The Things We Cannot Say Book Review - A Story of Resilience and Love

The Things We Cannot Say is a novel by Kelly Rimmer that tells the story of a young woman who lies about her wedding vows in a Russian refugee camp in 1942, and how her secret affects her family in the present day. The book is a 432 page finished piece of literature that was published in 2019 to glowing reviews and celebrates the power of unconditional love in a span of 36 chapters. It beautifully combines romance, drama and historical fiction in one relatable narration.

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Author Introduction

Kelly Rimmer is a well-known novelist from Australia who has grabbed a spot in the bestselling author's list in the USA Today. She is famous for different genres, ranging from women's fiction,contemporary, chick lit, and romance. Rimmer has written numerous successful standalone books and is known to plot her stories before actually beginning to write them. Historical fiction is another major genre she writes and she also mentioned once that writing history calls for daydreaming and thorough research.

The Novel's Theme

"The Things We Cannot Say" is a heartwarming family saga that demonstrates ideas of determination, reconciliation, secrets, found family, survival, risk-taking, making tough choices, sacrifices and caring for differently-abled children. The novel alternates between two different timelines, specifically the war-torn Europe for one whereas the other is set in contemporary America. The novel celebrates the power of unconditional love, the heroic determination of the human will to survive, and how not to lose hope even in the most difficult times.

Introduction of the Main Characters

The characters in "The Things We Cannot Say" are marked by distinct personalities that are demonstrated through their vivid experiences and actions. Alina's story of surviving the Nazi occupation is heart-wrenching while Alice's modern-day struggles in Florida are relatable and realistic.

Alina Dziak

A young woman who has to endure the horrific Nazi occupation in war-torn Poland in the 1930s and 1940s.

Alice Michaels

Alina's granddaughter living in Florida raising a son with special needs and a daughter who is gifted.

Hanna

Alice's grandmother who has made a dying wish for Alice to find Tomasz, her soul mate in Poland.

Tomasz

A young medical student who promises Alina that when he returns from studying medicine in Warsaw, the two will begin their life together. He is conscripted to fight in the German army despite his moral objections and helps a Jewish family hide from the Nazis.

Point of View

The writing point of view brings out depth and complexity to the book, which allows for a more nuanced expression of the characters and themes of the story. The book is interestingly written in a split perspective and has its chapters alternate between the stories of Alina Dziak and Alina's granddaughter, Alice Michaels. The writing style makes the reader experience the past and present simultaneously, while also witnessing their interconnection. The alternating perspectives also establishes a contrast between Alina's experiences during Poland's Nazi occupation and Alice's struggles in Florida during the present times.

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The Plot

"The Things We Cannot Say" is all about the story of a Polish farm girl, Alina Dziak who falls for a young medical student when Germany invades Poland, further turning into 5 years of brutal rule. The book switches between Alina's story and the life of her granddaughter, Alice Michaels. Alice is a present-day frazzled mother in America who struggles to raise a gifted daughter and a son with special needs. Aline is approaching death after a stroke and is in the hospital where Alice agrees to help her. The story takes turns when Alina asks Alice to head to Poland to handle some family business involving a secret that Alina has kept for 80 years.

Dialogues and Hot Chapters

The dialogues in the novel are engaging and add depth to the story, while the different chapters throughout the book give a beautiful course to the story.

Dialogues

The novel features well-crafted and realistic dialogues that reveal the characters' personalities and emotions. The dialogues between Alina and Tomasz in Poland are heart-wrenching as they struggle to protect their loved ones amidst the war. On the other hand, the present-day dialogues between Alice and her family are relatable and showcase the hardships of balancing family life and personal desires, while mystery is brought by the discussions between Alice and her grandmother.

Hot Chapters

Chapter 16 of the book is narrated by Alina, wherein she is so distracted by her fear that Tomasz would be sleeping in the cold outside that the Nazi soldier standing in their woods goes unnoticed by her. As Alina screamed, Faustina asked her to slow down, further telling the soldier they were walking to town to visit her daughter.

In Chapter 32, Alice and Zofia head to a clinic built in memory of Alesky Slaski and explain the lady at the desk that Alesky might be Alice's great-grandfather. The woman, Lia calls herself as Alesky's great-granddaughter, saying that her mother was Alesky's only child. Alice tells Lia that she just wants to speak to Emilia as Alice's grandfather was Emilia's brother, Tomasz Slaski. Unfortunately, Lia claims that Tomasz died in 1942.

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Writing Style

Kelly writes as two first-person narrators, wherein Alina narrates from the times of 1930s to the present for telling the story of her immense love for Tomasz. She talks in past tense, whereas Alice's narration constrastingly talks about her struggles as a mother in the present tense.

Conclusion

It won't be an overstatement that "The Things We Cannot Say" is a powerful and moving book that makes the readers experience deep emotions of love, and loss. The tone of writing covering two timelines, different places and different challenges with utmost intrigue is what makes the book standout. Those who enjoy female-centric stories and plots that talk about the power of unconditional love must not miss this lovely saga. Kelly showcases the idea of being optimistic no matter what life throws at you with great dynamism.

FAQs

Q: What is the book about?

A: The book revolves around the story of a young lady lying about her wedding vows in a Russian refugee camp in the year 1942, and how her family is affected by her secret in the present day. The novel explores love, sacrifice, loss and bonds connecting different generations.

Q: What are some of the themes explored in the book?

A: "The Things We Cannot Say" takes you through themes of reconciliation, determination, sacrifice and secrets. It beautifully celebrates the magic of unconditional love, the power of keeping hope in hard times, as well as the heroic determination to survive.