Severe Silence is the story of a young woman who "sang easily, passionately, unselfconsciously" until she fell in love with a jealous, controlling man. She reassured and placated him during outbursts of rage, attempting to be a "proper" wife, but found herself defeated. Lonely, subdued, and silent, she finally gathered the strength to escape, only to find herself in deep despair. Battling fear and self-doubt, she began the journey toward rediscovering her voice and beginning a new life. Ava Carmel tells her story of self-awakening and healing using collage and poetry. The collages are intriguing, spare, powerful and sometimes playful, incorporating pictures and words torn from magazines and newspaper headlines.