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RESTO DEL SILENCIO, EL
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First published January 1, 2008
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About the author
Carla Guelfenbein
14 books201 followersCarla Guelfenbein Dobry es una escritora chilena de origen ruso-judío.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 108 reviews
January 19, 2020
He llorado como nunca con esta novela magistralmente escrita. Una joya.
September 20, 2015
Mi más sincera admiración a la autora. Construye, a mi parecer, una historia perfecta. Mejor aún que la que le hace ganar el premio Alfaguara. Qué feliz soy con este tipo de lecturas, sólo por ellas vale la pena vivir.
June 17, 2020
Am ramas fara cuvinte citind aceasta poveste dramatica spusa, pe rand, de personajele principale: Tommy, Juan si Alma. Trist...
January 4, 2023
Una hermosa pero triste historia que no pude dejar de leer; me agradó mucho la prosa fácil de asimilar de la autora, a quien leí por primera vez.
December 26, 2015
Me dejó literalmente sin palabras...
October 7, 2015
Increíble, tierno y triste
September 20, 2018
El resto es silencio.
Me atrapó desde el inicio. Una lectura muy dinámica que a pesar de no ser tan descriptiva te va envolviendo en la historia. Me gustó mucho que la autora se adentra no solo en los sucesos sino en la parte humana de cada personaje. Muy reflexiva y con un final perfecto.
Me atrapó desde el inicio. Una lectura muy dinámica que a pesar de no ser tan descriptiva te va envolviendo en la historia. Me gustó mucho que la autora se adentra no solo en los sucesos sino en la parte humana de cada personaje. Muy reflexiva y con un final perfecto.
March 31, 2013
This was the first book I read after I finished Life After Life. I really didn't want to read anything, I more or less had to force myself to start something. I was sure that once I'd actually got into a book it would be alright, but starting was a difficult step. Maybe my view of The Rest is Silence suffered because of this, I couldn't help comparing it to Life After Life- at least to a point. And whilst I enjoyed it well enough I didn't find anything special in it either. Maybe I should have chosen something a little more easy going after Life After Life?
It wasn't really what I expected. I expected the discovery of suicide to be an important plot point which sustained throughout the story. In fact it was more of a spark that starts a fire. It was referred back to, but it wasn't as much of a key point as I had anticipated, and actually the story may have worked without it (although it would have suffered somewhat if it was taken out).
The story switched through different voices. Tommy, the young boy, Alma, his stepmother, and Jaun his Father. The time also jumped around a little, especially in Alma's chapters. This was most obvious at the beginning of the story, and it made things a little confusing, and it did make it harder to get into the book.
There were, in effect 3 (or maybe 4) stories running through the novel, one for each character, but another where all the stories interlinked. It was interesting to see the different sides of a story, and the ways the stories deviated showed the fractures in the family.
I enjoyed Alma's story best, and I think I liked her best too. There was something quite strong about her, but she almost wanted too much control over her life, she didn't ever seem to just let things happen. Possibly I shouldn't have liked her, but there was something very easy to like about her. I think part of it was that Juan was shown as having quite a hard exterior, and although we saw his softer side he never seemed to understand that sometimes you have to show you're soft side and at others it's better to remain strong. We saw the contrast between the ways he and Alma interacted with people, and Alma came off better.
Tommy's story should have been the most interesting, but his voice didn't really work for me. Sometimes it felt like a child's voice, but most of the time it was a bit too adult, without and common sense.
It wasn't really what I expected. I expected the discovery of suicide to be an important plot point which sustained throughout the story. In fact it was more of a spark that starts a fire. It was referred back to, but it wasn't as much of a key point as I had anticipated, and actually the story may have worked without it (although it would have suffered somewhat if it was taken out).
The story switched through different voices. Tommy, the young boy, Alma, his stepmother, and Jaun his Father. The time also jumped around a little, especially in Alma's chapters. This was most obvious at the beginning of the story, and it made things a little confusing, and it did make it harder to get into the book.
There were, in effect 3 (or maybe 4) stories running through the novel, one for each character, but another where all the stories interlinked. It was interesting to see the different sides of a story, and the ways the stories deviated showed the fractures in the family.
I enjoyed Alma's story best, and I think I liked her best too. There was something quite strong about her, but she almost wanted too much control over her life, she didn't ever seem to just let things happen. Possibly I shouldn't have liked her, but there was something very easy to like about her. I think part of it was that Juan was shown as having quite a hard exterior, and although we saw his softer side he never seemed to understand that sometimes you have to show you're soft side and at others it's better to remain strong. We saw the contrast between the ways he and Alma interacted with people, and Alma came off better.
Tommy's story should have been the most interesting, but his voice didn't really work for me. Sometimes it felt like a child's voice, but most of the time it was a bit too adult, without and common sense.
April 10, 2022
Aviso que esta reseña no va a ser objetiva ya que amo profundamente la prosa de Carla Guelfenbein. Dicho esto, paso a comentar que este libro es una absoluta belleza. Una maravilla. La autora construye una historia perfecta contada a tres voces, a pura emoción en el relato. Con una brillante capacidad para delinear la intimidad de los personajes, atrapa y te conduce por un camino de intensas vivencias y reflexiones. Un drama elegante y profundo.
Reseña:
Todas las familias esconden un secreto. Tommy, un niño sensible y muy particular, se ha propuesto averiguar el de la suya: la verdad sobre la muerte de su madre. Juan, su padre, temeroso de que la realidad lo hiera, ha construido para ambos una coraza que los resguarda del dolor, pero a la vez los separa de la vida. Ésa que Tommy está ansioso por abarcar y sentir. Alma, la actual mujer de su padre, cansada de vivir junto a un hombre que elude los sentimientos, se deja arrastrar por la pasión de un antiguo amor. Será una aventura excitante que a la vez le hará cuestionar los cimientos de su existencia.
* Si aún no leyeron nada de Carla Guelfenbein los invito a que lo hagan pronto. El primero libro que me pareció bellísimo fue “Contigo en la distancia” Premio Alfaguara 2015. Luego, “La mujer de mi vida” otra maravilla. Y con “El riesgo es silencio” puedo decir que ya definitivamente es una de mis autoras favoritas.
Reseña:
Todas las familias esconden un secreto. Tommy, un niño sensible y muy particular, se ha propuesto averiguar el de la suya: la verdad sobre la muerte de su madre. Juan, su padre, temeroso de que la realidad lo hiera, ha construido para ambos una coraza que los resguarda del dolor, pero a la vez los separa de la vida. Ésa que Tommy está ansioso por abarcar y sentir. Alma, la actual mujer de su padre, cansada de vivir junto a un hombre que elude los sentimientos, se deja arrastrar por la pasión de un antiguo amor. Será una aventura excitante que a la vez le hará cuestionar los cimientos de su existencia.
* Si aún no leyeron nada de Carla Guelfenbein los invito a que lo hagan pronto. El primero libro que me pareció bellísimo fue “Contigo en la distancia” Premio Alfaguara 2015. Luego, “La mujer de mi vida” otra maravilla. Y con “El riesgo es silencio” puedo decir que ya definitivamente es una de mis autoras favoritas.
August 5, 2020
In 'Manieren om naar huis terug te keren' laat Alejandro Zambra zijn protagonist op moeders vraag 'wat vind je van Carla Guelfenbein?' antwoorden: 'ik vind er niks aan'.
Zambra rules, voor mij toch.
Zambra rules, voor mij toch.
January 27, 2016
Cuaaanta emoción en un sólo libro, Cristo!
Que libro más tierno, emocionante, shockeante, triste y profundo.
:"/
El libro es narrado por tres personajes, Tommy, un pequeño de doce con problemas cardíacos, un amigo imaginario, victima de constantes acosos por parte de sus compañeros, un niño muy suspicaz, sensible y comprensivo, que busca la verdad respecto a la muerte de su madre. Juan, doctor, viudo y padre de Tommy, que es preso de la tristeza a causa de su viudez, la salud de su hijo y de una vida que se le va de las manos. Y Alma, la actual mujer de Juan, quien se deja seducir por la pasion de un no muy grato amor del pasado. Cada capítulo van intercalandose los narradores, muchas veces en un mismo escenario, técnica de la autora que nos hace apreciar en profundidad la personalidad de cada uno.
No tengo idea porque mi lectura se hizo tan rápido con este libro, pero lo que si, es una triste historia familiar que te hará apreciar acciones y palabras que cotidianamente dejamos en el aire sin responder.
Que libro más tierno, emocionante, shockeante, triste y profundo.
:"/
El libro es narrado por tres personajes, Tommy, un pequeño de doce con problemas cardíacos, un amigo imaginario, victima de constantes acosos por parte de sus compañeros, un niño muy suspicaz, sensible y comprensivo, que busca la verdad respecto a la muerte de su madre. Juan, doctor, viudo y padre de Tommy, que es preso de la tristeza a causa de su viudez, la salud de su hijo y de una vida que se le va de las manos. Y Alma, la actual mujer de Juan, quien se deja seducir por la pasion de un no muy grato amor del pasado. Cada capítulo van intercalandose los narradores, muchas veces en un mismo escenario, técnica de la autora que nos hace apreciar en profundidad la personalidad de cada uno.
No tengo idea porque mi lectura se hizo tan rápido con este libro, pero lo que si, es una triste historia familiar que te hará apreciar acciones y palabras que cotidianamente dejamos en el aire sin responder.
June 27, 2016
No está mal la novela, pero hay bastantes estereotipos-- el médico emocionalmente distante, la esposa frustrada que se siente sola, el hijo inválido que sufre en silencio. Me recuerda a varias películas y novelas sobre familias acomodadas chilenas donde hay muchos secretos y mentiras que acaban causándoles a todos mucho daño.
October 30, 2015
Me gusto mucho. Es de esos libros que no quieres q terminen. Te hace reflexionar. Profundo y muy interesante. Me encanto!!!
September 2, 2023
4,5... Este libro me recogió el corazón. A través de las voces de sus tres protagonistas, Tommy, un niño con problemas cardíacos que perdió a su madre en circunstancias que recién comienza descubrir, acosado por sus compañeros, se siente lejos de su padre y a través de un mundo propio intenta encontrar la verdad que se esconde tras la indiferencia del padre y la ausencia de su madre. Por otro lado tenemos a Alma, la actual pareja de su papá, una mujer carismática y que lo quiere como si fuera suyo, pero ella también esconde dramas del pasado, se siente lejos de su marido y no logra encontrar el camino que los vuelva a unir por lo que cae fácilmente con un antiguo amor, los que no solo la aleja aún mas de su esposo sino también del pequeño Tommy cuando más la necesita. Y por último esta la voz de Juan, el padre, un connotado cirujano infantil, que luego de pasar la enfermedad de su hijo y la perdida de su esposa, se encierra en si mismo y se siente incapaz de conectar con su hijo y su pareja, los secretos que oculta son una pesada carga que no es capaz de compartir, un hombre con el cual al ir conociendo su historia logras empatizar con su sufrimiento.
Es una novela de tono intimista, donde cada voz nos revela una dinámica familiar narrada de tal manera que se hace muy difícil soltar el libro, a través de sus reflexiones somos capaces de ponernos en la piel de cada uno y sentir sus reflexiones en nuestra piel.
Me gustó mucho esta novela, me la leí muy rápido porque no la quería soltar, a pesar de que se sufre mucho, igual te deja al final un rayito de esperanza que ilumina un final que sin duda nos dejará pensando y que se quedará dando vueltas en nuestra cabeza y en nuestro corazón.
Es una novela de tono intimista, donde cada voz nos revela una dinámica familiar narrada de tal manera que se hace muy difícil soltar el libro, a través de sus reflexiones somos capaces de ponernos en la piel de cada uno y sentir sus reflexiones en nuestra piel.
Me gustó mucho esta novela, me la leí muy rápido porque no la quería soltar, a pesar de que se sufre mucho, igual te deja al final un rayito de esperanza que ilumina un final que sin duda nos dejará pensando y que se quedará dando vueltas en nuestra cabeza y en nuestro corazón.
March 9, 2013
Owning a Kindle, in some ways, is a little like going around the charity shops looking for bargain books. I have to get this out there now (just in case you have failed to notice): I love the Kindle Store! This was yet another of those books that I managed to pick up for just 20 pence, although you will have to pay £5.44 if you want a copy now. Having enjoyed the book greatly, I would not hesitate to part with that sum!
The book, as laid out in the blurb, follows the story of Tommy and his family. Much of the story is centred on Tommy, but each of the characters has their share of the limelight, so to speak, and the first person narrative style really allows us to get into the minds of each one of them. In many ways, the family unit is a strange one. In many other ways, it is an all to familiar story. Juan, having done his best to deal with the grief of his wife’s suicide, has remarried but dedicates much of his life, his time and, indeed, himself to his profession. Juan is a heart surgeon, but there is more to the story.
Tommy, before the beginning of the tale, had heart surgery and will live the rest of his life with a weak heart, requiring constant monitoring. He’s not totally debilitated, but he certainly can’t lead the normal life that kids around the world take for granted. Having first hand experience of the situation, Juan’s dedication to his profession has been driven to a whole new level. Not only is he the guy capable of saving people’s children, but he fully understands the range of emotions one would fee during the process.
Alma, his second wife, has some issues of her own too. She has a fractious, to put it mildly, relationship with her mother and has vowed never to end up like her. She is determined to provide her daughter, and her step-son, with the stable and loving environment she feels her own mother failed to create for her. She puts herself under constant pressure to succeed, but her diminishing relationship with Juan is causing her to wonder if the grass isn’t greener on the other side.
The effects that these issues have on the relationships between each of the characters is interesting to read and, ultimately, tragic. Having taken each other for granted, they have all begun to have problems communicating. They all have their secrets, and they all keep certain things very close to their chests. It is this continued guarded behaviour that has driven a wedge between each of them and, as we see all to commonly in real life, this threatens to destroy the unit altogether.
I got the impression that Tommy was somewhat autistic, albeit in a mild form. He didn’t have friends, he was very calculated and it seemed a little too easy for him to detach emotionally for him to be a completely “normal” twelve year old. I am sure that heart surgery and a weak heart would alter your persona, but his detachment from the outside world is something that leads me to believe he may be autistic. He has some weird, quirky ways that will most likely entertain you throughout.
This is Guelfenbein’s third novel but is, so far at least, the only one that has been translated to English. I will be looking out for her work in future as this was a book that I found truly captivating. The messages delivered throughout were both hard-hitting and already familiar. Even in translation, the writing style was of a very high standard and the story flowed very well.
The underlying message you will take away from this book is to be careful what you wish for. Sometimes we lose sight of what is really important in life. This book will help you to address that and see things for how they really are.
The book, as laid out in the blurb, follows the story of Tommy and his family. Much of the story is centred on Tommy, but each of the characters has their share of the limelight, so to speak, and the first person narrative style really allows us to get into the minds of each one of them. In many ways, the family unit is a strange one. In many other ways, it is an all to familiar story. Juan, having done his best to deal with the grief of his wife’s suicide, has remarried but dedicates much of his life, his time and, indeed, himself to his profession. Juan is a heart surgeon, but there is more to the story.
Tommy, before the beginning of the tale, had heart surgery and will live the rest of his life with a weak heart, requiring constant monitoring. He’s not totally debilitated, but he certainly can’t lead the normal life that kids around the world take for granted. Having first hand experience of the situation, Juan’s dedication to his profession has been driven to a whole new level. Not only is he the guy capable of saving people’s children, but he fully understands the range of emotions one would fee during the process.
Alma, his second wife, has some issues of her own too. She has a fractious, to put it mildly, relationship with her mother and has vowed never to end up like her. She is determined to provide her daughter, and her step-son, with the stable and loving environment she feels her own mother failed to create for her. She puts herself under constant pressure to succeed, but her diminishing relationship with Juan is causing her to wonder if the grass isn’t greener on the other side.
The effects that these issues have on the relationships between each of the characters is interesting to read and, ultimately, tragic. Having taken each other for granted, they have all begun to have problems communicating. They all have their secrets, and they all keep certain things very close to their chests. It is this continued guarded behaviour that has driven a wedge between each of them and, as we see all to commonly in real life, this threatens to destroy the unit altogether.
I got the impression that Tommy was somewhat autistic, albeit in a mild form. He didn’t have friends, he was very calculated and it seemed a little too easy for him to detach emotionally for him to be a completely “normal” twelve year old. I am sure that heart surgery and a weak heart would alter your persona, but his detachment from the outside world is something that leads me to believe he may be autistic. He has some weird, quirky ways that will most likely entertain you throughout.
This is Guelfenbein’s third novel but is, so far at least, the only one that has been translated to English. I will be looking out for her work in future as this was a book that I found truly captivating. The messages delivered throughout were both hard-hitting and already familiar. Even in translation, the writing style was of a very high standard and the story flowed very well.
The underlying message you will take away from this book is to be careful what you wish for. Sometimes we lose sight of what is really important in life. This book will help you to address that and see things for how they really are.
June 7, 2019
Tommy war schon immer ein Sorgenkind. Wegen seiner schweren Herzkrankheit ist er deutlich kleiner als seine Altersgenossen und wurde bisher übermäßig behütet. Der Zwölfjährige hat seine Krankheit überstanden, wird jedoch nie ein normales Leben führen können. Rein äußerlich zeigt sich das daran, dass es in der Alters-Hierarchie seiner Cousins und seiner Mitschüler keinen Platz für ein besonderes Kind gibt. Vermutlich aus falscher Rücksicht sind Tommy die wichtigsten Dinge verschwiegen worden: dass er Jude ist und wie seine Mutter ums Leben kam. Als er durch ein belauschtes Gespräch der Erwachsenen mit der Realität konfrontiert wird, setzt Tommy nichtsahnend eine verhängnisvolle Entwicklung in Gang. Vater Juan, ein prominenter chilenischer Herzchirurg, hat die Sorge um Tommy an seine zweite Frau Alma und das Kindermädchen delegiert und erfährt erst viel zu spät von den Vorgängen in seinem Haushalt.
Tommy, sein Vater Juan und Alma erzählen in der Ichform jeder aus seiner Perspektive und zum großen Teil im Präsenz. Durch die Erzählform wirkt die Sprache sehr schlicht, bildet jedoch die Beziehungen in dieser ungewöhlichen Familie beeindruckend atmosphärisch ab. Tommys rechnerisches Alter kontrastiert in krasser Weise mit seiner kindlichen Sprache und seinem magischen Denken eines viel jüngeren Kindes, mit dem er seine Angst vor dem Verlassenwerden zu beherrschen sucht. Alma und Juan klammern sich wie Schiffbrüchige an eine Vernunftbeziehung, die die Versorgung von Tommy und Almas Tochter aus einer vorhergehenden Beziehung sichern soll.
Guelfenbeins Roman wirkt auf mich besonders eindringlich durch die drei sehr unterschiedlichen Erzählerpersönlichkeiten und den Kontrast zwischen bedrückenden Ereignissen und der vordergründig einfach wirkenden Sprache, in der sie erzählt werden.
Tommy, sein Vater Juan und Alma erzählen in der Ichform jeder aus seiner Perspektive und zum großen Teil im Präsenz. Durch die Erzählform wirkt die Sprache sehr schlicht, bildet jedoch die Beziehungen in dieser ungewöhlichen Familie beeindruckend atmosphärisch ab. Tommys rechnerisches Alter kontrastiert in krasser Weise mit seiner kindlichen Sprache und seinem magischen Denken eines viel jüngeren Kindes, mit dem er seine Angst vor dem Verlassenwerden zu beherrschen sucht. Alma und Juan klammern sich wie Schiffbrüchige an eine Vernunftbeziehung, die die Versorgung von Tommy und Almas Tochter aus einer vorhergehenden Beziehung sichern soll.
Guelfenbeins Roman wirkt auf mich besonders eindringlich durch die drei sehr unterschiedlichen Erzählerpersönlichkeiten und den Kontrast zwischen bedrückenden Ereignissen und der vordergründig einfach wirkenden Sprache, in der sie erzählt werden.
August 18, 2013
What an incredibly sad book with all three of the narrators, dealing with tragedy and feeling so alone and isolated as they tried to find some truth and certainty to cling on to. I loved this book. It was beautifully written, with clear descriptive prose, believably written characters and an engaging plot which draws you in and keeps you entranced.
July 2, 2016
Este libro llegó a mi como regalo, cuando yo tenía aproximadamente 13 años, y ahora yo teniendo 20 años sigo recordando pasajes de la historia, sobretodo el final, creo que toda la historia hizo que me recogiera y pudiese vislumbrar sentimientos e imágenes increíbles. Una historia hermosa, y me sentiría en deuda si no hiciera público lo linda que es.
October 24, 2014
Muy bien escrito y muy triste.
July 11, 2016
Real, triste e íntimo. Los personajes te conmueven el alma. Maravilloso!
August 13, 2025
Secretos de familia. Un padre ausente que no demuestra sentimientos por su hijo ni por su actual mujer, quien cansada cae en brazos de un antiguo amor.
Un niño sensible que busca encontrar los misterios de la muerte de su madre.
Extraordinario!!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Un niño sensible que busca encontrar los misterios de la muerte de su madre.
Extraordinario!!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
November 17, 2021
quase 4*
Edit: não gosto dos capítulos intercalando narradores. as falas da criança parecem inverosímeis, às vezes. final triste, amargo, apertado e pesado que doeu.
Edit: não gosto dos capítulos intercalando narradores. as falas da criança parecem inverosímeis, às vezes. final triste, amargo, apertado e pesado que doeu.
January 3, 2023
Una novela fascinante que te atrapa desde la primera página. Para mí, muestra cómo la falta de comunicación impacta en la construcción del yo, sobre todo cuando se trata de un niño, como lo es Tommy. El final no me lo esperaba; es profundamente triste, y deja algo sobre lo que reflexionar.
Llevo leídos dos libros de la autora y ambos me encantaron.
Llevo leídos dos libros de la autora y ambos me encantaron.
February 10, 2025
Que difícil lectura. Tiene tanto mensaje de vida complejo de abordar como lo son sus personajes, muy reales por cierto. Tommy ❤️
January 29, 2019
Nunca he escrito una reseña en toda mi vida, pero realmente me dio rabia este libro. Es que acaso poner todos los dramas y miserias humanas en un libro lo hacen bueno?. Es un libro ágil y bien escrito pero realmente lo pase muy mal. Muy triste, solo me deja tristeza.
October 2, 2010
What a fantastic book. Would love to recommend to my english speaking friends, but its not translated yet - watch out!
A story about love and loneliness told by three different narrators, all members of a patchwork family.
I couldnt put it away.
A story about love and loneliness told by three different narrators, all members of a patchwork family.
I couldnt put it away.
January 19, 2016
Novela a tres voces en la que "hagamos lo que hagamos, la verdad siempre surge. Pero el problema es que cada cual cree que la suya es la única o la más brillante, alrededor de la cual giran las otras verdades". Descubrir la verdad causa mucho dolor en esta excepcional novela
Displaying 1 - 30 of 108 reviews