Title: Silent Song
Author: Jaci Wheeler
Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance
Release Date: January 22, 2018
Blurb
*Barrett*
I’m Deaf. What most people view as a disadvantage, I see as an
advantage.
I feel my way through life in my 1969 Ford Fairlane.
The vibrations and speed sustain me, the race track is where I
dominate.
I thought racing was all I needed to survive…but I was wrong.
*Presley*
Music is my life. I inhale the melody and breathe in the lyrics.
That was until I met someone that opened my eyes to a new culture.
Who knew all it would take was silence for me to really experience
music.
When Silence and sound collide it creates an explosion
of the senses.
Review
Rating: ☆☆☆☆
'Silent Song' is an insightful read, providing a glimpse into the deaf community and bringing me greater understanding. This is contrasted against the sounds of the hearing world and the music that inspires us.
Music is Presley's life with a life full of sound. Barrett's life is silent, feeling rather than hearing sound. As these two meet and begin their journey together through tragedy, neither feel comfortable in the other's world.
Both Presley and Barrett were incredible characters - I loved how Presley found ways to bring music to Barrett.
This was a read that brought a greater understanding of the subject matter, whilst appreciating how difficult it is for both these characters to fully belong in each other's lives.
Purchase Links
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Excerpt
“Could you…I mean, would it be okay if you sang to me?” My
head snaps up and I look at him. He’s looking down sheepishly, but he raises
his eyes to meet mine.
“Why sing if can’t hear you?”
“I can a little…if you let me put my head on your chest.” I
look at him skeptically and he is quick to follow up, “I swear it’s not a line.
My mom used to sing to me that way, and it’s been a while, so I was just
curious if it would work with you.”
“Light on off which?” I repeat.
“I prefer low light, always on.” He flips off the main switch
and turns on the nightstand light, which isn’t more than an amber glow.
I roll to my back and he places his head on my shoulder. I
think about what song to sing. It’s not like it’s really going to matter much
to him, but I never make a song choice without thought. Music is the sound
track of life to me, so I decide something a little sad and soulful is in
order. I pick ‘Hallelujah’ by Jeff Buckley. Singing while flat on your back
with a person on top of you is no easy feat. I guess it doesn’t really matter
what the sound is like as long as the vibration is there, so with that in mind,
I keep my tone low and raspy. Luckily, I tend to feel right at home singing
alto, so this works out pretty nicely.
I start off soft and low, and let the music build. He is
tentative in the beginning, who am I kidding, we both are. This should be
seriously awkward. We hardly know each other and we’re entering major bubble
territory…yet there’s also something very innocent and pure about it. I can
tell when he starts to relax and is more comfortable. I’m really letting go as
well now and just singing from my soul. He moves to where his head is fully on
my upper chest, right below my throat. By the third verse I stop worrying about
how weird this might be and the beauty of the situation full on hits me. I’m
able to give this man something that he’s never been able to give himself.
Sharing the joy of music isn’t only a passion for me, it’s a need, so we are
just two souls fulfilling a great need in each other.
His tears are completely silent as they slowly hit my
exposed skin and pool in the hollow of my throat. They spark my own tears. The
idea that I can touch him so deeply this way, giving him nothing but my voice,
touches me deeply. Without thinking, I bring his arms around me and place his
hands flat against my back so he isn’t only getting the sound vibrations from
my chest, but he can also feel them from behind. It has its desired effect when
he sighs out against my neck. The song ends but neither one of us move. To be
honest, I have no words. In this type of communication words are useless. I
close my eyes and go right into ‘Brightest’ by Copeland. Somewhere around ‘As
my guitar gently weeps’ by the Beatles, I drift off.
Author Bio
Jaci
Wheeler lives in the Central Valley of California with her husband and two
precious kids.
Her love of
literature began in Jr. High when she was introduced to Lowis Lowry’s books.
Since then she has had a passion for writing Young Adult books, and creating
strong female leads. When she’s not writing, she is advocating for Autism
Awareness and involved in the deaf community.
Her
favorite things to do are play with her children, craft with her friends, sleep
while her husband watches movies and indulge in her favorite addictions:
Coffee, candy and shoes.
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