Marnie, a strong-willed young bride leaves her home and family along with her new husband, Isaak Isherwood, a wealthy lord. They travel to Torcurra where Marnie's husband dies quickly. The puritan peoples of the village blame Marnie for Isaak's death and her only friends are Father Brannen and the town madman, Raver. Marnie begins to make friends with Raver, whom she names Raven, one night when he goes to her for help after being brutally beaten. Marnie discovers that Raven is not mad, but deaf and creates a hand-language as to communicate with him. Raven quickly loses his wild tendancies and their bond becomes much deeper than friendship. The villagers, however, take their hand language as witchery and Marnie and Raven's fates rest in the results of a painful witchcraft trial.

Sheryl Jordan's amazing ability to combine humor, romance, exitement, sadness, hate, and innocence to create a wonderfully insightful look at the pain caused by hatred, jeolousy, and segregation. One of my favorite parts is when Marnie is speaking very angrily to Father Brannen, and later apologizes for yelling at him. She says, "I'm sorry father, I should never had said those things. I can say them to God, maybe, but not to you." "You say such things to God, do you?" he replies, "If I ever hear thunder in the clear blue skies, I'll know tis Marnie saying her prayers, and the Almighty falling off his throne in shock!" There are MANY other funny parts, like where Raven angrily signs to a couple goats, "Marnie is stupid today, stupid stupid!"

I felt so strongly about this wonderful piece of art that the only negative thing is that the book had to end. I thought the book was too short. I gave it 4 stars for length because I thought it was so good I didn't want it to end at only 264 pages.

I still want to read more about Marnie and Raven. I wanted to know what happened to them after the end of the book.

Sheryl Jordan creates the setting, plot, and characters in this book so skillfully it seems as if she has been there, and makes you feel like you are there as well. While conveying an important message about love and hatred, The Raging Quiet is laugh out loud funny, and so touching it can make nearly any stone-hearted person cry. You become so close to Marnie and Raven, that it is nearly unbearable to see them suffer in the tragic parts of the book. It also offers a refreshingly touching look at (in how my opinion) religion was meant to be practiced, as Raven celebrates the bringer of all things good. Out of all the books I've read (even out of famous works like those of Shakespere & Poe)This book is by far my favorite, and should be regarded as fine literature, worthy of any award. I could continue raving about The Raging Quiet, but I will end by STRONGLY urging you to read this book. Although it is for young adults, read it! You won't regret it. As Raven would say in hand words, "This book is moon-good beautiful." --- Aaaawwww =;o)

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Created Feb 02, 2002 at 1:17am • Submit your own review...