Review: Silence Is a Sense by Layla AlAmmar

Silence Is a Sense by Layla AlAmmar

My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Published: March 2021

As a Syrian refugee now living in Englan, The Voiceless observes the world around her and writes about it. She can see the neighbors in other flats and has names for them all. When the violence that took her from her home erupts in her new neighborhood, she has to make a stand somehow. But how can she do that without a voice?

Thank you to Algonquin and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I have no idea what it would be like to be forced from your home because of violence. Having to travel by any means necessary, go through unthinkable trials, just to land in a place where you don't know anyone. You don't know what has become of your family and friends and really don't have a way to find out. Maybe this is why she became voiceless.

“A fierce novel… Layla AlAmmar has skillfully woven a narrative of memory and grief with an illuminating social critique of the position of asylum seekers within contemporary British society. It is daring and devastating.” —Fiona Mozley, Booker-finalist author of Elmet and Hot Stew 

 “Kuwaiti writer AlAmmar explores trauma and voicelessness through fragmented narrative form and a mute protagonist who has survived the war in Syria and is now living in isolation in the UK.” —The Millions 

 “With a powerful prose, AlAmmar pens a story about a young woman traumatized into muteness after a dangerous trip from war-torn Syria to the UK.” — Palm Beach Daily News 

 “Evocative… The conflicts over immigration and racism are brilliantly distilled, and they dovetail seamlessly with the narrator’s lyrical, increasingly defiant narration. Patient readers will find much to ponder.” —Publishers Weekly

Even leaving Syria didn't keep her from the violence against her people. Others want her to write more about these experiences, but she doesn't want to reveal who she really is. While this story takes place in England, this could have taken place anywhere in the world. With the news in our country at this time about Asian-Americans being targeted for violence. Whenever something bad happens in our country, those who are associated with the country, faith, race, that the incident stemmed from, tend to get all of the rage against the injustice. Even though it has nothing to do with them.

Here is a quote from this book, that I think is important for us all(taken from uncorrected proof): "We are one being. All of us. You are not made any differently than I am. And these religions of ours are nothing but languages. You speak English, I speak Punjabi, he speaks French, she speaks Japanese or Chinese, but we all say the same thing. These religions, they are words, only a language. Jews, Christians, Hindus, Buddhists, we are all saying the same thing. Your humanity and my humanity are the same. We are of one being, one value. All of us equal, all of us the same."

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Review--Evil Runs by Vince Milam

Evil Runs: A Supernatural Mystery Thriller by Vince Milam
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A French priest, a Texas sheriff, and a female CIA agent walk into a bar looking for Evil.  Sounds like the start of a corny joke, but it's not.  Evil Runs by Vince Milam is a religious thriller that takes these three on a trip around the world to destroy the evil that has disrupted their lives.

Still grieving the loss of his wife, Sheriff Cole Garza is now dealing with multiple homicides at a nursing home in his small Texas town.  Leaving the scene, he sees a most peculiar man who appears to be running away from another man with a long gray ponytail who is just as peculiar.  Looking into the eyes of the murder suspect, Cole sees something familiar, something he saw in the eyes of his wife's murderer.  When Father Francois Domaine appears in Texas with orders from the Vatican, things begin to really get strange.  They have a suspect in custody and are currently looking for his accomplice, Adal Moloch.  He was the peculiar man seen leaving the crime scene, and the hunt is on.  With the help of Nadine May, a CIA operative with unbelievable tracking and computer skills, they are able to follow Moloch wherever he goes.  Will they find him and bring him to justice before more people are hurt?

This is a book for those who believe in a higher power, or for those that don't, you just might after reading this book.  Adal Moloch is not your typical suspect. He is a demon sent to have his evil bidding done by anyone who is willing to follow him.  Destroying him is going to take more than a bullet to the head, but also a faith that God is stronger than him with that faith you can destroy anything.  We always wonder if faith is enough.  Can our faith in God destroy the evil that is around us?  Can we rise above the evil and do what is right?  At first, I was a little skeptical about this book thinking it was going to get a bit paranormal, but it didn't which made me thoroughly enjoy it.  This is the first book i a series and I can't wait to read what is next.

**I was given this book by the author in exchange for my honest review.**


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