“With echoes of such classic war writings as Dalton Trumbo’s “Johnny Got His Gun,” Joseph Heller’s “Catch-22” and Tim O’Brien’s “The Things They Carried,” Carpenter’s novel does not hold its peace in exploring the wages and sins of our destructive nature. You might say the silence is deafening— and demanding of our better selves.” —Carl Little, The Ellsworth American
“Beautifully written with a poet’s eye for language, this novel explores themes of redemption and the search for peace in a world of chaos.” —Maine Boats, Homes, and Harbors
“This is a story both tender and tragic, and Carpenter tells it carefully, revealing much about the human cost of war, love and resiliency, and unexpected heartfelt decisions.”—Bill Bushnell, Bangor Daily News
"Nick Colonna lost his hearing in an IED blast, but really he's trapped in an opaque glass box, where he can neither see nor be seen, neither understand nor be understood. Silence, though, is about much more than the cost of conflict, and offers readers a hard, clear-eyed optimism. This is a story that demonstrates there's no loss that can't be redeemed by the sacred, no wound that can't be healed, however incompletely, by reacquainting ourselves with that which is simple and pure." —Ron Currie, Jr., author of God is Dead and Everything Matters!
"As a veteran of the war in Iraq, I found myself back there again— and the feelings of wishing I wasn’t there and dreaming of how life will be so improved when I got back home. Carpenter places you in that space between the world we intended for ourselves and the world we are given. He walks us hand in hand with the characters as they try to let go of their hopes and dreams while moving through the grief, loss, disruption and chaos that is left when their reality suddenly changes. Through their journey, Carpenter asks the reader to ponder the meaning and cost of life and sacrifice. I highly recommend this book. It is incredibly well written and thought provoking." —Major Adam Cote, USA (Ret.) Iraq War veteran
"As someone working as a therapist, I found it very effectively conveyed the impact and experience of PTSD and shows why it is so often misunderstood and under-treated. We watch heroic and idealistic Nick, having volunteered to serve and thinking he'd help avenge the 9/11 attacks on his beloved country, become a victim of violence as well. Carpenter seems to be saying there's no winners in a war; rather it makes losers of us all." —Tina Cohen, The Working Waterfront
"An excellent story by a mature writer, who pens a distinctive look at small-town America in the post 9/11 and Iraq War years."— James Fisher, The Miramichi Reader
