Author: Kelly Rimmer
Genre: Historical Fiction (WWII)
Type: e-book
Source: NetGalley
Publisher: Graydon House (Harlequin)
First Published: March 19, 2019
Opening Lines: "The priest presiding over my wedding was half-starved, half-frozen and wearing rags but he was resourceful; he'd blessed a chunk of moldy bread from breakfast to serve as a communion wafer."
Book Description from GoodReads: 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.
In1942,Europeremainsintherelentlessgripofwar.JustbeyondthetentsoftheRussianrefugeecampshecallshome,ayoungwomanspeaksherweddingvows.It’sadecisionthatwillalterherdestiny…andit’saliethatwillremainburieduntilthenextcentury.
Sinceshewasnineyearsold,AlinaDziakknewshewouldmarryherbestfriend,Tomasz.Nowfifteenandengaged,AlinaisunconcernedbyreportsofNazisoldiersatthePolishborder,believingherneighborsthattheyposenorealthreat,anddreamsinsteadofthedayTomaszreturnsfromcollegeinWarsawsotheycanbemarried.Butlittlebylittle,injusticebybrutalinjustice,theNazioccupationtakeshold,andAlina’stinyruralvillage,itsfamilies,aredividedbyfearandhate.Then,asthefabricoftheirlivesisslowlypickedapart,Tomaszdisappears.WhereAlinausedtomeasuretimebetweenvisitsfromherbeloved,nowshemeasuresthespacesbetweenhopeanddespair,waitingforwordfromTomaszandavoidingtheattentionsofthesoldierswhopatrolherparents’farm.Butfornow,evendeafeningsilenceispreferabletogrief.
SlippingbetweenNazi-occupiedPolandandthefreneticpaceofmodernlife,KellyRimmercreatesanemotionalandfinelywroughtnarrativethatweavestogethertwowomen’sstoriesintoatapestryofperseverance,loyalty,loveandhonor.TheThingsWeCannotSayisanunshakablereminderofthedevastationwhentruthissilenced…andhowitcantakealifetimetofindourvoicebeforewelearntotrustit.
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. 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.
Slipping between Nazi-occupied Poland and the frenetic pace of modern life, Kelly Rimmer creates an emotional and finely wrought narrative that weaves together two women’s stories into a tapestry of perseverance, loyalty, love and honor. The Things We Cannot Say is an unshakable reminder of the devastation when truth is silenced…and how it can take a lifetime to find our voice before we learn to trust it.In1942,Europeremainsintherelentlessgripofwar.JustbeyondthetentsoftheRussianrefugeecampshecallshome,ayoungwomanspeaksherweddingvows.It’sadecisionthatwillalterherdestiny…andit’saliethatwillremainburieduntilthenextcentury.
Sinceshewasnineyearsold,AlinaDziakknewshewouldmarryherbestfriend,Tomasz.Nowfifteenandengaged,AlinaisunconcernedbyreportsofNazisoldiersatthePolishborder,believingherneighborsthattheyposenorealthreat,anddreamsinsteadofthedayTomaszreturnsfromcollegeinWarsawsotheycanbemarried.Butlittlebylittle,injusticebybrutalinjustice,theNazioccupationtakeshold,andAlina’stinyruralvillage,itsfamilies,aredividedbyfearandhate.Then,asthefabricoftheirlivesisslowlypickedapart,Tomaszdisappears.WhereAlinausedtomeasuretimebetweenvisitsfromherbeloved,nowshemeasuresthespacesbetweenhopeanddespair,waitingforwordfromTomaszandavoidingtheattentionsofthesoldierswhopatrolherparents’farm.Butfornow,evendeafeningsilenceispreferabletogrief.
SlippingbetweenNazi-occupiedPolandandthefreneticpaceofmodernlife,KellyRimmercreatesanemotionalandfinelywroughtnarrativethatweavestogethertwowomen’sstoriesintoatapestryofperseverance,loyalty,loveandhonor.TheThingsWeCannotSayisanunshakablereminderofthedevastationwhentruthissilenced…andhowitcantakealifetimetofindourvoicebeforewelearntotrustit.In1942,Europeremainsintherelentlessgripofwar.JustbeyondthetentsoftheRussianrefugeecampshecallshome,ayoungwomanspeaksherweddingvows.It’sadecisionthatwillalterherdestiny…andit’saliethatwillremainburieduntilthenextcentury.
Sinceshewasnineyearsold,AlinaDziakknewshewouldmarryherbestfriend,Tomasz.Nowfifteenandengaged,AlinaisunconcernedbyreportsofNazisoldiersatthePolishborder,believingherneighborsthattheyposenorealthreat,anddreamsinsteadofthedayTomaszreturnsfromcollegeinWarsawsotheycanbemarried.Butlittlebylittle,injusticebybrutalinjustice,theNazioccupationtakeshold,andAlina’stinyruralvillage,itsfamilies,aredividedbyfearandhate.Then,asthefabricoftheirlivesisslowlypickedapart,Tomaszdisappears.WhereAlinausedtomeasuretimebetweenvisitsfromherbeloved,nowshemeasuresthespacesbetweenhopeanddespair,waitingforwordfromTomaszandavoidingtheattentionsofthesoldierswhopatrolherparents’farm.Butfornow,evendeafeningsilenceispreferabletogrief.
SlippingbetweenNazi-occupiedPolandandthefreneticpaceofmodernlife,KellyRimmercreatesanemotionalandfinelywroughtnarrativethatweavestogethertwowomen’sstoriesintoatapestryofperseverance,loyalty,loveandhonor.TheThingsWeCannotSayisanunshakablereminderofthedevastationwhentruthissilenced…andhowitcantakealifetimetofindourvoicebeforewelearntotrustit.In1942,Europeremainsintherelentlessgripofwar.JustbeyondthetentsoftheRussianrefugeecampshecallshome,ayoungwomanspeaksherweddingvows.It’sadecisionthatwillalterherdestiny…andit’saliethatwillremainburieduntilthenextcentury.
Sinceshewasnineyearsold,AlinaDziakknewshewouldmarryherbestfriend,Tomasz.Nowfifteenandengaged,AlinaisunconcernedbyreportsofNazisoldiersatthePolishborder,believingherneighborsthattheyposenorealthreat,anddreamsinsteadofthedayTomaszreturnsfromcollegeinWarsawsotheycanbemarried.Butlittlebylittle,injusticebybrutalinjustice,theNazioccupationtakeshold,andAlina’stinyruralvillage,itsfamilies,aredividedbyfearandhate.Then,asthefabricoftheirlivesisslowlypickedapart,Tomaszdisappears.WhereAlinausedtomeasuretimebetweenvisitsfromherbeloved,nowshemeasuresthespacesbetweenhopeanddespair,waitingforwordfromTomaszandavoidingtheattentionsofthesoldierswhopatrolherparents’farm.Butfornow,evendeafeningsilenceispreferabletogrief.
SlippingbetweenNazi-occupiedPolandandthefreneticpaceofmodernlife,KellyRimmercreatesanemotionalandfinelywroughtnarrativethatweavestogethertwowomen’sstoriesintoatapestryofperseverance,loyalty,loveandhonor.TheThingsWeCannotSayisanunshakablereminderofthedevastationwhentruthissilenced…andhowitcantakealifetimetofindourvoicebeforewelearntotrustit.In1942,Europeremainsintherelentlessgripofwar.JustbeyondthetentsoftheRussianrefugeecampshecallshome,ayoungwomanspeaksherweddingvows.It’sadecisionthatwillalterherdestiny…andit’saliethatwillremainburieduntilthenextcentury.
Sinceshewasnineyearsold,AlinaDziakknewshewouldmarryherbestfriend,Tomasz.Nowfifteenandengaged,AlinaisunconcernedbyreportsofNazisoldiersatthePolishborder,believingherneighborsthattheyposenorealthreat,anddreamsinsteadofthedayTomaszreturnsfromcollegeinWarsawsotheycanbemarried.Butlittlebylittle,injusticebybrutalinjustice,theNazioccupationtakeshold,andAlina’stinyruralvillage,itsfamilies,aredividedbyfearandhate.Then,asthefabricoftheirlivesisslowlypickedapart,Tomaszdisappears.WhereAlinausedtomeasuretimebetweenvisitsfromherbeloved,nowshemeasuresthespacesbetweenhopeanddespair,waitingforwordfromTomaszandavoidingtheattentionsofthesoldierswhopatrolherparents’farm.Butfornow,evendeafeningsilenceispreferabletogrief.
SlippingbetweenNazi-occupiedPolandandthefreneticpaceofmodernlife,KellyRimmercreatesanemotionalandfinelywroughtnarrativethatweavestogethertwowomen’sstoriesintoatapestryofperseverance,loyalty,loveandhonor.TheThingsWeCannotSayisanunshakablereminderofthedevastationwhentruthissilenced…andhowitcantakealifetimetofindourvoicebeforewelearntotrustit.In1942,Europeremainsintherelentlessgripofwar.JustbeyondthetentsoftheRussianrefugeecampshecallshome,ayoungwomanspeaksherweddingvows.It’sadecisionthatwillalterherdestiny…andit’saliethatwillremainburieduntilthenextcentury.
Sinceshewasnineyearsold,AlinaDziakknewshewouldmarryherbestfriend,Tomasz.Nowfifteenandengaged,AlinaisunconcernedbyreportsofNazisoldiersatthePolishborder,believingherneighborsthattheyposenorealthreat,anddreamsinsteadofthedayTomaszreturnsfromcollegeinWarsawsotheycanbemarried.Butlittlebylittle,injusticebybrutalinjustice,theNazioccupationtakeshold,andAlina’stinyruralvillage,itsfamilies,aredividedbyfearandhate.Then,asthefabricoftheirlivesisslowlypickedapart,Tomaszdisappears.WhereAlinausedtomeasuretimebetweenvisitsfromherbeloved,nowshemeasuresthespacesbetweenhopeanddespair,waitingforwordfromTomaszandavoidingtheattentionsofthesoldierswhopatrolherparents’farm.Butfornow,evendeafeningsilenceispreferabletogrief.
SlippingbetweenNazi-occupiedPolandandthefreneticpaceofmodernlife,KellyRimmercreatesanemotionalandfinelywroughtnarrativethatweavestogethertwowomen’sstoriesintoatapestryofperseverance,loyalty,loveandhonor.TheThingsWeCannotSayisanunshakablereminderofthedevastationwhentruthissilenced…andhowitcantakealifetimetofindourvoicebeforewelearntotrustit.In1942,Europeremainsintherelentlessgripofwar.JustbeyondthetentsoftheRussianrefugeecampshecallshome,ayoungwomanspeaksherweddingvows.It’sadecisionthatwillalterherdestiny…andit’saliethatwillremainburieduntilthenextcentury.
Sinceshewasnineyearsold,AlinaDziakknewshewouldmarryherbestfriend,Tomasz.Nowfifteenandengaged,AlinaisunconcernedbyreportsofNazisoldiersatthePolishborder,believingherneighborsthattheyposenorealthreat,anddreamsinsteadofthedayTomaszreturnsfromcollegeinWarsawsotheycanbemarried.Butlittlebylittle,injusticebybrutalinjustice,theNazioccupationtakeshold,andAlina’stinyruralvillage,itsfamilies,aredividedbyfearandhate.Then,asthefabricoftheirlivesisslowlypickedapart,Tomaszdisappears.WhereAlinausedtomeasuretimebetweenvisitsfromherbeloved,nowshemeasuresthespacesbetweenhopeanddespair,waitingforwordfromTomaszandavoidingtheattentionsofthesoldierswhopatrolherparents’farm.Butfornow,evendeafeningsilenceispreferabletogrief.
SlippingbetweenNazi-occupiedPolandandthefreneticpaceofmodernlife,KellyRimmercreatesanemotionalandfinelywroughtnarrativethatweavestogethertwowomen’sstoriesintoatapestryofperseverance,loyalty,loveandhonor.TheThingsWeCannotSayisanunshakablereminderofthedevastationwhentruthissilenced…andhowitcantakealifetimetofindourvoicebeforewelearntotrustit.In1942,Europeremainsintherelentlessgripofwar.JustbeyondthetentsoftheRussianrefugeecampshecallshome,ayoungwomanspeaksherweddingvows.It’sadecisionthatwillalterherdestiny…andit’saliethatwillremainburieduntilthenextcentury.
Sinceshewasnineyearsold,AlinaDziakknewshewouldmarryherbestfriend,Tomasz.Nowfifteenandengaged,AlinaisunconcernedbyreportsofNazisoldiersatthePolishborder,believingherneighborsthattheyposenorealthreat,anddreamsinsteadofthedayTomaszreturnsfromcollegeinWarsawsotheycanbemarried.Butlittlebylittle,injusticebybrutalinjustice,theNazioccupationtakeshold,andAlina’stinyruralvillage,itsfamilies,aredividedbyfearandhate.Then,asthefabricoftheirlivesisslowlypickedapart,Tomaszdisappears.WhereAlinausedtomeasuretimebetweenvisitsfromherbeloved,nowshemeasuresthespacesbetweenhopeanddespair,waitingforwordfromTomaszandavoidingtheattentionsofthesoldierswhopatrolherparents’farm.Butfornow,evendeafeningsilenceispreferabletogrief.
SlippingbetweenNazi-occupiedPolandandthefreneticpaceofmodernlife,KellyRimmercreatesanemotionalandfinelywroughtnarrativethatweavestogethertwowomen’sstoriesintoatapestryofperseverance,loyalty,loveandhonor.TheThingsWeCannotSayisanunshakablereminderofthedevastationwhentruthissilenced…andhowitcantakealifetimetofindourvoicebeforewelearntotrustit.In1942,Europeremainsintherelentlessgripofwar.JustbeyondthetentsoftheRussianrefugeecampshecallshome,ayoungwomanspeaksherweddingvows.It’sadecisionthatwillalterherdestiny…andit’saliethatwillremainburieduntilthenextcentury.
Sinceshewasnineyearsold,AlinaDziakknewshewouldmarryherbestfriend,Tomasz.Nowfifteenandengaged,AlinaisunconcernedbyreportsofNazisoldiersatthePolishborder,believingherneighborsthattheyposenorealthreat,anddreamsinsteadofthedayTomaszreturnsfromcollegeinWarsawsotheycanbemarried.Butlittlebylittle,injusticebybrutalinjustice,theNazioccupationtakeshold,andAlina’stinyruralvillage,itsfamilies,aredividedbyfearandhate.Then,asthefabricoftheirlivesisslowlypickedapart,Tomaszdisappears.WhereAlinausedtomeasuretimebetweenvisitsfromherbeloved,nowshemeasuresthespacesbetweenhopeanddespair,waitingforwordfromTomaszandavoidingtheattentionsofthesoldierswhopatrolherparents’farm.Butfornow,evendeafeningsilenceispreferabletogrief.
SlippingbetweenNazi-occupiedPolandandthefreneticpaceofmodernlife,KellyRimmercreatesanemotionalandfinelywroughtnarrativethatweavestogethertwowomen’sstoriesintoatapestryofperseverance,loyalty,loveandhonor.TheThingsWeCannotSayisanunshakablereminderofthedevastationwhentruthissilenced…andhowitcantakealifetimetofindourvoicebeforewelearntotrustit.
Slipping between Nazi-occupied Poland and the frenetic pace of modern life, Kelly Rimmer creates an emotional and finely wrought narrative that weaves together two women’s stories into a tapestry of perseverance, loyalty, love and honor. The Things We Cannot Say is an unshakable reminder of the devastation when truth is silenced…and how it can take a lifetime to find our voice before we learn to trust it.
My Rating: 3 stars
My Review: This book hits many of the points that I like in a Historical Fiction novel - WWII era, dual time lines/POVs and a look into the lives of everyday citizens during the war. But even with all these boxes checked, my feelings for this WWII Historical Fiction read are mixed.
I was intrigued by the premise, but I think this book is trying to be too much. There is a romance, a mystery, a family in crisis and two POVs with Alina's being more interesting by far. In comparison, I found Alice to be frustratingly entitled (like her mother) and I didn't enjoy how she repeatedly overreacts to her home life which includes parenting a son who is on the autistic spectrum and a gifted daughter.
There is a good mystery surrounding the identity of a family member which was the highlight of the book for me. Unfortunately, overall, the book has a drawn out feeling and that wasn't helped by the repetitive dialogue - a character would experience something and then later regale the experience to another character making the reader experience it again.
I think many people will enjoy this book and while I enjoyed getting a view into life for Polish citizens during the war, I found the book to be predictable and too long winded. There are some a couple tense scenes but overall, this is more of a romance with a hint of familial mystery with WWII atrocities and tension feeling too subdued for this reader.
Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to Graydon House for providing me with a complimentary digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
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