‘My name is a shape not a sound. I am a thumb and fingers, not a tongue and lips. I am 10 fingers raised old -I am a girl made of letters.
R – u – b – y
And this is my voice.’
Out in the Alaskan wilderness, trapped in an eternal limbo between day and night, Yasmin faces the impossible choice between going after her missing, presumed dead husband and the safety of their ten year-old daughter, Ruby. With only the cabin of an oil rig truck for shelter against the elements, Yasmin and Ruby embark on a formidable journey from which there can be no guarantee of a safe return…
Set amidst perilous, dark snows, gaping chasms and legions of ice, lit by rare glimpses of the stars; The Quality of Silence captures a world marked by both its savage beauty and its treachery. Alone in the stark, open landscape, the setting feels paradoxically confined by the violence of the cold. It is the perfect backdrop for a winter thriller and soon enough, a stranger appears to be tailing mother and daughter in the blackness, sending threatening photos of mutilated animals via their satellite email.
Aside from mastering a suspenseful atmosphere, where Lupton’s writing really shines is through her portrayal of Ruby’s voice, the way her deafness shapes her perspective and her character. Unhindered by her disability, Ruby is bright and vivacious, enchanted not only by the Alaskan wildlife but also by the craft of language. In the absence of sound, she explores concepts through evocative sensory images that allow her to taste, touch and picture the image that the words create. This visualisation also extends to the use of sign language which plays a crucial part within the novel. Lupton does a wonderful job at incorporating sign and truly piqued my interest into finding out more about it.
Research into the narrative from the Alaskan flora and fauna, to the legends and practices of the Inuit people is effortlessly woven into the plot, often told by Ruby’s voice to fully absorb the reader within the setting. It was equally fascinating to gain an insight into the life and practices of Alaskan truck drivers, to see how they cope with the harsh conditions of the arctic.
More than a simple page-turner, The Quality of Silence examines the growth of a mother-daughter relationship as Yasmin comes to truly understand her daughter for who she is and as Ruby learns to assert her own identity. Moreover, the novel conveys an underlying environmental message for the reader. Lupton deals with the controversial topic of fracking astutely as she presents those that depend on it for their livelihood, alongside its devastating effects upon the land and the native people.
My only qualms about the novel were that I found its twist about the villain a little predictable and the villain itself weak, while the ending without an epilogue felt a little too abrupt. Having grown attached to Yasmin and Ruby, I was sorry to let them go without a fully resolved ending, even if the end may be hinted at within the closing lines.
Nonetheless, The Quality of Silence remains a highly enjoyable read with compelling protagonists, immersive atmosphere and thought-provoking themes. It is a story of voice and determination and questioning just how far you would go for someone you love.
Verdict: 3.8/5
-Florence Y. Bauhofer
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