Javier Centellas’s Reviews > Silence > Status Update

Read chapter 6. In prison, on the nature if martyrdom & whatnot. Kinda mentally locked out rn.

Read chapter 5. Narrative shift, no longer a first-person letter. Just describing Rodrigues’ capture by the samurai and his personal monologue. Very long-winded but good. All the next chapters are like 20-30+ pages now. Uh-oh. Feel like I should know a bit more about Buddhism because of the conversation between Rodrigues and the samurai. Kichijirō def reminds me of Judge Holden.

Read chapter 4, another epistle from Sebastian Rodrigues. Long as hell. Much more prosaic, definitely the true substance of the novel. Lot of internal reflection on God’s silence from Rodrigues. I hope I have enough faith & resolve for martyrdom. Kichijirō kinda reminds me of Judge Holden a little, just as a cowardly villain instead of an assertive one. Obviously Judas to.

Read chapter 3, another letter from Sebastian Rodrigues. More ministry work, getting comfortable in Japan. Endō does a great job of truly making this narrative voice feel European, I often have to remind myself that this isa contemporary Japanese author writing the book while reading. Chapter ends on a cliffhanger ending, not a huge fan of that. Isn't our faith so beautiful? Really like this novel, thanks Dr. S

Read Chapter 2 (letter of Sebastian Rodrigues). Sailing from Macao to Japan. Landing in Japan. Main themes starting to come out now. Meeting the Japanese Christians.

Read Chapter 1 (letter of Sebastian Rodrigues). In Macao getting ready to go to Japan. Talk about the painting of Christ we talked about in class. I like the style, so nice to read an actual novel instead of a philosophy book for once. Interested to see how Kichijirō’s role plays out. Like the depiction of the early modern orient.

Read the prologue. Reveals Christóvão Ferriera’s apostasy instantly. Talk about faith, martyrdom, and torture at the hands of the Japanese. Wish the intro stuff would talk about what parts exactly are or aren’t fiction. Can’t remember if Christóvão is a real person or not. Have a feeling this will be a sad read.

Read the translators note by the Irishman William
Johnston. Lot of historical context, shows a good about of cruelty from the Japanese authorities. Talk about how to Christianize Japan & what is required for that, then and now. Controversy amongst protestants in Japan at the Novel’s release.

Have to read this for my theology class. I'm excited. Read the foreword by Martin Scorsese. Decent. I prefer 40 pages on historical context and whatnot for the intro stuff, but then again this is the most modern book I've read in a while (1960s). Need to remember to look up the Gospel of Judas to. Lots of rabbit holes to go down.