Book Review: Elizabeth Strout’s “The Things We Never Say”

by Anna Goetzman

“So blind we humans are—so blind. To each other and to ourselves, moving through life as though through shadows, putting out a hand in the dark and thinking we have touched someone. And maybe we have . . . But mostly we travel through life unsighted, grasping only the smallest details of one another’s selves, including our own. Thinking all the while that we can see.”

The Things We Never Say by Elizabeth Strout is an emotional novel centered around love, loss, and the difficult truths people often struggle to articulate. Spoken mostly from the experience of 57-year-old protagonist Artie Dam, this novel explores the complexities of human relationships and the enduring impact of suppressed emotions as the characters navigate heartbreak, self-discovery, and forgiveness.

This was a poignant read that masterfully captured the intricacies of complicated relationships and the heavy weight of unspoken emotions. I admired that each character felt wonderfully nuanced, flawed, and emotionally resonant. The pacing was engaging, and several scenes were heartrending. What stood out most to me was the author’s remarkable ability to balance heartbreak, hope, and vulnerability with grace and subtlety. The dialogue felt natural but still emotionally charged in a way that worked really well. I still find myself reflecting on the characters and their experiences after finishing the book.

Through its emotionally layered storytelling and compelling character arcs, the book emphasizes the importance of honest communication and the courage required to embrace vulnerability with the people we cherish most. Overall, this was a novel that I would highly recommend to anyone who appreciates emotionally driven contemporary fiction with rich character development. This was my first Strout, and I will certainly be spending the summer outside reading the rest of her collection!