The Silence: A Novel

by Karen Lee White

Karen Lee White holds the torch brightly as a new and powerful voice, her style and sensibility encompassing the traditional and the contemporary. In The Silence, with the Yukon as a canvas, she engages in a deep empathy for characters, emergent Indigenous identity, and discovery that employs dreams, spirits, songs, and journals as foundations for dialogue between cultures.

Leah Redsky is a Salteaux/Salish woman living in Vancouver who struggles with identity and the difficult intercultural dynamics of having a non-Indigenous boyfriend and working for the government. Often conflicted, at odds with her past and current life, things unravel and she suffers a breakdown—the unexpected life twist that is the key to coming to terms with her past. Through a diary, she discovers something terrible happened, yet what that is is unclear until she begins to have dream encounters with Tlingit/Tagish spirits who she knew in the north when she lived a traditional life on the land. Leah must find the strength to accept and integrate past and present so she may move into the future. She will find her power as an Indigenous woman, heal her spiritual and psychological wounds through the resolution of previous traumas, and reconcile her ability to communicate with those in the next world as she comes to understand she has been chosen to be a Medicine Woman/Elder/Cultural Leader. As an added bonus feature, the book comes with an original music CD by the author/musician.

Genres: Indigenous

176 pages, Paperback

Published December 19, 2018

Reviews

[Maja · Rating 5 out of 5]

Karen Lee White’s The Silence is a strong first novel with a lyrical, dreamy quality . She weaves traditional indigenous knowledge, memories, songs, dreams, romance and flashbacks with strong story and character development . Set partly in the Yukon, partly in Vancouver, and partly in the world of visions and dreams, the main character struggles to come to terms with her memories, her past trauma, and her developing identity as a leader and healer. It’s an absorbing and engaging read. As an added bonus, The Silence comes with a CD of original songs by the author.

[MC Glass · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a gift, in more ways than one. We are treated to beautiful images of the Yukon, birds flying east to west, songs before and after unknowable pains and then laughter, belly deep knowing.

Excellent truth telling. Thank you. more, more.

[Zamira Heth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Music and metaphor tell this very sad, traumatic and endearing story. But there is so much beauty in the metaphors carried through this book, and in the relationships, and in the setting, that I could not put the book down. You sore Raven; you sore!

[Glenda Kohse · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very powerful story! Karen’s words become a visual feast as you go on Leah’s journey with her.

[Chai King-James · Rating 1 out of 5]

I wish I could have gotten through it but I gave up very easily. The musical component took away from the book for me. Not a favorite though beautiful and authentically Canadian.

[Mark Hein · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a powerful book - often lyrical, sometimes gruesomely realistic, always compelling.
It's the story of Leah, a mixed-race woman whose First Nations heritage was hidden from her. We share her confusion living in the "urban rez," and join her unexpected quest to discover her past - and a path to her future - in a Yukon village. Along the way, we meet a wide array of indigenous people, some in the warm embrace of a community, others wandering at its margins, some lost in isolation.
White's poetic vision and keen empathy let us feel these characters' inner lives, rather than peering at them. At the end, we come away with a deep appreciation for the majestic beauty of the Earth and for the challenges faced by every being who seeks to live here.
Karen Lee White moves easily between story and song, and can weave with several intimate, intense yarns at once. She is an important new voice in Canada's literature.

[Sapphire · Rating 3 out of 5]

Right off that bat, I will say that this book needs a big ol' trigger warning for a rape scene. So if that is something that you can't handle, don't read this book.
This book was really interesting, but with that it was also a bit confusing at times and I had troubles keeping up. I thought the plot was really good, I could totally see each and every one of these characters as a real person, and I thought it was really cool of her to incorporate her original tracks into the book (the book came with a CD with the music on it). I don't think I've read a book set in the Yukon yet, but the way Karen Lee White described it, it truly came alive for me.
A closer rating would be a 3.75 stars: I thought it was very interesting but like I said earlier, it was kind of confusing to follow at times, especially as we went through the journal entries, or her dreams. I am definitely interested in checking out more of her work in the future!

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow...it's hard to believe this is a first novel for Karen Lee White! It is an exquisite piece of writing that immediately drew me in, and captured me completely, until I'd read the last word on the last page. It is a beautiful, poetic artpiece. Karen has blended traditional Indigenous knowledge, songs, dream-visits with those long dead, and her beautiful, lyrical style to tell Leah's story. It is sometimes a beautiful story, honouring the preciousness of family and loved ones, culture, and the natural world, and sometimes an ugly, painful, and tragic one. But it speaks in a voice of truth and genuineness, as readers are taken on a journey through Leah's life; a journey that eventually reawakens her memory and helps her heal herself and find her true path. This is a wonderful, unforgettable book and I highly recommend it!

[Christine J · Rating 3 out of 5]

I almost didn’t finish this book. Parts dragged here and there, but just when I wanted to give up, something happened that pulled me back in. The narrative is jumpy. Along with the main story there are song lyrics, journals from the past and present, flashbacks, and various points-of-view. It was hard to follow at times. Parts were clearly written narrative with characters and plot and dialogue, while other parts were Dream-like, poetic musings. I feel like it’s unfinished. I wanted to know more about the characters and relationships, especially an explanation of Haywire and Leah’s story. Too much creative filler and not enough narrative, in my opinion.

[Daniel Kukwa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed Leah's character enormously, and I also enjoyed the exploration of aboriginal culture and daily life. On the surface it reads like a simple & direct transcription of daily items, but that simplicity is fascinating and engaging, and I loved every last little detail. However, I was less enamored with the poetic/lyrical/song-writing portion of the novel...simply because I'm not a fan of such poetry, and these things didn't speak to me (and occasionally irritated me). That said, I'm sure a reader with a greater lyrical sensibility will eagerly inhale this part of the novel. A mixed bag for me, but with much to get my teeth into...just like the coyote in the novel.

[Clivemichael · Rating 4 out of 5]

A moving, if dark, tale. Descriptive and evocative.