "goes to 11".

That being said, this is a great read. The prose is beautiful and the characters are surprisingly real for a story that involves voodoo, ghosts, and super hearing. Leganski's sense of place is amazing, and her sense of wonder is breathtaking.

Bonaventure wasn't a quick read for me. Not that I wasn't rushing to get back to it, but my page-per-hour rate was much slower than usual, because the prose demands it.

This is not a book for the hipster crowd. If you're too cool for school, stay away. But if you want a heartfelt story of loss, pain, love, forgiveness, and redemption, you won't find a better book this winter.

[Miki · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel was absolutely fantastic. It took me quite some time to get over the fact that this book had ended. I did not want to leave the world that Rita Leganski had created in this novel. The story within these pages sucked me in from the first page and it almost hurt me to close the back cover at the end. This was one of those novels that is so well written, I had to read parts out loud to release the beauty of the language into the world. Not only is Bonaventure's world magical, but so is the writing of Leganski. She wrote so beautifully, I had no choice but to run away with Bonaventure, William, Dancy, and the Wonderer.

Dancy and William fell quickly in love. They were blissfully happy and could not control their longing for each other. It wasn't long after their indiscretion, that Dancy became pregnant. The two were quickly married and began a perfect life together. That was until William was shot and killed on his birthday.

The grief that Dancy feels after William's death is so deep and numbing, it actually changes her unborn child, Bonaventure. When Bonaventure is born, the family quickly realizes that he is very different. He doesn't cry, he doesn't fuss, he doesn't make a sound. Although some thought that this was a defect, Dancy knew her son was special. Indeed he was. Bonaventure didn't speak because he knew that he could learn more from the world if he just listened. Soon the world was talking to Bonaventure. He could hear his mothers guilt, his grandmother's grief, and even his father's ghost.

This superb hearing wasn't just a gift, it was a fate. Bonaventure soon found that his hearing could help him heal his family. With the help of a hoo doo woman who understands Bonaventure's gift, he begins to unravel dark family secrets and release the hold they have on his family.

This novel was so entrancing, I highly recommend this book for anyone who loves Benjamin Button, Like Water For Chocolate, or Perfume. I repeat, ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC!

[Book Concierge · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5**

Before he is born, Bonaventure Arrow’s father is murdered by a mentally disturbed man known only as “the Wanderer.” His mother’s unspeakable grief affects Bonaventure’s development – he is born mute, but with hyper-acute hearing. He can hear earthworms moving through the dirt and a bit of dust falling off a moth’s wing. He can also hear the stories that inanimate objects tell – the sound of steamships comes from a wooden crate marked “port of New Orleans,” and the sounds of gunshots from a jar of sassafras. And he hears the sadness and secrets of his paternal grandmother’s house.

Helping him make sense of these sounds are two extraordinary characters – the ghost of his father, William Arrow, whom only Bonaventure can hear, and the family’s cook, Trinidad Prefontaine, who is a Creole woman knowledgeable about hoodoo and root work.

Leganski’s work is hard to describe. It has elements of Southern gothic, as well as the supernatural and magic. When I first heard that the central character is a mute child, I immediately thought of David Wroblewski’s The Story of Edgar Sawtelle. But this novel is nowhere near so fine a work of literature as Wroblewski’s. I think Leganski got too caught up in the “magical” quality of Bonaventure’s extraordinary hearing. She spends way too much time crafting beautiful descriptions of his abilities – and they are beautiful. But, how does reading about a dust mote’s story of being carried across the Himalayas on the foot of a goose help this story? The answer is it doesn’t. These type of passages (and there are many) showcase Leganski’s imagination and ability to write creatively, but they interfere with the story. They do nothing to develop the characters or advance the plot. They are unnecessary distractions.

There is a nugget of a great premise here. I like how she used the innocence of a child to help the wounded adults around him heal. I liked that Bonaventure was surrounded by people who loved him and nurtured him – maternal grandmother notwithstanding. I wish she had spent more time developing the story, and less time expounding on Bonaventure’s unusual hearing abilities. I was interested and caught up in the plot at the beginning, but then felt she would never get to the point. By the time the identity of William’s killer was revealed I just didn’t really care. Had I been her editor, I would have deleted close to a hundred pages. I would have deleted the maternal grandmother’s storyline and expanded on his teacher’s growing relationship with his mother. I would also have advised her to make more use of Trinidad, who doesn’t join the family until half-way through the novel.

I get that Leganski was going for an ethereal quality, but I think she went too far in that direction and forgot the story.

NOTE: I don't usually "round-up" when I give a 1/2 star rating, but the quality of Leganski's writing shows promise, so I did in this case.

[Ashley · Rating 2 out of 5]

*Spoilers Ahead*

When what seemed like the entire Internet went crazy for this book, I decided to check it out. On the surface, it should have been a favorite. After all, it's set in my beloved New Orleans and brimming with magical realism. I expected to find something I'd at least like, but I wasn't holding out hope of discovering a new favorite.

What I actually found, however, was almost offensive. Style and content obviously cribbed from the awesome Sarah Addison Allen, only filled with heavy-handed proselytization to spice things up a bit. The omniscient narrator's descriptions of pregnancy and later, abortion, make it abundantly clear that this book should certainly be shelved with the Christian fiction. Not only is the description of abortion graphic and scientifically dubious; we're also forced to endure the hand-wringing and pearl-clutching of Letice's guilt as she struggles to come to terms with her remorse over a decades-old backroom procedure she was forcibly subjected to. This moral agony is so strong that she actually builds a personal chapel so she can keep begging for divine forgiveness. The character is defined by this guilt, until she becomes nothing more than a Roman Catholic cautionary tale in sackcloth and ashes. Bonaventure, the boy who can hear the pots in the kitchen telling stories about warming bottles for him as a baby (no, really) is the almighty vehicle that doesn't speak so that he can hear enough to heal the world. Pages and pages are spent on description of his ability to hear powder falling off of moth's wings, along with his advanced IQ and perfect disposition. He never misbehaves, he never gets angry and he reacts to the ostracism of his peers with blessed acceptance. Ugh.

I will give Ms. Leganski credit for skillful exposition, I just hated her preachy tone. We're reminded over and over that voodoo is a bad thing and feigned Christianity is a bad thing and disbelief is a bad thing, while abortion is the absolute WORST thing. If you're into heavy-handed Christian rhetoric masquerading as something a bit more exciting, you might be pleased with The Silence of Bonaventure Arrow. Otherwise, I wouldn't recommend it.

[HarperCollins Canada · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read a lot of books but rarely do I read one that reminds me of why I love to read. The Silence of Bonaventure Arrow has all the hallmarks of great storytelling but what makes it so special is the feeling it evokes with the reader. Yes, you will love the language, the characters, and the twists, but most of all you will love the experience of reading this book. In her luminous first novel, author Rita Leganski has hooked me for life. More, please!
~ Vikki

To read what Shannon, Kaitlyn and Suman think of The Silence of Bonaventure Arrow, visit The Savvy Reader here.

[MomToKippy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I suppose this falls under the category of magical realism. I actually never knew exactly what that was but I thoroughly enjoyed it. It is fun to be immersed in a story where one might believe in guardian angels, that loved ones who have passed on can reach out to us and that some people may have other worldly gifts that can be used to help or heal others. Of course this only works if it is well written and this definitely is.

Love the time period - 1950s, the Cajun culture and New Orleans setting. There is a great cast of characters. Many to love and only a few to hate. I always enjoy having a strong child character/perspective - it offers so much more. Even the names are magical. Bonaventure Arrow, Trinidad Prefontaine, Bayou Cymbaline. And how nice to have satisfying and happy endings/closure.

There were a couple of incidents that were a little too graphic/macabre for me but thankfully the sweet and humorous aspects of the story helped to balance it.

This was a nice change of pace - very different form anything else I have read. I will look forward to more from this author.

[Christina (A Reader of Fictions) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Okay book, I'm pretty sure it was me and not you. Listen, I saw you and you were beautiful, and I wanted you right away. I couldn't resist your allure, your magical realism. I had to have you in my life. Now, though, I realize that I should have gotten to know you better first, before we committed to one another in any meaningful way. You really are beautiful inside and out, but just not in a way I can fully appreciate.

What I can say is that the writing in The Silence of Bonaventure Arrow is beautiful. Simply lovely. Leganski's writing style plays into the feeling of magical realism perfectly, and the way she puts together sentences has a magic all its own. Her debut proves her writing chops, and I would be willing to consider reading whatever her next novel is, solely on the strength of her prose.

The book's opening captured me immediately, reminding me a good deal of Fitzgerald's short story "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" mixed with the southern charm of Sarah Addison Allen. The idea of a child, mute but intended for some big purpose, seems fraught with possibility. Unfortunately, the story then jumps back and spends almost the whole of the novel in the backstory of his mother and grandmothers. I never did find myself especially interested in any character but Bonaventure Arrow himself, and he didn't turn out to be much of a focus in the novel.

Bonaventure, in addition to being silent, has super hearing. He can hear everything, from falling stars to his father's ghost. Supposedly, this will allow him to do something quite special and live up to his saintly name. His counterpart of sorts, in the sense that they both have special abilities, is Trinidad, a much older black woman. She sees visions, Knowings, and practices hoodoo, which allows her to help people with natural herbs. Her hoodoo is remarkably similar to the effects of Vianne's chocolates in Chocolat. These elements are fantastic, but I don't feel like they served any actual purpose to the plot whatsoever. They seem merely to be there to make the setting more vibrant.

Actually, the only real plot seems to involve Bonaventure's father. William dies before Bonaventure's birth, shot by a mysterious, insane man. His mother and wife are trying to allay their guilt, the former by trying to figure out the identity of his killer. Meanwhile, William, in some sort of purgatory, watches over his family, and communicates with his son. The whole book seems mostly to be about him moving on to the next world. Rather than magical realism, this is much more of a ghost story.

What lost me, most heartily though, was all of the Christianity in the novel. No, it's not preachy, but it's incredibly boring. As I said, I couldn't be bothered about the backstory of the grandmothers, and their pasts are all wrapped up in their fervent religious beliefs. Every character isn't Christian, and it doesn't seem like Leganski's trying to say anything about it, but I just had no fucks to give about any of it. Like so much else in the novel, I just don't see why I had to sit through all of that when it doesn't seem to have had a big impact on the plot overall.

The Silence of Bonaventure Arrow is a gorgeously-written novel, but suffers from a weak plot that tries to do too many things without tying them together. I might read more Leganski someday, but this one did not work for me.

[NILTON TEIXEIRA · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply magical! I loved the writing. I had goosebumps while reading the very first paragraph. I was hooked! Anyways, although the pace is a bit slow, the storyline is remarkable. It’s an emotional roller coaster. This is one of the rare books that I did not want to end. The structure and characters development are truly impressive, at least for me. I loved every page. My favourite part is when Bonaventure was still in his mom’s womb (the description of his reactions to external sounds was so realistic!). I did expect a grand finale, and because of that I was a bit disappointed, but regardless, this one was a terrific read. Note: there are lots of religious references that may not please everyone (that part did not bother me a bit).

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this book from GoodReads!
Wow, I loved this book. Although there wasn't a lot of dialogue, this book spoke to me so loudly and clearly that it was hard to put down. I hope this wasn't Ms. Leganski's first book as I need to read more of her.

[Julie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Beautiful, but boring. Filled with super-uptight christian/pro-life/right-wring craziness (aka, nothing I would read by choice) that made me curse out loud more than once.
The story was less than compelling, it never grabbed me and I frequently put this down simply because I didn't care. That isn't like me at all, I almost never take more than one or maybe two sittings to finish a book unless it's a reread or nonfiction. This would be DNF except I hear it's the next big thing and I need to be able to talk about it at the bookstore when customers come in. I know exactly what I'll be saying- if you're a Fox News fan, have at it, otherwise- it's not worth the time investment.

[Penny (Literary Hoarders) · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful read! Just marvelous! It comes out in February so promise to watch for it!

[Perri · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a wonderful story with lyrical writing in a place dripping with southern charm and character. Bonaventure is a boy born without speech but the ability to hear far beyond what most people can hear. What I took from it is you can hear so much more if you keep your mouth shut and listen. A truly magical read.

[Ashi Barrons · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely adore this book! I received this in the mail just a few days ago (won it in a Goodreads giveaway) and started reading it immediately. It's a fun, heartwarming read with delightful writing. Absolutely loved it.

[Jeanette · Rating 3 out of 5]

Strongly considered giving this one a 2 star, but I could not. Primarily because of the lyrical, poetic, poignant passages describing Bonaventure and Trinidad's defining properties. But overall, this entire book just did not work for me. And that's despite the easy read and yet beautiful language of the writing flow.

First of all, I'm beginning to abhor magic realism. Not dislike. In our all too real world it's starting to feel not only silly, but mostly sappy to the point of dangerously dissociative.

But just like the Dicken's orphans or other pure innocents of good intention fused with inborn wisdom, there does exist an audience (endlessly in all eras) for these extremely sweet and saccharine idealistic models. Or magically so in some regard of their identities. Pollyanna with super skills! And I can completely understand the attachment and their enjoyment of fairy tales.

On top of it I wanted to hear much more about Trinidad than I wanted to hear about The Wanderer or his sorry tale.

If you like magic realism you will like this one, because it is sentimental to the extreme and filled with rather gothic proportions of karma's excuses? Sob story reasoning that inspires and closes into a complete circle- all neat?

[Marjorie Bowman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would give 10 stars. This is a gem. You are allowed to see the story unfold, learning the secrets before the characters do. Lovely relationships and interesting plot developments. And a big plus is that you know it has to end well, because the bad stuff happens at the beginning. I cannot recommend this book more highly. Wonderful respite from the nightly news.

[Cheri · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could never do justice to a review for The Silence of Bonaventure Arrow, and surely not as well as Will Byrnes (whose review follows mine), so please read his review while I put my energies into wishing this story had no end.

Magical. Fantastical. Lyrical. Lovely.

[Tania · Rating 3 out of 5]

A spirit moved among them, and watched them and loved them. It was the love that disquieted her, for it was the kind of love that doesn't know when to leave itself to memory.

3.5 stars. I enjoy magical realism, so I liked this story. I especially appreciated the beautiful descriptions about Bonaventure's silence. I loved the stories everyday objects shared with him. It was very special getting to know a character from the moment of conception. That rarely happens in any book, and as I mom it makes me feel all warm and fuzzy.
I recently read another book about hoodoo, and wasn't sure how it differed from voodoo. The Silence of Bonaventure Arrow cleared this up for me.

I must admit I was expecting more from this book. Although I enjoyed it, it's not a book that will stay with me for a long time, and it should have been. It has all the elements to make it one of my favorites. I was sick and in bed when reading this, and think this played a big part in my feelings. So for her next book, I'll be sure to not make the same mistake.

The story: A lyrical debut novel set in historic New Orleans that follows a mute boy whose gift of magical hearing reveals family secrets and forgotten voodoo lore, and exposes a murder that threatens the souls of those who love him.

[Elizabeth☮ · Rating 4 out of 5]

The protagonist is Bonaventure Arrow who can hear better than most people, but doesn't use his voice to share what he knows.

The story revolves around Bonaventure's life without his father. His mother and his paternal grandmother raise him in 1950's Louisiana. There is healing that needs to be done on everyone's part (except for Bonaventure) and the unfolding of these story lines is done with congruity.

I love the characters here and I love the lessons of acceptance and moving through grief to the other side and healing.

I am so glad I finally got around to this one. Thanks to Tasha for bringing it to my attention.

[Laurie Gibson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Silence of Bonaventure Arrow is now officially one of my all-time favorite books. A well-written book of magical realism with fully-fleshed out characters, The Silence of Bonaventure Arrow is a tale of forgiveness and healing centered around a boy who does not speak but has the most incredible gift of hearing.

[Sue Gerth (The Bookalicious Babe) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this novel. Oh my golly. It is magical, sad, sweet, and full of so much wonderfulness that I can't describe it. Definitely for fans of Alice Hoffman and Sarah Addison Allen.

[Shirley Schwartz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is truly magical, and I'm so glad that I took the time to read it. It's unlike any other book that I've ever read. Little Bonaventure Arrow is a wonderful creation and even though there is a lot of magic, mystery, unexplained happenings, supernatural occurences, voodoo and hoodoo in this book, he is so realistic and so very loveable. The setting is a little place called Bayou Cymbaline in the 1950's. I love the deep south references throughout the book and the glimpse it gives into the rich Creole and Louisiana culture. I love the characters that live in this book. I just loved the book for the wonderful story, and for the sense of hope and happiness that permeates throughout. This is a book that reminded me of why I am such a bookaholic. Bonaventure is born from sadness, but there is so much hope and promise emanating from this one little boy. His father was shot down by an apparent stranger just before Bonaventure makes his entry into the world. This sudden violent act forever changes Bonaventure's mother and grandmother, and shapes Bonaventure's life. Bonaventure cannot speak, but his ability to hear and understand is beyond any normal human's. Even though he's only seven he manages to determine what the old buried secrets are that have hampered his mother and grandmother from living a normal, happy life. Bonaventure, along with a wonderful black woman called Trinidad, work together to heal these old wounds and to provide hope for these two women. A truly magical story that will leave me forever touched. If you love to read, then you absolutely must read this enchanting book.

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The fire sings to the marshmallow, and the song turns the marshmallow brown because that's what marshmallows do when they are happy." - Bonaventure Arrow

(I didn't write a review of this book the first time I read it way back when, so I re-read it, so that I could amend that mistake because this is now one of my favourites.)

This is a story about love, love lost, guilt, regrets, and forgiveness with a bit of magic and satisfying comeuppance written beautifully with winsome characters. William and Dancy falls in love and are ready to start a family with bright future ahead of them, but one night they are forever separated by a man, only known as the Wanderer. Who is this Wanderer? Why did he kill William?
From their love, a son, Bonaventure Arrow is born who cannot speak but has a special gift to hear sounds no one else can, even that of his ghost dad. Young Aventure and Trinidad Prefontaine, a medicine-woman, someone who 'know' what has happened and will happen, work together to help William, Dancy, grandmother Letice, and grandmother Adeladie find peace.
I was swept away by this engrossing story and couldn't help but fall in love with Aventure, and empathize with the women, and was happy to let them go and live their lives when I came to the end. This is just great read.

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Books that break the adage of “Show, Don’t Tell” rarely work. But, somehow this massive amount of telling, coupled with little actual showing, works wonderfully well here! This debut novel which is steeped in magical realism in a rich, Louisiana setting provides a charmingly entertaining read. The Southern flair and hints of magic function impressively well to make this book such an absorbing read. That Southern setting and flair is all the more impressive considering the author currently resides in the Chicagoland area and grew up in Wisconsin - hardly Bayou country. But the heavy-handed narration and the lush setting combine to create a really entertaining and lovely book.

Leganski’s style pays homage to Alice Hoffman (Hoffman is even listed in the “bonus” materials as one of Leganski’s favourite authors), but this novel is a lot more enjoyable and skillfully put together than the last few Hoffman novels that I have read. And while some elements of the plot are fairly predictable (the identity of the Wanderer, for example), the strength of the narrative itself never once so much as stumbles. I definitely plan on keeping an eye out for Leganski’s sophomore novel!

[Emalynne Wilder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, Bonaventure!

It's one of those books that shakes up your insides, and after the book ends, you can only conclude that where they said AUTHOR they meant MAGICIAN, because only a person capable of spells and magic could possibly conjure up such feelings of sadness for fictional people.

You know Rita is a gifted author because in just a few pages she brought romance to life between Dancy and William so bold it rippled throughout the rest of her novel, despite the unfortunate event that unfolds.

My favorite part was toward the end, where Dancy and William "dance" in her beauty parlor for the last time. It will be one of those book-moments that haunt me forever. I tear up as I type this, just remembering that part of the story.

I also loved the gris-gris scene. I must have read it over a handful of times before I moved on to the rest of the story.

So powerful and lovely. Unique.

I'd sure love to meet this lady Rita Leganski, someday, just to tell her in person how much I adored her Bonaventure Arrow.

-- DBC

[Ruthie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful story told in a deceptively understated, dreamy way that lulls the reader into thinking not much is going on....but so much happens! Bonaventure Arrow is born unable to speak but he hears everything, and his hearing becomes more acute as he grows older. His family includes his mother and two grandmothers, all very nuanced and fully fleshed out characters. Bonaventure reminded me of Owen Meany (A Prayer for Owen Meany) in a good way!
This book managed to touch on so many social issues without being forceful about anything, the author has a light touch! There was so much to think about - great book for discussion.
Leganski is a master at descriptions, we see, hear, feel and smell what the characters in the novel are experiencing. There are secrets, there is a love story, a mystery, and humor, and everything happens for a reason.
This is a special novel that was surprisingly engaging and sweet - a "feel good-but not sappy" novel.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVE this book. It is a darling lyrical gem of beautiful language and gentle philosophy about how the characters deal with the currents in their lives. I remember thinking that the author must have had so much fun coming up with images for the things Bonaventure could hear. I am so glad I listened to the audible version; the narrator, Maggi-Meg Reed, was perfect and found distinct voices for the characters. I wish they had cast her to read the Hunger Games trilogy. I am adding this one to my favorites list and will look for more from Ms Leganski.

One of the themes in this book is forgiveness, a favorite topic of mine. I especially like this passage, which comes toward the end of the book: "The words fell all around her then like a kind and curing rain: Father, forgive them; they know not what they do. Right there and then, Letice Arrow knew in absolute clarity that forgiveness is unconditional; it is complete in and of itself and always rises above the facts."

[Laura · Rating 1 out of 5]

Anyone who knows me already knows how I feel about this book. It is
a) terrible
b) sentimental
c) weirdly politically conservative
d) horribly written
e) terrible

I don't understand the hype, especially that which is lauding the writing. If I hadn't gotten rid of my copy like it had a disease I could quote some choice passages at you, but "purple prose" isn't enough to describe it here. More like ultraviolet.

I like magical realism but I didn't buy this at all. Definite strains of the "magical Negro" trope in Trinidad Prefontaine. Heavyhanded anti-choice aspects. Left a definite bad taste in my mouth, and that's completely disregarding the fact that the storyline is boring, the characters are flat, and the author talks about tempests raging within raindrops without an ounce of restraint.

Also, Bonaventure is super annoying. Which is impressive for a kid who can't talk.

[Tasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

A gorgeous gem of a book! The writing is smooth and silky and the pages pretty much just turned themselves. I was caught off guard by this one. I expected to enjoy it based on the ratings but not as much as I did. Magical Realism is a hit or miss for me but this one worked perfectly with connections to the 'other side' and some hoodoo/voodoo thrown in. I often find these elements too corny but this author did a fantastic job keeping it believable and a perfect fit with the story. Historical fiction, great characters and a setting in New Orleans added to this fine read. I'll be looking forward to more from this author.