When the World Goes Quiet: A Novel

4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars | 12,626 ratings

Price: 26.33

Last update: 01-12-2025


About this item

In the final days of World War I, an aspiring artist’s courageous journey is just beginning in a powerful novel about love, danger, and survival by the author of Take What You Can Carry.

It’s 1918 in German-occupied Bruges, Belgium. With luck, Evelien will make it to the end of the war and be given what she was promised: a prized painting in exchange for safeguarding her employer’s possessions. Until then, Evelien knows to keep her head down and stay out of trouble. But life never goes to plan, especially in war.

A member of the Resistance approaches Evelien: steal a list of names hidden in her employer’s home. In return, she’ll get a letter from her long-missing husband, Emiel. She’d lost hope of Emiel’s survival, but the promised letter puts her certainty of his death in question. Evelien begins her mission and soon forms a friendship with a soldier who is struggling with the devastating demands of battle. Their shared passion for art deepens the bond, and Evelien faces a heart-wrenching truth: she longs for Emiel’s safe return…but not necessarily to her.

As the final days of the war loom closer, Evelien has never been in more danger. And should she survive the war’s bitter end, what choices will she make for a life beyond liberation?


Top reviews from the United States

  • Bethany T.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Deep insights, artistic focus
    Reviewed in the United States on March 3, 2024
    This is an excellent book: so artistic, a bit mystical, and full of deep insights! It is set in Bruges during the final months of the Great War/WW1. Bruges is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, and holds a special place forever in my heart, so I was thrilled to read a novel set there! I was thankful to have a memory-bank from which to draw on regarding the setting, because, while this author did a decent job with descriptive language, overall the book is a bit more cerebral, and the descriptions tended toward the artistic perspective rather than the precise, objective setting descriptions one would expect from many actual period novels.

    This book is a pleasure to read, in spite of it being published in 2024, it is packed with insights and little philosophical treasures. In that regard, it is similar to interwar fiction, but with one glaring stylistic change--the ending is happy, and everything wrapped up neatly. This is in comparison to how a lot of interwar novels ended with a shattering abruptness, almost mid action, often with the protagonist in some sort of transition. That style of ending has a certain effect on the readers that would have paired nicely with the rest of the book and its abundance of questions on the human condition.

    There are a few spelling (especially some of the German) and formatting errors, but not to the extent that would affect readability.

    My only real complaint is the poppet made from moonbathed amethyst. Yes, even in the Roman days they used amethyst and other gems as amulets, but the manner in which this is presented in the book is definitely more of a post WW2/ post Gerald Gardner/ post Dr. Marcel Vogel type of application. I have yet to read anything from the period, including occult non-fiction, describing the use of crystals in such a way. I guess anything is possible, and sure, this book is for the 2024 readers who know about such things, I just perceive a danger in confusing people when we project modern ideas onto the past and pretend they are a "tradition."

    Apart from these minor complaints, this is one of the best new books I have read! This is a book for the deep thinkers and artists out there. I loved the artistic descriptions, and the abundance of art history. The ideal reader would know a bit about cubism, impressionism, pointillism, and early 20th Century Western European artists.

    Bottom line: highly recommend this book if you like substance and insight! Especially recommend it if you are an artist or interested in art history.
  • Ryan Haines
    4.0 out of 5 stars Very simple read, good storyline and enjoyable characters
    Reviewed in the United States on February 20, 2024
    I enjoyed the slow development of characters. It was easy to get into this book and made me want to finish in one sitting thought I had to stop half way through.

    The character development has some good twists and unexpected parts. The details in the description of rooms and scenes were easy to picture.

    I also thought there were just enough characters that you didn't lose the storyline. It left me with some questions but just enough to keep you interested and wondering what would happen next.

    It lacked a little more background in places but it picked up later in the book and filled in some holes. The story flowed better after getting half way through.

    Overall a very good read.
  • LittleBird
    5.0 out of 5 stars Perfection
    Reviewed in the United States on March 23, 2024
    Glen Sarder paints her words as van Gogh his brush! I read descriptions so vivid and poetic that I re-read them just to let them linger. This book did something I never expected, it opened my mind and my eyes in ways I never thought possible. A picture of the harsh realities I have never considered, sympathy I could not conceive, and the truths of life, love, and humans so multidimensional that we can never fairly paint them with one stroke. I want to read all her work now and look up every artist mentioned and reread the masterful sentences that depict loss and even landscapes so perfectly. I was moved, awakened and inspired. Read this book , reread again and let it challenge you. Ends that are beginnings....
  • marriedmurphy
    5.0 out of 5 stars Beautifully written!
    Reviewed in the United States on February 9, 2024
    This book is truly remarkable. The characters were developed so well - I felt like I knew them by the time I'd finished reading. Although there is great tragedy laced into this novel, the story also depicts true strength, bravery, loyalty, and love. The way that the author created connection through art and artistry was lovely. I was nervous about the ending, because I was really invested in the outcome - thankfully, my fears were unwarranted. For a book that details such a dark period in history, there was hope laced throughout - and it was only fitting that it end on that note. I enjoyed this novel from beginning to end. I look forward to reading more by this author.
  • Carol L Werschky
    4.0 out of 5 stars Happy Ending.
    Reviewed in the United States on October 24, 2024
    War story, love story. Love of art and painting encourages heroine to survive WW1. Hope prevails though tragic times
    Recommended reading
  • JT43
    3.0 out of 5 stars unusual story about WW1 Belgium
    Reviewed in the United States on March 5, 2024
    In 1918 German-occupied Bruges, Belgium, Evelien tries to survive with her in-laws. She's an artist who agreed to hide art for her former employer who fled the country. And she currently works as a houeskeeper for a German commander.
    Although she knows in her heart that her husband has died in active duty, she still takes a big risk to earn a letter he wrote a year ago. Her risk threatens her adopted parents, though, too.
    And a mysterious soldier also poses a risk to her heart. But like everyone, he may be hiding dangerous secrets.
    While I really like that the story focuses on Belgium, the plot is slow. I found myself skimming rather than devouring each word.
    Also, several plot twists fell short for me.
    The Book Club questions at the end enhance the story. And the author's notes at the end added value to the story and improved the author's credibility.
  • Kennedy P. Richardson
    5.0 out of 5 stars Good Plot and Character Development
    Reviewed in the United States on December 8, 2024
    This is a remarkable book that began as a seemingly unremarkable story. However, through her artful use of retrospective anecdotes, Ms. Sardar enriched both the plot and the characters and thereby produced a very captivating novel.

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