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About the Silence of Trees
Reviews of The Silence of Trees “There
is some lyrical phrasing as well, as when her family is killed in
wartime and a heartbroken Nadya says that she is "aching for
the openness of sky." And the narrative does have its charms,
including lovely evocations of cooking meals among a loving, close-knit
family. The plucky, likeable heroine proves winning, too, and you
root for her.” “Lupescu
has done a great job at plunging the reader into this small Ukrainian
village during World War II. Her language is visual and sure-footed.
I like that she illuminates a time and place rarely visited in fiction.
Well done.” “The
excerpt promises an adventure into worlds of shadow and light, joy
and pain. As a student of Russian language and literature as well
as a Tarot reader, I find the setting and characters particularly
enchanting and compelling -- in fact, irresistible. The writing
flows and draws me deeper with each line. I will be watching for
this one on the bookstore shelves.” “As in Jerzy Kosinski's "The Painted Bird" we once again find ourselves in the surreal, war-torn landscape of Eastern Europe during World War II. We are in Ukraine instead of Poland, but like Kosinski's main character, the naïve sixteen-year-old narrator of "The Silence of Trees" is about to be transformed by the horrors that she witnesses. …Is a novel of magical reality able to convey the horror of this war where documentaries have failed? Yes,
if it is as well told as "The Silence of Trees." We human
beings cherish a story of one survivor, especially when we have
failed to grasp a number of the magnitude of six million. The magic
of this book is delicate and sure. A black pebble from the river
where Nadya's aunt drowned serves as a talisman, the key into a
world where a gypsy's prophecies come true, and where a sixteen-year-old
girl needs magic in order to survive a terrible reality.”
“This
is a first-class and well-written story of an adventurous girl who
is swept away by the erratic currents of life with WWII as the catalyst.
It was well worth my time.” “From
the first words, I was drawn in by this story…Her encounter
with the fortune telling gypsy who turns out to be close to her
own age is also very so striking; she is the heroine's shadow for
all that the gypsy girl has been forced to deal with a harsh world
and realities while the heroine has just slipped from a warm bed
between her two sisters, slipped out of a loving home - by her own
choice. It's an initiation set in motion by the character herself
- by natural compulsions, yet I could only feel she had headed herself
down a dark path - a rite of initiation that we perhaps all send
ourselves on.” “I
wondered why this excerpt was leading the pack in reviews and decided
to read it. Now I know why. Scene, character, conflict, motivation--all
in one very small package. The voice seems just right to me.”
“The
writing in this piece is masterful, resonant, and haunting. It has
an element of magic that makes it seem like a whimsical fairy tale,
but whimsy is soon overcome with the dark words of war and brutality.
It's a multi-layered story that drew me in with the powerful writing.
Action is not at all lacking in this excerpt - I read eagerly to
find out what happened to Nadya. My heart is actually still pounding
from Nadya's adventures - if this book was available at Borders,
I would be there right now buying it.” “The
Silence of Trees by Valya Dudycz Lupescu is an intriguing read comprised
of an insightful, well developed blending of Eastern European mysticism
and a early twentieth century Ukrainian mindset all framed within
the context of impending world war. The narrative is haunting and
evocative with amazingly phrased passages conjuring unforgettable
images. My favorite one describes the monthly lunar transition of
the moon from crescent to full in terms that could only come from
someone attuned to the land and the constantly reoccurring cycles
of nature.” “The
slow, deliberate movement of the story is matched by the wondrous
prose -- clearly the effort of a professional who understands pacing,
characterization and the marvelous effects of language…The
author sweeps us away to a long-gone land and enchants us with its
spell, which lasts much longer than the reading of the excerpt itself.
It is a joy to be in the hands of a writer who knows how to wield
the awesome power of the written word.” “The
author's rich voice and engaging story whet the appetite for more.
In just a few paragraphs, Ms. Lupescu has already assembled the
bones of a multi-layered tale that promises to fascinate and enchant
the reader with a wealth of folklore, history, and irrestistible
characterization. I was drawn into Nadya's world, reminiscing my
own rebellious nature and reliving my yearning for magic. I want
to know what happens to the Gypsy woman, I want to hear the wisdom
of her wandering people, I want to know what the trees have seen.
Valya has laid the feast by firelight, danced these characters into
my imagination, sung the tale into being, and I want to join this
company! This is food for the soul crafted by the hands of a capable
artist.” “Voice"
is a term that's oft bantered about in writing classes. Voice stamps
a writer's work and often leaves their words resounding in your
mind long after you've finished reading the work. This work has
voice and then some--the rhythm of a Ukrainian accent rings throughout.
The narrative also touched the senses with sight, sound, particularly
temperature of her environment. If this were a published work, I
would like to see it used in a literary writing class as s good
example of how to establish scene.”
You
may also download an excerpt and provide your own review.
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