🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 out of 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
I’m Deaf. What most people view as a disadvantage, I see as an advantage.
I feel my way through life in my 1969 Ford Fairlane.
The vibrations and speed sustain me, the race track is where I dominate.
I thought racing was all I needed to survive…but I was wrong.
*Presley*
Music is my life. I inhale the melody and breathe in the lyrics.
That was until I met someone that opened my eyes to a new culture.
Who knew all it would take was silence for me to really experience music.
When Silence and sound collide it creates an explosion of the senses.
BLURB
*Barrett*I’m Deaf. What most people view as a disadvantage, I see as an advantage.
I feel my way through life in my 1969 Ford Fairlane.
The vibrations and speed sustain me, the race track is where I dominate.
I thought racing was all I needed to survive…but I was wrong.
*Presley*
Music is my life. I inhale the melody and breathe in the lyrics.
That was until I met someone that opened my eyes to a new culture.
Who knew all it would take was silence for me to really experience music.
When Silence and sound collide it creates an explosion of the senses.
GOODREADS LINK: https://www.goodreads.com/
Join the Silent Song Release Party: https://www.facebook.com/
Join the Silent Song Release Party: https://www.facebook.com/
*Received
an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review*
I want to start this review by saying that I have never read anything from Jaci Wheeler before so I wasn't familiar with her writing. I would like to take the time to mention the Letter to Readers at the beginning of the book before I dive into what I thought of the book itself. I appreciated what Jaci wrote in this letter and how she was able to explain the various difficulties that she had in the process. I think that it takes a lot of courage to write something that means so much to you and share that with the world leaving it open for critique by readers and others. I appreciated how she was able to explain how the dialogue was going to appear so that I wouldn't be confused as I read the words. I have to say that knowing all these things made this book even more special to me. I think that people that are reading this review can see what direction I am about to take this review in.
I am so happy that I got the chance to read/review Silent Song. I think that it is rare when a book comes along with the power to change you in some way after reading it. This is what reading Silent Song has done for me. It had a big impact on me in more ways than one. I am not deaf but was able to see myself in each of the main characters. Barrett is proud of who he is but has been heartbroken and felt alone in a world where he was treated like he was less than by others. As I was reading this book, I could not help but think that he was more not less than those around him. He was able to read people and care for them in ways that others were not capable of. He had so many talents some of which I can only dream of. Presley was the character that I saw myself most in. Music was her therapy and her passion. It helped her to heal others as well as herself. She cared more about others than she did herself and never wanted to see people in pain.
These characters helped me to connect with the story but I also loved the messages that were contained within it and the lessons that I was able to learn from it. I had no idea each person had a ASL sign for their names. I've always thought that it seemed like a beautiful language but had no idea that it could be so personal and creative. I really loved how Jaci Wheeler was able to differentiate between the times when people were signing to each other and speaking the English language. It made the conversations all the more meaningful when I was able to see just how difficult it can be to communicate with others when they may sign poorly, switch back and forth between sign and English, and have to read lips. I was able to place myself in Barrett's shoes and get a glimpse of how hard it might be for someone whose world is silent. I learned so many things about the language and culture of the deaf community from this book. I realize that it is a work of fiction but it is my belief that you can learn a lot about people that are similar and different from you through books. It is part of the reason that I love books so much.
Anyway, Silent Song contained thought provoking concepts such as what it is to truly accept and love another person, loss, and finding your place in the world. I could go on and on about what I loved about this book and how much it touched me but I would rather sum up this review by telling you to go buy it and read it. It is a beautiful story and I hope that you enjoy it as much as I did! (P.S. bring tissues😊)
EXCERPT
“Could you…I mean, would it be okay if you sang to me?” My head snaps up and I look at him. He’s looking down sheepishly, but he raises his eyes to meet mine.
“Why sing if can’t hear you?”
“I can a little…if you let me put my head on your chest.” I look at him skeptically and he is quick to follow up, “I swear it’s not a line. My mom used to sing to me that way, and it’s been a while, so I was just curious if it would work with you.”
“Light on off which?” I repeat.
“I prefer low light, always on.” He flips off the main switch and turns on the nightstand light, which isn’t more than an amber glow.
I roll to my back and he places his head on my shoulder. I think about what song to sing. It’s not like it’s really going to matter much to him, but I never make a song choice without thought. Music is the sound track of life to me, so I decide something a little sad and soulful is in order. I pick ‘Hallelujah’ by Jeff Buckley. Singing while flat on your back with a person on top of you is no easy feat. I guess it doesn’t really matter what the sound is like as long as the vibration is there, so with that in mind, I keep my tone low and raspy. Luckily, I tend to feel right at home singing alto, so this works out pretty nicely.
I start off soft and low, and let the music build. He is tentative in the beginning, who am I kidding, we both are. This should be seriously awkward. We hardly know each other and we’re entering major bubble territory…yet there’s also something very innocent and pure about it. I can tell when he starts to relax and is more comfortable. I’m really letting go as well now and just singing from my soul. He moves to where his head is fully on my upper chest, right below my throat. By the third verse I stop worrying about how weird this might be and the beauty of the situation full on hits me. I’m able to give this man something that he’s never been able to give himself. Sharing the joy of music isn’t only a passion for me, it’s a need, so we are just two souls fulfilling a great need in each other.
His tears are completely silent as they slowly hit my exposed skin and pool in the hollow of my throat. They spark my own tears. The idea that I can touch him so deeply this way, giving him nothing but my voice, touches me deeply. Without thinking, I bring his arms around me and place his hands flat against my back so he isn’t only getting the sound vibrations from my chest, but he can also feel them from behind. It has its desired effect when he sighs out against my neck. The song ends but neither one of us move. To be honest, I have no words. In this type of communication words are useless. I close my eyes and go right into ‘Brightest’ by Copeland. Somewhere around ‘As my guitar gently weeps’ by the Beatles, I drift off.
PURCHASE LINKS
US: http://amzn.to/2Dwb1CC
UK: http://amzn.to/2DxoqKD
CA: http://amzn.to/2r8ytmY
AU: http://amzn.to/2EHsCqL
Free in Kindle Unlimited
AUTHOR BIO
Jaci Wheeler lives in the Central Valley of California with her husband and two precious kids.
Her love of literature began in Jr. High when she was introduced to Lowis Lowry’s books. Since then she has had a passion for writing Young Adult books, and creating strong female leads. When she’s not writing, she is advocating for Autism Awareness and involved in the deaf community.
Her favorite things to do are play with her children, craft with her friends, sleep while her husband watches movies and indulge in her favorite addictions: Coffee, candy and shoes.
AUTHOR LINKS
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/
Website: www.jaciwheeler.com
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/
GIVEAWAY
There is a giveaway for a $20 Amazon gift card
http://www.rafflecopter.com/
I am so happy that I got the chance to read/review Silent Song. I think that it is rare when a book comes along with the power to change you in some way after reading it. This is what reading Silent Song has done for me. It had a big impact on me in more ways than one. I am not deaf but was able to see myself in each of the main characters. Barrett is proud of who he is but has been heartbroken and felt alone in a world where he was treated like he was less than by others. As I was reading this book, I could not help but think that he was more not less than those around him. He was able to read people and care for them in ways that others were not capable of. He had so many talents some of which I can only dream of. Presley was the character that I saw myself most in. Music was her therapy and her passion. It helped her to heal others as well as herself. She cared more about others than she did herself and never wanted to see people in pain.
These characters helped me to connect with the story but I also loved the messages that were contained within it and the lessons that I was able to learn from it. I had no idea each person had a ASL sign for their names. I've always thought that it seemed like a beautiful language but had no idea that it could be so personal and creative. I really loved how Jaci Wheeler was able to differentiate between the times when people were signing to each other and speaking the English language. It made the conversations all the more meaningful when I was able to see just how difficult it can be to communicate with others when they may sign poorly, switch back and forth between sign and English, and have to read lips. I was able to place myself in Barrett's shoes and get a glimpse of how hard it might be for someone whose world is silent. I learned so many things about the language and culture of the deaf community from this book. I realize that it is a work of fiction but it is my belief that you can learn a lot about people that are similar and different from you through books. It is part of the reason that I love books so much.
Anyway, Silent Song contained thought provoking concepts such as what it is to truly accept and love another person, loss, and finding your place in the world. I could go on and on about what I loved about this book and how much it touched me but I would rather sum up this review by telling you to go buy it and read it. It is a beautiful story and I hope that you enjoy it as much as I did! (P.S. bring tissues😊)
EXCERPT
“Could you…I mean, would it be okay if you sang to me?” My head snaps up and I look at him. He’s looking down sheepishly, but he raises his eyes to meet mine.
“Why sing if can’t hear you?”
“I can a little…if you let me put my head on your chest.” I look at him skeptically and he is quick to follow up, “I swear it’s not a line. My mom used to sing to me that way, and it’s been a while, so I was just curious if it would work with you.”
“Light on off which?” I repeat.
“I prefer low light, always on.” He flips off the main switch and turns on the nightstand light, which isn’t more than an amber glow.
I roll to my back and he places his head on my shoulder. I think about what song to sing. It’s not like it’s really going to matter much to him, but I never make a song choice without thought. Music is the sound track of life to me, so I decide something a little sad and soulful is in order. I pick ‘Hallelujah’ by Jeff Buckley. Singing while flat on your back with a person on top of you is no easy feat. I guess it doesn’t really matter what the sound is like as long as the vibration is there, so with that in mind, I keep my tone low and raspy. Luckily, I tend to feel right at home singing alto, so this works out pretty nicely.
I start off soft and low, and let the music build. He is tentative in the beginning, who am I kidding, we both are. This should be seriously awkward. We hardly know each other and we’re entering major bubble territory…yet there’s also something very innocent and pure about it. I can tell when he starts to relax and is more comfortable. I’m really letting go as well now and just singing from my soul. He moves to where his head is fully on my upper chest, right below my throat. By the third verse I stop worrying about how weird this might be and the beauty of the situation full on hits me. I’m able to give this man something that he’s never been able to give himself. Sharing the joy of music isn’t only a passion for me, it’s a need, so we are just two souls fulfilling a great need in each other.
His tears are completely silent as they slowly hit my exposed skin and pool in the hollow of my throat. They spark my own tears. The idea that I can touch him so deeply this way, giving him nothing but my voice, touches me deeply. Without thinking, I bring his arms around me and place his hands flat against my back so he isn’t only getting the sound vibrations from my chest, but he can also feel them from behind. It has its desired effect when he sighs out against my neck. The song ends but neither one of us move. To be honest, I have no words. In this type of communication words are useless. I close my eyes and go right into ‘Brightest’ by Copeland. Somewhere around ‘As my guitar gently weeps’ by the Beatles, I drift off.
PURCHASE LINKS
US: http://amzn.to/2Dwb1CC
UK: http://amzn.to/2DxoqKD
CA: http://amzn.to/2r8ytmY
AU: http://amzn.to/2EHsCqL
Free in Kindle Unlimited
Jaci Wheeler lives in the Central Valley of California with her husband and two precious kids.
Her love of literature began in Jr. High when she was introduced to Lowis Lowry’s books. Since then she has had a passion for writing Young Adult books, and creating strong female leads. When she’s not writing, she is advocating for Autism Awareness and involved in the deaf community.
Her favorite things to do are play with her children, craft with her friends, sleep while her husband watches movies and indulge in her favorite addictions: Coffee, candy and shoes.
AUTHOR LINKS
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/
Website: www.jaciwheeler.com
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/
GIVEAWAY
There is a giveaway for a $20 Amazon gift card
http://www.rafflecopter.com/
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