Canberra Times: The quest to find solace in silence

Christine Jackman is an accomplished journalist, foreign correspondent, and communications consultant, with a keen eye for research detail, and a sensitive ear for the complicated cacophony of modern life. She was aware from the start that she might risk sounding like a "pretentious git" in an age when "hippy-like" wellness remedies are commonplace, and I'm pleased to report that Jackman's literary achievement is both timely and valuable. Was there ever a greater need for solace than being trapped inside a social media maelstrom? Or a better chance to seek silence in a pandemic lock-down?

The span and depth of Jackman's research is impressive, and often movingly linked to personal experience in engaging and perceptive ways. And she writes with fluently accessible prose. This book flags our troubled times, and its subtle evocations of an unquiet mind in search of sanctuary provide ample opportunity for reflective thought. Silence is often misconstrued. The true test of a relationship is whether you can be comfortable together in public without speaking. Silence deserves a hearing. Just as this book deserves to be read.

You can read Ian McFarlane's beautiful review, The quest to find solace in silence, here.