What I’m Reading: The Things We Cannot Say

I was down a rabbit trail that lead to Audible and I ended up seeing a book that looked interesting and I ended up getting it.  I have this problem.  If Audible says, “Fans of The Nightingale and Lilac Girls will adore The Things We Cannot Say.”  I am a sucker and will get the book because I loved The Nightingale. You all can probably relate.  It was one of those moments when I should have been doing something else but ended up on the computer instead.  Anyway…this is the book I got, The Things We Cannot Say by Kelly Rimmer.

This ended up being a VERY good book.  The book is written in present day from the story of a granddaughter and toggles back to past with the story of the grandmother who lived in Poland during WWII.  This book format is often done but to date, I don’t tire of it.  The granddaughter in this case is a mom of a 10 and 7 year old.  Her boy that is 7 has autism.  Her story really got to me and I’m sure anyone who deals with autism could connect to her story.  The grandmother’s story is touching as well.  The book talks so much about commitment and for me, I can never hear enough about people who are willing to give to others even at the sacrifice of themselves.  I aspire to be that kind of person.

Here’s what Amazon had to say:“In 1942, Europe remains in the relentless grip of war. Just beyond the tents of the Russian refugee camp she calls home, a young woman speaks her wedding vows. It’s a decision that will alter her destiny…and it’s a lie that will remain buried until the next century.

Since she was nine years old, Alina Dziak knew she would marry her best friend, Tomasz. Now fifteen and engaged, Alina is unconcerned by reports of Nazi soldiers at the Polish border, believing her neighbors that they pose no real threat, and dreams instead of the day Tomasz returns from college in Warsaw so they can be married. But little by little, injustice by brutal injustice, the Nazi occupation takes hold, and Alina’s tiny rural village, its families, are divided by fear and hate.

Then, as the fabric of their lives is slowly picked apart, Tomasz disappears. Where Alina used to measure time between visits from her beloved, now she measures the spaces between hope and despair, waiting for word from Tomasz and avoiding the attentions of the soldiers who patrol her parents’ farm. But for now, even deafening silence is preferable to grief.”

Amazon readers give the book 4.8 stars.  I would definitely agree.  If you’re looking for a good read…this one might be what you are looking for!

If you’re interested in the book, you can find it HERE.