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The Silence In Between

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The Silence In Between

By: Josie Ferguson
Narrated by: Rosina Aichner, Josie Ferguson
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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

SHORTLISTED FOR THE WATERSTONES DEBUT FICTION PRIZE 2024

The Silence in Between is a historical novel based in Berlin in 1961 and during the Second World War. Lisette lives in East Berlin but brings her new-born baby to a hospital in West Berlin. Under doctor's orders, she goes home to rest, leaving the baby in the care of the hospital. But overnight the border between East and West closes, slicing the city - and the world - in two. With a city in chaos and armed guards ordered to shoot anyone who tries to cross, her situation is desperate. Lisette's teenage daughter, Elly, has always struggled to understand the distance between herself and her mother. Both live for music but while Elly hears notes surrounding every person she meets, for her mother - once a talented pianist - the world has gone silent. Perhaps Elly can do something to bridge the gap between them. What begins as the flicker of an idea turns into a daring plan to escape East Berlin, find her baby brother, and bring him home....

Featuring music composed by Carl-Michael Bonde.

©2024 Josie Ferguson (P)2024 Penguin Audio

 20th Century Family Life Genre Fiction Historical Fiction Women's Fiction

Critic Reviews

A compelling debut . . . The Silence in Between is a haunting and compassionate account of war’s legacy, the atrocities inflicted on ordinary German women and their extraordinary resilience
A thoughtful and moving debut ... Rooted in real stories, The Silence in Between is a reminder of how seismic political events shape ordinary lives
A strong, emotionally resonant debut full of music and menace
A hauntingly beautiful exploration of love, family and societal unrest all set against the backdrop of the Berlin Wall . . . a poignant and heartfelt story that eloquently captures the resilience of the human spirit
A confident debut with an original premise
A captivating, tense portrayal of desperation, fortitude and courage
A tautly plotted, deeply involving novel that packs a real emotional punch … I can't recommend this novel highly enough
A quietly powerful novel about lives altered by a seismic historical moment
A gut-wrenching but beautiful novel about love, family, resilience and music
A powerful story of family, hope and generational narratives, beautifully told
All stars
Most relevant
Such a beautiful story. If I could give more than five stars I would!
The Silence in Between is beautiful and so moving.
A time in history that should never be forgotten nor repeated. Sadly the suffering caused by war continues to this day.
Set in Berlin in two time periods - a mother and daughter’s lives intertwined in such a powerful way.
I went through Checkpoint Charlie in the 80’s but had no knowledge or appreciation of the suffering Berliners experienced on both sides of the wall but especially in the East. I was a mere tourist who visited from a land of freedom.
I loved everything about this book. The story, the characters and the music. I found it hard to stop listening.
I especially loved the narrator who brought the book to life so beautifully. The compassion in her voice was palpable. It was as if she was living the lives of the characters.
Highly recommended.
Thank you

An Exceptional Book

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This book exposed a completely new perspective and experience to the war. Many untold stories that felt very real - beautifully written and narrated.

This book will stay with me

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