In this fascinating, intelligent, and beautifully written book. By means of a series of real life experiments the author also tries to find out what it takes to put silence at the heart of a creative life. I say if there is such a thing because, as author sara maitland discovered, there is some sound everywhere. Her book is probably unique in its subject, and timely. The book is an examination of the importance of silence, its cultural history, and the aversion contemporary society has to it. The narrative benefits from her wealth of research without ever feeling. A book of silence grapples with ideas at the very heart of what it is to be human, and sara maitland is a joyous champion of the countercultural notion that silence is more than simply an absence of noise the times maitland s experience has been rich and thorough, and deeply enviable. Nov 20, 2012 sara maitland must be the least likely candidate for the life of a silent hermit that i have ever met. A book of silence by sara maitlandnovelist sara maitland, a lover of solitude, offers a practical rather than romantic guide to life in the middle of nowhere, says kate clanchy. A book of silence by sara maitland posted on january 8, 2017 by bookbii i spent a lot of time thinking about the kind of books i wanted to focus on in my attempt to read more slowly, and it wasnt too long before sara maitlands a book of silence found itself rising to the top of the pile. Sara maitland after a noisy upbringing as one of six children, and adulthood as a vocal feminist and mother, sara maitland began to crave silence. Buy a book of silence reprint by maitland, sara isbn. Aug 08, 2018 since 2000, british writer sara maitland has been investigating, searching for, reaching for silence.
Eight years through the stillongoing process, she wrote about her endeavor in a book of silence as part of this journey, maitland has done 40 days and 40 nights of something approaching complete silence in a remote, isolated house in the far north of england. A book of silence by sara maitland books the guardian. A book of silence grapples with ideas at the very heart of what it is to be human, and sara maitland is a joyous champion of the countercultural notion that silence is more than simply an absence of noise the times maitlands experience has been rich and thorough, and deeply enviable. An accomplished novelist, she is also known for her short stories. A novelist, she is also known for her short stories. That sound can be a lifesaver, preventing those who have been forced to live in isolation from going mad. The talk was hosted by the leicester centre for creative. In her late forties, after a noisy upbringing as one of six children and adulthood as a vocal feminist and mother, sara maitland found herself living alone in the.
Apart from smoking dope and not inhaling, what else did he learn over here. A book of silence by sara maitland is about her quest to explore the mysteries of silence, both personal and universal. Maitlands insightful awareness and comments on history and tradition helps the reader to discover aspects of silence that can only help build a balanced life. Sara maitland is the author of numerous works of fiction, including the somerset maugham awardwinning daughters of jerusalem and several nonfiction books about religion including a big enough god.
Book of silence paperback 2 september 2010 by sara maitland author 4. Maitland begins her encounter with silence by spending 40 days and nights alone in a house on the isolated isle of skye. One night, under a majestically starlit sky, maitland begins telling herself the. Micaela maftei university of glasgow sara maitland has a clearly defined goal in her present life. Like the sinai, where she has found the sacred stillness of god, the deserts of the southwestern u. Sara weaves together her own journey with thoughts and quotes from those who have made this journey before her, especially the desert fathers. Bristol festival of ideas book prize nomination, 2009 a book of silence bbc national short story award runner up, 2009 moss witch. Moving to scotland into a solitary house on the remote moors of galloway, sara maitland now lives the life of quiet she celebrates in her latest book, a book of silence. A book of silence by sara maitland patrick t reardon. A book of silence in her late forties, after a noisy upbringing as one of six children and adulthood as a vocal feminist and mother, sara maitland found herself living alone in the country and, to her surprise, falling in love with silence. Originally spelt sarah maitland, she was the second of six children to an uppermiddle class london family, which she has described as very open and noisy. Sara maitlands search for silence and solitude turns into an intriguing spiritual quest which takes the reader deep into her inner thoughts and fears.
Since 2000, british writer sara maitland has been investigating, searching for, reaching for silence. Thank you for sara maitlands article on the power of desert silence in pursuit of silence, april 18. Maitland is not unaware of the paradox that by writing a book, especially a storytellers book, wherein language is a means of telling, shes going to invade the very silence she recommends. Over the past five years, she has spent periods of silence in the sinai desert and the australian bush and on the isle of skye. Nov 14, 2008 maitland is not unaware of the paradox that by writing a book, especially a storytellers book, wherein language is a means of telling, shes going to invade the very silence she recommends. The most urgent was posed in reaction to a letter from a respected friend, who argued against silence. See all 4 formats and editions hide other formats and editions. We live in a noisy world, and true silence, if there is such a thing, is hard to come by. Jan 01, 2010 a book of silence grapples with ideas at the very heart of what it is to be human, and sara maitland is a joyous champion of the countercultural notion that silence is more than simply an absence of noise the times maitland s experience has been rich and thorough, and deeply enviable. See all books authored by sara maitland, including a book of silence, and how to be alone, and more on. In many ways, novelist sara maitland s book isnt what you would expect. Read a book of silence online by sara maitland books free 30. Over the past five years, she has spent periods of silence in the sinai desert, the australian bush, and the isle of skye.
In this fascinating, intelligent, beautifully written book, maitland describes how she set out to explore this new love, spending periods of silence in the sinai desert. Sara maitlands book is an earnest and deep exploration of the nature and cultural significance of silence. Maitland set out with many questions about the nature of silence and its companion, solitude. Deipnosophy means love of, or skill at, dinner party conversation, and for the first half of her life, sara maitland was, by her own cheerful. Over the past five years, she has spent periods of silence in the sinai desert, the australian bush, and a remote cottage on the isle of skye. She cites polar explorers, solo roundtheworld sailors, and idealistic young chris mccandless, who went alone into the alaskan wilderness and died. Sara maitland is the author of numerous works of fiction, including the somerset maugham awardwinning daughters of jerusalem, and several nonfiction books. The best books on silence five books expert recommendations. In her late forties, after a noisy upbringing and then adulthood as vocal feminist and mother, sara maitland found herself living in the country. Nov 01, 2008 sara maitland s book is an earnest and deep exploration of the nature and cultural significance of silence. A book for silence records a brave and adventurous psychological journey that will speak to all who have doubts about our increasingly overmaterialistic society.
The 62yearold prizewinning novelist crams more into our 90 minutes than the reduced. In many ways, novelist sara maitlands book isnt what you would expect. Sara maitland, too, felt this pull into the great nothing and, after 20 years as a vicars wife and noisy and acclaimed feminist novelist, embarked on a quest for silence which took her to. See all 8 formats and editions hide other formats and editions.
By chapter two, in order to more fully explore her hunch that. A book of silence by sara maitland the sunday times. Jan 08, 2017 a book of silence by sara maitland posted on january 8, 2017 by bookbii i spent a lot of time thinking about the kind of books i wanted to focus on in my attempt to read more slowly, and it wasnt too long before sara maitlands a book of silence found itself rising to the top of the pile. Maitland is the author of several books including the counterpoint press title, book of.
A book of silence kindle edition by maitland, sara. A book of silence sara maitland counterpoint hardcover 320 pages september 2009. The more and the longer you are silent the more you hear the tiny noises within the silence, so that silence itself is always slipping away like a timid wild animal. Sara maitland books list of books by author sara maitland. In the first chapter, maitland is sitting on the porch of her house on a high moor in englands county durham on a warm october morning, with nothing in my diary for the next fortnight. Over and over again, for nearly ten years now, i go back to janet batsleers letter and wrestle with it. In her late forties, after a noisy upbringing as one of six children and adulthood as a vocal feminist and mother, sara maitland found herself living alone in the country, and, to her surprise, falling in love with silence. After a noisy upbringing as one of six children, and adulthood as a vocal feminist and mother, sara maitland began to crave silence. Sara maitland must be the least likely candidate for the life of a silent hermit that i have ever met. Sara maitland project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks. Writers on silence normally offer mindbending haiku and zen paradoxes in order to take the reader away from the familiar.
As a practising christian and a writer, she values silence and the way it opens up a space within. Sara maitland on some of the different shades of silence. A book of silence by sara maitland, paperback barnes. So, so excited to be hearing maitland speak at the beckett festival in august. A personal and cultural exploration of silence and its value in our livesan artful book, mixing autobiography, travel writing, meditation, and essay independent, uk. Sara weaves together her own journey with thoughts and quotes from those who. Rather than something that enriches, it is seen as an absence, a lack.
It is quite hard to remember which came firstthe freedom of solitude or the energy of silence. Sara maitland has scaled the heights or is it depths. Apr 12, 2017 a book of silence by sara maitland is about her quest to explore the mysteries of silence, both personal and universal. A retreat from the world and into utter silence is often seen as an indication of something not quite right, and a risk that isolation can lead to insanity. By chapter two, in order to more fully explore her hunch that silence is. Introverts who read sara maitlands new book about silence may need to recommit themselves to the commandment not to covet.
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