Review: In Times of Silence by Merwyn Spears

In Times of Silence by Merwyn Spears is a comforting and poignant work of literary fiction about looking back on times gone by when the present seems to be fading away.

The narrator of this short novel is the last survivor of a group of childhood friends with the recent death of Megan, the leader of their childhood group, and someone who has held a special place in his heart. As he ponders her funeral and carefully puts her obituary clipping into the folder where all the others are kept, he’s filled with a deep sense of regret over Megan’s passing and the loss of “dreams never given a chance to breathe.”

As the narrator lies in bed seeing his dead friends beckoning to him, he also sees in their eyes a longing to return to yesteryear, when their lives were “filled with wondrous expectations.” His thoughts soon wander back in time to a very special summer when the innocence of his childhood inevitably gave way to the consciousness of youth.

The appeal of In Times of Silence resides in its simple, folksy narrative that complements the setting for the book. The narrator fondly describes village life in a secluded hamlet surrounded by Oaks at a time when the twentieth century was on its way to making its mark. The descriptions are vivid, without being overly embellished, yet effectively create a tapestry that was small town America soon after the turn of the last century – where most folks went to church on Sundays and where children anxiously awaited summer vacation, freely roaming the streets outside all summer, their play limited only by their imaginations.

What In Times of Silence lacks in length, it amply makes up in social commentary and in character diversity. There’s Megan, the born leader of their childhood group, dainty Shelly, tough Sylvia, athletic Derrick and fearless Kenny, all of whose summer days are happily spent swimming in the local pond or anxiously awaiting the arrival of the Sears, Roebuck catalogue. There’s Mayor Barth, the village visionary, the prolific Pastor Edison, Ms. Gibson – the wail-holler at every funeral – and the Polees – fondly referred to as the village drunks. With each colorful character, Spears weaves another skein into the intricate tapestry he’s created.

Spears also reflects on the human condition and speaks proudly of community and compassion for mankind, and nowhere is this more evident than in the aftermath of a violent storm that leaves destruction in its wake, causing the community to band together and help one another. In today’s largely impersonal society, these considerations speak loudly and leave a lasting impression.

The book is at times overly nostalgic, as if the past was innocent, and only the present is fraught with difficulty. However, this is mitigated by stories of the darker aspects of life, such as when a seven-year-old girl was assaulted and a slow-witted young man, her presumed attacker, disappeared without a trace and his family home burned down a short time later. On the whole, though, this novel is one of quiet remembrance – a comforting read about the good times we remember in our pasts.

Eloquent yet subtle, In Times of Silence invites reflection on both the present and the past, and on the proverbial roads that may have not been taken.