Small Silent Things audiobook

I should preface this review by saying that I like books about broken people. Not because there's something enjoyable about reading those stories, but because I take to heart that old adage that you never know what another person is going through, and I take it even further ... you never know what a person may have overcome. Through the best fiction, I don't just want to feel, I want to find greater understanding of people who interact with the world in ways that, from my own experience I might find confounding, exasperating, or even angering. 'Small Silent Things' delivered on that for me, in every respect.From the opening page of this book, you know that Jocelyn, one of the main protagonists has both gone through and overcome a lot. She is living a privileged life in a luxurious condo by the ocean with her handsome husband and beautiful daughter, and learns that her mother has died. Though Jocelyn's reaction is a strong one, it is not what you might expect: she is pleased, and relieved. Her mother's death is something she has long wished for. But 'pleased' isn't quite right. Because the death of a parent, even one who was abusive and at times even sadistic can have an unraveling effect. And unravel, Jocelyn does. Meanwhile, just down the hall there is Simon who has overcome horrors of his own as a survivor of the Rwandan genocide. Like Joceyln, Simon's suffering is silent, but not small. Simon occasionally hallucinates, sometimes suffers from panic attacks and is clearly--though high-functioning and incredibly successful--also in the throes of significant PTSD. In Simon's case, this time in contrast to Jocelyn's, something that should be happy news threatens to exacerbate his unrest because for him, to hope is painful.Through a variety of circumstances, Jocelyn and Simon forge a friendship, seeing in each other a kindred broken spirit. Jocelyn, who has ample reason to see men as hostile and ever-present threats, for some reason does not feel this way with Simon. Apart from her husband, with whom she shares a complicated but genuine love, Simon is the only man who feels safe, and soon they begin to confide in each other, and deepen their kinship.Jocelyn, in the meantime, is engaging in a risky and self-destructive affair that threatens the fragile mental peace she has, and that, if discovered could topple the (at least outwardly) solid home life she has painstakingly built with her husband and child. Surrounded by women who don't look like her, aided by a therapist who doesn't understand her, and married to a husband concerned with containing evidence of her dysfunction, Jocelyn begins to come apart. Simon, too, is at risk of coming undone unless he and she can find solid parts in each other, anchors to hold on to, that they cannot find within themselves.This author skillfully, in my view, gave us just enough glimpses of Jocelyn's and Simon's horrific histories to make us understand why they couldn't just "get past it" but not so much that we can begin to critique and dissect it, and apply our own judgment about whether their experiences should have damaged them quite as much as they did. We see Jocelyn hold on to something she thinks will save her, but which could be her destruction, and we see Simon reach out to connect with his emotions once again, and begin to dare to hope that it just might be safe to do so.I LOVED this book. It is one of my top five of 2019 so far both in style (sparse, matter-of-fact, but emotionally vivid) and content (how the exteriors of people are sometimes the most deceptive indicator of all when trying to see who they are). But as a caveat: it is dark stuff at times, and if liking the choices characters make is important to you for enjoyment of a novel, this might be one to pass by. For me, it was near perfection precisely because I absolutely hated some of those choices, and yet fully understood them both intellectually and emotionally. I look forward to reading more of Robin Page's work. This debut is a gem.

I loved this book. Couldn’t put it down, yet it’s not your typical page turner. The characters are very real and reveal themselves to you in a way that never happens in real life. It is very easy to read despite its complex themes. Best book I have read this year.

This book was such a great read. I loved how Jocelyn and Simon's story somehow come together in such an amazing way. Ok here is a small summary, there is more in between the lines, which can be a tad bit confusing but still makes the story super fun to read, anyway Jocelyn is the main character, she has it all, a child a husband, money, hanging around with the rich white women from the community, where this woman came from? This was a dream come true! But she has her own demons shes battling with and those are very bad demons.Simon is her next door neighbor, he is also battling with his own issues, and his involve his own family who have gotten killed in Africa. His wife is gone but he has this feeling his daughter is still around he just doesnt know where. He is also very successful, and his dreams come true when he finds his daughter after all these years.Claudette is Simon's daughter, who was raised and taken by one of Simins dear friends, her life was good but she always knew something was missing, even her own mother was very distant with her, but when she ends up pregnant from another man, while married to another, she starts to question being a mother.Simon is the man at the center of all this. I honestly feel if Simon wasn't around all of these peoples lives would be shattered, the way he saved Jocelyn and her family, helps him with his own issues, and then slowly getting close to his daughter after years of being apart? This book is most definitely a gem.

Jocelyn and Simon are incredible characters and the pain and grief they share is written beautiful. I’ve never read a book that so clearly “gets” what trauma does to memories & how it impacts your past, present, and future.

Small Silent Things is a book that will stay with you long after you've finished reading it. The author deftly examines familial relationships, race, privilege and trauma with a voice that draws you deeply into the character's worlds. A stunning debut that leaves me wanting to read much more of Robin Page's work.

intense, a lot happening here. very compelling, couldn't put it down.. but almost wish it was split into multiple books b/c there are so many themes and concepts!

This was a back and forth telling of two people's lives as they are haunted by their traumatic pasts - an incredibly abusive and cruel mother and a genocide in Rwanda. The characters are so enchanting - they are broken and deeply earnest. They are vulnerable and intense and completely shattered. Yet they have a great, bright energy about them. Man, this book had sooooo many layers. It was romance and passion, traumatic history, innocent friendship, loads of mystery, and incredibly beautiful and artful writing. I loved everything about this book - it was really captivating and thought provoking. A great read.

This felt a little bit like a light read, though it dealt with tough subjects and baggage of the main characters. I really liked all the characters and found their flaws relatable and compelling. I liked this book!

Smart, sexy, page turner, one of the best books I’ve read this year. The two main characters, each haunted by their own pasts, are neighbors who start a friendship. Jocelyn unravels after her abusive, estranged mother dies. Her fall lands her in a passionate extra-marital affair with her tennis pro. The second character, Simon, a Tutsi survivor of the Rwandan genocide, receives a letter from a woman who claims to be his daughter who was lost years ago in the genocide. This letter opens up his old wounds.Small Silent Things is a sexy affair book, but at the same time, it goes deep into the psychology of the characters. It’s surprisingly suspenseful for a literary novel. There are some dark moments in this book, but I really loved it.

This beautifully written book has everything! Wonderful character development delivered with sexiness and suspense in a page-turning, can’t-put-it-down writing style that explores many deep themes and social issues. I was moved to tears several times and didn’t want it to end. Absolutely a must read!

Jocelyn and Simon are neighbors in a wealthy Southern California enclave but neither really feels that they belong and more importantly, both have experienced significant trauma. Simon, the more sympathetic of the two, is a refugee from Rwanda and lost his family in the genocide. Jocelyn was physically and emotionally abused by her mother. Two precipitating events bring these two together- her mother dies and he received a letter from someone purporting to be his daughter. Jocelyn is spinning out of control- she's engaging in a lot of extramarital sex, is obsessing about her tennis instructor, and is doing her best to alienate her husband Conrad. No spoilers but know that this raises questions and is at times uncomfortable to read. There's a lot going on - it's almost a potboiler. The writing reflects Page's MFA. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. For fans of literary fiction.

Small Silent Things was the book that I received from @pageonebooks for my leftover BOTM credit. I planned to finish it this weekend, but two thirds of the way through, I got completely sucked in and had to finish.Jocelyn Morrow, who was raised in a severely abusive home, is now raising her own daughter in a wealthy California suburb. Simon Bonaventure lives in the condo next door and is haunted by memories of the genocide that claimed his family. They both harbor secrets and the demons that come from a violent past, but they forge a delicate friendship made stronger by their shared pain. As Kate descends further into an illicit relationship, Simon wonders if the letter he received from a woman claiming be his daughter could possibly be true.In the end, their friendship may be what they both need to put their past to rest.This was a beautiful story full of heartbreak and betrayal, but also hope and healing. There was more suspense than I expected and also some steamy scenes that made things extra interesting. The slow burn beginning turned into a race to the end for me and I hope Robin Page has more books in the works.TW for child loss and descriptions of sexual and physical violence.

One of the themes of this book touched me especially because I just recently read a book about the Rwandan genocide. I can also relate to the mental illness theme from both my own experiences and those of family & friends.For such a short book (317 pages), it was amazingly powerful. The author did not spend more time than necessary on excessive descriptions of characters and past events. She let the characters show themselves to you and gave you just enough crumbs of the past so that you knew just how horrible it was.It moved fast. Fairly short chapters. She moved quick, like the snapping of fingers. My heart felt like it was in my throat near the end. I could see where the story might end up and I read with tears falling as it got there. But is that, indeed, where it ended? You'll have to read to find out. I think that someone who doesn't have much knowledge of that awful genocide or certain mental illnesses & trauma might not "get" the struggles of the main antagonists. I think, though, that the author did such a superb job that even those without the background will be touched by it. I was blown away. I'll definitely be looking for more by Robin Page.

Well written and intriguing are good descriptors for Small Silent Things. Page has crafted a novel that many readers won't want to put down. Short chapters that alternate focus between characters provide for a fast paced story that is more focused on individuals and their feelings rather than explosive events. Likely to appeal to women more than men, the novel's female protagonist is well developed and the novel engaging.I received a copy of this book as a Goodreads Giveaway. Thanks to the publisher and author for participating.

Oof, this book is good but definitely heavy at time. I can't say I enjoyed it, but it was a worthwhile read and I recommend it. I especially liked how the author shows how inner trauma and anxiety plays out even when, on the surface, a person seems OK and "normal". It's a reminder that you never really know what people are carrying - and they may never tell you. This is a story of trauma, love, and hope.

I really enjoyed this book! This book was filled with some intense subject matter and was emotional but I loved Page’s story. For a debut novel, Page crafted some really intricate characters, and arranged them nicely beside each other. I loved the relationship between Jocelyn and Simon and how their personal stories merge into one with the overlapping themes. I purchased this book on a whim and I’m glad that I did. I would recommend this book to anyone.