Elizabeth Strout, the acclaimed author of the Olive Kitteridge and Lucy Barton series, has once again captivated readers with her latest novel, The Things We Never Say. Known for her meticulous world-building and deep exploration of ordinary lives, Strout branches out with a completely new set of characters set in coastal Massachusetts.
A Fresh Cast of Characters
The novel centers on Artie Dam, a 57-year-old history teacher at a local high school. Artie is funny, kind, and beloved by his students, though he is often seen as a bit goofy with his white socks and old man black sneakers. Despite his outwardly happy life—a spacious home by the ocean, a loving wife named Evie, and a successful son—Artie is secretly struggling with feelings of disconnection and trauma.
The Weight of the Past
The root of Artie's turmoil traces back to a car accident ten years earlier, in which his then-17-year-old son Rob was driving and his girlfriend was killed. Since then, the family has reconfigured: Evie retrained as a family therapist, Rob became a successful but withdrawn software developer, and Artie feels a growing rift with his wife. Strout writes that "every time Artie saw him, Artie's heart broke a little more."
Artie also grapples with broader anxieties, from his students' post-pandemic fears to the dread of the 2024 election. He feels as if "a noose was tightening each day around his neck."
Existential Questions
As Artie's loneliness threatens to overwhelm him, a long-held secret is revealed, prompting him to ponder whether free will exists. Strout invites readers to consider how much our choices are shaped by circumstances. The novel leaves these questions open, offering rich material for reflection.
What Lies Ahead
Readers will delight in discovering this new fictional world and the possibilities it holds. What of Evie's "deep and sudden pockets of grief"? What of Rob's "unbearable shame"? And what of the English teacher Anne Merrill, who is "a little bit in love" with Artie? There are endless human mysteries to explore, and we can only hope Strout continues to deliver story upon story.
The Things We Never Say by Elizabeth Strout is published by Viking (£18.99).
