Additional information
| Weight | 411 g |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 230 × 150 × 22 mm |
| Format | |
| Imprint | Boolarong Press |
| ISBN | 9781925877458 |
| Page extent | 350 |
| Publication Year | 2020 |
| Subject | Fiction |
Mute
$32.99
Christine Bernard
Is it possible to live in the world without speech? How much would you change if you had to live only in your head?
This is exactly what thirty-three-year old Rebecca Marley is about to find out, as she embarks on this self-induced nine-month challenge. Will it be the peaceful reprise that she so desperately seeks? Or will she be forced to face aspects of herself that a noisy world helps hide so well?
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Helene Young –
What a fresh and original idea. Mute is a very well written and thought-provoking story with a compelling lead character.
admin –
****
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/51977350-mute#other_reviews
Susan Currie –
****
This is definitely a book for our time. Dealing with the self-isolation that Covid 19 has required has been difficult enough. But our ability to communicate with others has, if anything, been enhanced by technology during this experience. The premise of this book of the narrator spending 9 months not communicating with anyone seems inconceivable, let alone her being able to produce regular high-quality journalism based on the experience.
Perhaps even more unlikely is that this would work as a novel. But it does. Christine Bernard is an accomplished writer. Rebecca is a believable and empathetic narrator. I have no hesitation in recommending this book.
Richard Adams –
*****
I received a book by Christine Bernard called Mute,I found it to be a very compelling book and it was hard to put down and I read it in two days.Very hard to imagine forcing yourself not to speak for nine months…and I loved the cat’s name….very appropriate.
Helena –
Mute, by Christine Bernard, follows the journey of thirty something Rebecca Marley, who after suffering an existential crises, embarks on a challenge to not speak for nine months and her musings about how this experience may change her. The challenge includes no communication through social media and other social media platforms. A big ask for any millennial – but something that most of us – I think – deep down yearn for (or is that just me?). Working for a high profile magazine, her boss is keen to chronicle Rebecca’s journey through a series of published stories in the magazine, which provides a medium for conveying the power of words.
What starts as a spontaneous proposal to not speak or engage with social media, for a year, which is subsequently pared back to 9 months by Rebecca’s work colleague, whom she affectionately calls ‘Bubbles”, after discussing the sheer enormity of such a challenge, quickly becomes a journey, of reflection, self discovery, and a commitment to healing through exercise and investing in meaningful friendships (even if this is with a cat), and reconciling child formed perspectives with renewed understanding as an adult, capturing that moment when a child sees their parent as a person. The act of rescuing a seemingly unlovable cross-eyed cat who dislikes people from the local pet store, sees Rebecca take on responsibility and unconditional friendship and is perhaps a metaphor for rescuing ones- self through caring for another being. The relationship with Fluffy/Gigabyte is the part that resonated with me the most. In this world where relationships are mostly housed online, I have also found that the most meaningful connections in my life are from animals – who love you unconditionally. I thought this was the strongest element of the book by far (I also have a cross-eyed rescue cat so I may be biased!)
The story is a light touch on mental health issues, the role of self reflection, and the importance of healthy relationships, connectedness and the benefits of exercise, and mindfulness (timely in this pandemic world). I read it really quickly, I think in about 2 days. I would recommend it for a casual summer read or a lazy lockdown weekend!
Thank you to Boolarong Press for this copy in exchange for an honest review.