Book details
Silent Snow, Secret Snow
Description
The Golden family has congregated for Christmas in their large, old family home. Laurie has invited his friend Carlo. He hopes for a chance to tell him his deepest feelings, but Carlo wants to spend time with Laurie's sister, the beautiful yet aloof Marianne. Meanwhile, their cousin, Ellie, is struggling to cope with her miserable mother and the fact that her father is absent. Outside the house the air is soft with snow; inside it crackles with tension as another family tradition becomes evident - that of keeping secrets. Some are tragic, some selfish and some embarrassing. Cut off from the outside world, will anything in the family ever be the same again?
Age
12-15
Text complexity
intermediate
Length
160 pages
Why to read
- To explore the complexities of the human mind, as the story delves into the inner world of a young boy and his gradual detachment from reality.
- To appreciate the use of vivid and poetic language that Conrad Aiken employs to create a mesmerizing and dream-like atmosphere.
- To engage with a classic piece of psychological literature that has been analyzed and discussed for its themes of escapism and mental illness.
- To experience a unique narrative structure that blurs the lines between reality and imagination, prompting readers to reflect on their own perceptions of the world.