Raging Silence: A Novel In Five Acts

By Amanda Stone

Sheltered from the political unrest over Vietnam, Melena Dupree dreams of two things: a family and an envy-worthy home. Her husband, Ernest, plans an empire manned by his sons. Shadows and lies bring... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0976498111
• ISBN13: 9780976498117
• Release Date: April 2006
• Publisher: Synergy Books
• Length: 388 Pages
• Weight: 0.95 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.8" x 0.8" x 5.5"

Customer Reviews

I was totally blown away! My highest recommendation!

In 1964, Melena Dupree Staring is dwelling atop an isolated Appalachian mountain, but she is a city girl, as she informs her infant son, Blackwell. Her husband, Ernest is leaving his family to go to his job, a seemingly normal enough condition, although it will appear excessive and pathologic as this tale progresses. Later that day, Melena tells her only neighbors, two old "granny" spinsters, about an unusual and frightening event which occurred that morning while she was hanging clothes. She heard noises in the brush and was frightened into running for her porch, where she watched as a red fox came out and stole her nightgown. The shared wisdom of her neighbors is, "That's not all you'll likely lose....You live on a living breathing mountain now, darling, not in the city....you have to watch for bears." Ernest has left his family to be eaten by bears. How can Melena forgive him? Forgiveness is to be an issue for Melena. Years pass and children are added to the Starling clan: a middle child, son Luke; and the least one, daughter Elizabeth. Melena's list of Ernest's sins (real and perceived) and her peeves and disappointments with her children also grow over time. Ernest and Melena split up and get back together and somewhat try to maintain a proper public image. Blackwell and Luke have an outlet via racing, a hobby their father shares and one that Melena does not outright deny them. Elizabeth is perpetually denied this outlet, "it's not ladylike." Elizabeth, who has always felt like the extra cog in the household, discovers a secret about her birth. This discovery, plus the family's dysfunctions, added to a more intimate family secret, one which she believes is so terrible that she must bear it in silence, sends Elizabeth in new and less conventional directions than her brothers will travel and than her parents can approve. Ernest and Melena eventually engage in the FINAL divorce. It is strategically maneuvered, much like the Seven Years' War, by their apparently interdependent lawyers. It leaves casualties in its wake, much in the same way as did that war and as do all wars. Melena's hatred for Ernest cannot be assuaged and grows more blindly irrational, as she attempts to force the children to chose to side either wholly with her or wholly with Ernest--there can be no middle ground or neutrality. Meanwhile, Elizabeth goes on with her life and discovers some surprising things about relationships and about self. She finds that the entire world is not based on hate and secrets. This knowledge can either overwhelm her or save her. ***** I've been reading "grown-up" books for over forty years...literally, thousands of books from different literary genre, from multiple cultures and differing historical periods. Never in those decades, and never through those thousands of books, plays, poems, and other literary efforts, have I been as emotionally effected as I was by Raging Silence: A Novel In Five Acts. The quote from John Marston's Antonio's Re

Raging Silence

In a time when it is reported that half of all marriages end in divorce and every two-and-a-half minutes someone is sexually assaulted in America, a novel that explores how both of these issues can tear a family apart is sadly one which many will relate to on a personal level. Amanda Stone takes on these turbulent topics in her semi-autobiographical novel, `Raging Silence,' following two generations of the Starling family. She is not afraid to reveal the ugly underbelly that lies beneath the surface in many families nor does she shy away from taking a shot at the American legal system, which allows divorces to drag on for years. "The people, the ones who elect the officials, believe those who should monitor the courts, are judging in behalf of the people's welfare," she says in `Raging Silence.' "No one in the system watches, though, and the big, big mess keeps on spinning." The book is largely character-based with the family dynamic at its centre. It begins shortly after the young couple, Melena and Ernest, have had their first child, Blackwell. Within a few years two more children, Luke and Elizabeth, complete their family. The new mother is full of hope for the future, vowing that she will have a happy family, but her husband's infidelity soon turns her into a bitter, resentful woman with a mind full of thoughts of revenge. Years of turmoil ensue while the Starlings attempt to hide their problems from the outside world; they pretend they are the perfect family, but secrets are tearing them apart. One of these secrets is that Elizabeth is sexually abused as a young girl by her Uncle Leopold, who has Down's syndrome and is seen as a harmless child-like figure by the rest of the family. The secret tears her apart, causing her emotional and physical pain until she finally admits what happened to her after having blocked it out for years. Having lived through similar experiences, Stone is able to put all of her personal pain on the page. She says she hopes that by telling her story, she will give others the courage to come forward with their experience of abuse and start their own journeys towards healing. Having grown up in North Carolina, Stone's southern U.S. influence is strongly apparent in her writing style. As I was reading, the lilting language conjured up images of the South and the narrative spoke to me with a distinctive drawl. I was reminded of other great American authors, such as Barbara Kingsolver, Pat Conroy and Sheri Reynolds... Stone can proudly take her place in their company. `Raging Silence' is a novel which takes on huge issues and succeeds at sharing a poignant family story. It is highly relatable and beautifully written. The subject matter should not be shoved under the rug and neither should this novel.

Very Well Written

What a novel. The disfuntion of a self centered father and the hidden rage of his neglected wife are brought to light by this very insightful and disturbing family saga. This novel illuminates how much children really do see and hear.

Contemporary American family saga

Raging silence... Why? What's happened to a perfect family? On the surface everything looks fine - growing business, raising kids, moving higher on life's ladder... But what's inside - infidelity, mistrust, secrets, lies, fears, loneliness, sexual abuse, drugs... Then the sharks come - divorce lawyers... You are always trying to find answers along with Amanda Stone, the author of 'Raging Silence', a contemporary American family saga. It's a well written, interesting and sensitive book, well worth your time.

AWESOME Raging Novel!!

Amanda Stone's "Raging Silence" was an excellent read. I couldn't put it down. There was never a dull moment and I just had to find out what was going to happen next. Ms. Stone really brings out the individuality to each person in the story and to me it's important to realize that no family is perfect and we all have our dark secrets. I highly recommend it. I had the pleasure of meeting Amanda Stone at a book fair in Miami, FL and I look forward to future reads by her.