'Her pitch is perfect, her style of a limpid beauty, her reach deep and
her characters real, haunting, disturbing. Such a writer is Wendy
James. Such a novel is Out of the Silence-beautiful yet disturbing,
deep yet accessible, full of real, human characters yet exploring wider
social and moral questions, combining the pace and story of commercial
fiction with the range and depth of literary fiction.'
Sophie Masson
'It
is a rare novel in which a gripping story is underlaid by a fully
realised ethical framework. James wears her politics on her sleeve but
does so lightly. This is a work of intelligence and talent informed by
a deeply humane sensitivity.....If Wendy James aspires to be our
national novelist, she is on her way. In equal measures intellectual
and sensual, Out of the Silence is a brilliantly cut literary gem
sparkling from every angle.'
- The Sydney Morning Herald
'One
of the better reads that I have had the privilege to review. On a
personal scale this one scored a hefty 8.5 out of ten....A rewarding
read and an exceptional first novel from Wendy James, I look forward to
reading more promising literature from someone so talented' - Coober
Pedy Times
'This is an informative and beautifully written fiction.' - Australian Book Review
This
novel reminds us how hard the fight was for women's rights, and how
some issues (childcare, contraception) remain contentious. Yet its
historical recreation is achieved via characters who are flesh and
blood, and who touch the reader. Recommended.'
Lucy Sussex, Sunday Age
'Out of the Silence is a deft examination of both the great tidal forces that shape history, and the minutiae of personal lives both tossed about by, and making up these greater movements. The resonance of Out of the Silence lies in the reader's dawning realisation that this is not a story that ends with the novel's final page, but a story still unfolding.' - The Compulsive Reader
A
very good debut and for me could sit happily next to my favourite
historical authors like Iain Pears, Sarah Waters and Michel Faber -
which is high praise!
- Carolyn, ABC Coast FM