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Reviewed by Divine Zape for Readers' Favorite
Silent Words: A 50-Year Family Saga by José Álvarez is an inspirational memoir, a story of love, faith and hope, centered on human disability. Follow a family in their joy and frustrations, but above all in their faith in life and love, and their commitment to serve the less fortunate of their family. The story reflects the words of the protagonist, Mercita, born with a disability, a girl who will grow up to be an inspiration and a defining center of purpose for the life of this family through different generations. The opening words themselves are stunning, and laced with insight and emotion: “For a long time, Papá has sustained a silent fight about my desire to write a book about our lives together, but he has always refused to help me. He always put it off. He said that anyone who has not lived our lives can never understand. I stood my ground. I argued that, although the thorns could be different and not as deep, everyone bears some. As the years passed, my story remained untold.”
Combining humor, powerful reflections on life, and a unique storytelling skill, the author brings the world of a disabled person to life, letting the reader penetrate one of the pains lived by millions of people around the world. This story, filled with heartwarming and beautiful testimonies, will bring both tears of joy and sadness into the eyes of readers. Silent Words is a story that begins in Cuba and ends in the United States of America, and the reader gets vivid and touching glimpses of the cultures. The translation from Spanish is wonderful and it allows the reader to penetrate the consciousness of the protagonist, and appreciate the culture of this family, while garnering powerful lessons for their own lives. José Álvarez’s book offers moving images — soothing and endearing — and it communicates the joy of living for those we love, even when they can’t return our favors. In a world filled with greed and consumerism like ours, this book comes to readers as an irresistible call to go beyond our sense of comfort, to communicate life and meaning to others. It’s entertaining, encouraging, and utterly inspiring.
