The Raging Quiet [School & Library Binding]

Sherryl Jordan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 2004

Marnie comes to the remote fishing hamlet of Torcurra as the reluctant bride of Isake Isherwood, a lord of her parents' farm. But two days later, while thatching the roof, Isake falls to his death. Marnie's only kindness comes from Father Brannan, the village priest, and Raver, the strange mad boy whose incoherent cries belie his gentle heart. Taking him in one windy night, Marnie makes a startling discovery: Raver is not mad but deaf.

Determined to communicate with the boy whom Marnie now calls Raven, she invents a system of hand-words. Raven learns quickly and has soon all but shed his madness. Yet while Marnie and Raven forge a deep bond, the villagers, already suspicious of Marnie's role in Isake's death, see his transformation as the result of witchcraft. Even as Marnie's and Raven's bond turns to love, and as they uncover the mysterious value of their cottage, Marnie is forced into a witchcraft trial where the test of the iron bar will determine her fate.

Set in the times when magic was a force to be reckoned with, The Raging Quiet is the epic saga of a remarkable woman whose only crime is being different.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

New Zealand author Sherryl Jordan has crafted a riveting story, reminiscent of the work of Thomas Hardy, that's shimmering with the romanticism of a fairy tale but told with the vivid detail and suspense of a modern novel. In an ancient time, a newlywed girl is taken to a seaside thatched cottage by her much older husband. His drunken lovemaking repels her, but Marnie must endure because he is the lord's middle son and she has married him to save her family from starvation. When he is killed in a fall, she feels more release than grief, in spite of the village rumors that she caused his death with a witch's curse. Suspicions grow when she befriends an outcast, a "mad" boy called Raver whose rages and yammerings look to villagers like the work of the devil. But Marnie realizes that the boy is deaf, and his bursts of anger come from his inability to communicate. With the help of the kindly and wise village priest, she begins to invent a sign language for him. A tender love grows between them in the cottage, but Marnie still fears the marriage bed. Meanwhile, the scandalized villagers spy on the "witch," and at last force her to endure the bloodcurdling ordeal of trial by hot iron. Readers will gobble up this entrancing story, and may want to move on to Cynthia Voigt's Jackaroo, Michael Cadnum's In a Dark Wood, and perhaps Thomas Hardy's Tess of the D'Urbervilles. (Ages 12 to 15) --Patty Campbell --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Publishers Weekly

Jordan (Winter of Fire) transports readers to a craggy seaside town for this sweeping story of a blossoming friendship between a young woman outsider and a young man whom the townsfolk deem mad. Marnie arrives in the village of Torcurra to live in a rundown and isolated cottage with her new husband, Isake Isherwood, the son of a nobleman. After a mere two days of marriage, Isake dies in a freak accident for which the villagers unfairly blame Marnie, whom they suspect is a witch. In this hostile environment the parish priest and an outcast boy Marnie dubs Raven are the young widow's only allies. She realizes that Raven is deaf rather thanAas the superstitious townsfolk believeApossessed by demons, and develops a sign language with which the two young people communicate (fueling suspicions of witchcraft). Jordan blends a zealous supporting cast with the flavor of Hawthorne with the societal forces of Hardy as she plays out Marnie's tortuous fate. A few elements may be familiar to adult readers (e.g., a mysterious hidden treasure), but Marnie's ordeal at the hands of witch-hunters and Raven's efforts to learn to communicate make for riveting reading. The land itself takes on a hypnotic presence, culminating in a primal dance on a Stonehenge-like stage. Even if readers see a few developments coming, the anticipation is pure pleasure. Ages 12-up.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• School & Library Binding: 362 pages
• Publisher: Tandem Library (May 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 141762891X
• ISBN-13: 978-1417628919
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 4.1 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (95 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,697,232 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Moving and Captivating Piece of Fiction, January 4, 2006

By 

S. Pearson "pearsonsj" (Hartford, CT) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: The Raging Quiet (Paperback)

After finishing this wonderful book, I actually had to take a day to ponder over the story and its richly described characters. Marnie, recently married to a man twice her age, travels to their new home together. Marnie, only 16 years old, does not have any romantic feelings towards Isake. She merely married the man to save her family from losing their home.

Upon moving to the village that would become their home, Marnie witnesses a young man being whipped. His name is Raver (because it sounds like he raves like a lunatic when he communicates); however, Marnie later realizes that his problem isn't madness, it is that he cannot hear. During the time that she discovers this kindred soul in the village (Raver, whom she calls Raven), her husband dies. The villagers accuse her of witchcraft that caused her husband's death, and they shun her. As a result, she and Raven end up sharing her cottage, in order to keep themselves away from the violent and angry villagers.

Their only friend is Father Brannan, the kindly village priest, who brings them food and consoles them during their time of frustration with the villagers. Despite Father Brannan's attempts at getting the villagers to welcome both Marnie and Raven, Marnie and Raven discover a life separate from the hatred and segregation of the village, and end up falling in love.

This is a magical, warm story! The characters come to life, so much so, they actually seem like real people. Their energies just come off the page. While I was reading the book, I was so happy that Marnie and Raven found each other -- Raven, having spent 17 years of his life abused, harshly treated, and misunderstood; and Marnie, never knowing the true feelings of romantic love until she came across someone who needed her just as badly as she needed him.

A highly recommended book. Don't let the Young Adult label sway you away from reading this book. This is a book that can be read by anyone at any age.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED READING AND WELL WORTH YOUR WHILE!!!!!

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A book that will stay with you for a long time..., October 22, 2000

By 

Melanie (Iowa, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Raging Quiet (Hardcover)

"The Raging Quiet" by Sheryll Jordan, was one of the most excellent books I've ever read. Strong characters, a great story line, a good setting - they all add up to a wonderful story that can be read again and again.

Marnie is forced to marry a lord, in order to help her peasant family, and she leaves her home for the fishing village of Torcurra. She is not happy living with her drunken husband, who claims that the "cursed", broken down cottage where they live is very valuable. But then, suddenly, he dies in an accident, and Marnie is left to fend for herself.

Seeking friendship in a kind priest, she meets a "mad" boy, who cries and raves, thus called Raver. Soon she learns that "Raven" is not mad, only deaf! Marnie begins teaching him hand signs, and forms a bond with him, but then the villagers brand her a witch, and test her with the iron bar.

This book was wonderful, and I'd recommend it for ages 12 and up. I'd also recommend "Breaking Rank", by Randall, which is another story of prejudice.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars WONDERFUL!=), January 15, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Raging Quiet (Hardcover)

THE BEST BOOK I HAVE EVER READ! It's such a tender and compelling story and the love story in it is wonderful as well. I can relate to all the charactors and I adore Raven! It's my favorite book of all time (and I have read a LOT of books!) the best part is, anyone over 12 or 13 years old (because it does contain a fair amount of romance) can read it! Teenagers will love it and I know a 50 year old who loves it! If you don't read this book you don't know what you're missing! This book makes you feel pride in yourself and makes you want to be who you truly are. It shows the true beauty of diversity. This book will leave you in awe; the amazing, adventerous and passionate story of a young man and a young woman; Marnie and Raven; who are not afraid of being different.