Linda’s review of The Things We Never Say > Likes and Comments

What a wonderful experience it must have been to be present in that book talk and have the chance to talk to her in person, Linda!
Your impression of her agrees with her writing style and I really like what she said about deciding that it was best to write not like a writer but like herself.
You make a very good case for this newest book of hers.

How cool you got to hear her speak, Linda--and more than once! I liked her Amy and Isabelle, and this book you reviewed sounds real, so maybe I'll add it.

"At the book talk, Elizabeth Strout said she learned to be a writer when she stopped trying to write like a writer and began writing like herself."

Refreshing to hear. Lots of writers could use that lesson.

I like your review and I used to live in Bville perhaps near where Strout spoke. It’s great when we admire an author through their words but then also enjoy them in person.

Oh, Linda! What an amazing experience for you to hear Strout speak in person and to actually ask her a question!!! I've never had that experience with any of my favorite authors and Strout is definitely among my favorites. (I would have been too twitterpated to ask a question, I'm sure. 😆) I love your review so much! The passages you shared still have sticky notes on them in my own copy. Fabulous review!

Violeta wrote: "What a wonderful experience it must have been to be present in that book talk and have the chance to talk to her in person, Linda!
Your impression of her agrees with her writing style and I really ..."

Thanks, Violeta. It was great to meet her in such an intimate setting.
She wwas smart, funny and at times self-depreacting, but in an insightful way.I was struck bywhat she said aboutfinding her voice.
I think you would really like the book.

Caroline wrote: "How cool you got to hear her speak, Linda--and more than once! I liked her Amy and Isabelle, and this book you reviewed sounds real, so maybe I'll add it.

"At the book talk, Elizabeth Strout said..."

Thanks, Caroline. Realis a good word to describe both Strout and this novel.

Seawitch wrote: "I like your review and I used to live in Bville perhaps near where Strout spoke. It’s great when we admire an author through their words but then also enjoy them in person."

Thanks.It was great fun to meet her.

K wrote: "Oh, Linda! What an amazing experience for you to hear Strout speak in person and to actually ask her a question!!! I've never had that experience with any of my favorite authors and Strout is defin..."

K Thanks so much for your kind words. Striut is uch a humane writer.

Great review, Linda, and thanks for sharing her reply to your question. I'm a huge fan of her Olive Kitteridge and now look forward to meet Artie Dam.

Great review Linda. I like your anecdotal notes very much.

Vesna wrote: "Great review, Linda, and thanks for sharing her reply to your question. I'm a huge fan of her Olive Kitteridge and now look forward to meet Artie Dam."

Thanks, Vesna. I look forward to your thoughts.

Dmitri wrote: "Great review Linda. I like your anecdotal notes very much."

Thanks, Dmitri

How lucky you were to hear her speak and get to ask a question about her writing!

It was great to hear about the Elizabeth Strout event you attended, Linda.
The quote you opened with is very interesting. It's something that should be obvious to us all but at the same time it is something we easily ignore or forget. And from the couple of her books I've read, including Olive Kitteridge, picking up on that sort of detail is what Strout seems very good at.

Great review, Linda! I've been curious about this one, glad you enjoyed it so much!

"his inability to talk about what mattered most to him"

Communication is a theme in all of Strout's work. In general (I know this is not true in all cases), I see men having more difficulty here due to the way they are socialized. They are taught to deal with things through playing or watching sports together or more and more on-line gaming. It was like pulling teeth to get my beloved to dig in and share deeply during the first few years of our marriage, and eventually he was able to do so.

That said, Evie has a point that these "real" conversations are not going to happen at a party. Space and opportunity need to be created for them to flourish.

Okay off my soapbox now.

I am green that you have had the privilege of hearing Strout speak, not once, but twice! 😀

Loved your review, Linda. It was wonderful to read about your experience meeting Elizabeth Strout. I’ve read some of her books and will be adding this one to my TBR. Thank you for sharing. 🌺

Aneets wrote: "How lucky you were to hear her speak and get to ask a question about her writing!"

It was great to seher in such an informal environment.

Fionnuala wrote: "It was great to hear about the Elizabeth Strout event you attended, Linda.
The quote you opened with is very interesting. It's something that should be obvious to us all but at the same time it is..."

You are so right about that.

Yun wrote: "Great review, Linda! I've been curious about this one, glad you enjoyed it so much!"

Thanks, Yun. I think you would like this.

Lisa wrote: ""his inability to talk about what mattered most to him"

Communication is a theme in all of Strout's work. In general (I know this is not true in all cases), I see men having more difficulty here d..."
I agree with you. Your point about male socialization is well taken. It was interesting, during the Q&A someone asked her which one of her characters would she most like to hang out with. Without hesitation she said Bob Burgess. He was the most open of all of her male characters.

Celeste wrote: "Loved your review, Linda. It was wonderful to read about your experience meeting Elizabeth Strout. I’ve read some of her books and will be adding this one to my TBR. Thank you for sharing. 🌺"

Thanks, Celeste. I'd be interested in hearing your thoughts on this.

I feel lucky to have come across this truly magnificent review. The quote you chose to open it with is absolutely perfect. Thank you so much, Linda.

Maria wrote: "I feel lucky to have come across this truly magnificent review. The quote you chose to open it with is absolutely perfect. Thank you so much, Linda."

Thanks dor your kind words, Maria.

How wonderful to hear Elizabeth Strout speak, Linda.

Your tagline quote resonates with me. It seems impossible to guess how others view us. We think we know and live accordingly, but like Artie Dam, so many of us have trouble speaking about what is most important to us, thus preventing others from a peek into our souls.

Your review was a joy to read :-)

Libby wrote: "How wonderful to hear Elizabeth Strout speak, Linda.

Your tagline quote resonates with me. It seems impossible to guess how others view us. We think we know and live accordingly, but like Artie D..."

Thanks for your perceptive comments,Libby.

That first quote in your review is so true.

Back in the 1980s I once left a job (for a better one) and subsequently, a former colleague told me that my ex-boss had confided he was glad I had left as he had found me intimidating. I was greatly surprised as, in my own mind, I am not at all an intimidating person.

Thinking on it I realised what the problem had been. I had been in that job longer than my boss and knew more about the place than he did. It was a useful pointer to "see myself through the eyes of others," and led me to try and adapt my behaviour.

It just goes to show how blind we can be about ourselves!

Ian wrote: "That first quote in your review is so true.

Back in the 1980s I once left a job (for a better one) and subsequently, a former colleague told me that my ex-boss had confided he was glad I had left..."

Its intersting you should say this. My son had a similar experience at his last job. He had also been there longer and knew the work better.

Lucky lucky you, Linda! I'd love to see/hear her in person some day.

Teres wrote: "Lucky lucky you, Linda! I'd love to see/hear her in person some day."

I really enjoyed hearing her speak. I have read and loved many of her books.

I love the opening quote you selected. I am SO happy you were able to attend her author event. Thank you for sharing your experience from the event. A truly heartfelt and wonderful review, Linda.

Fascinating review, Linda, and lucky you to have had the opportunity to meet and ask a thought-provoking question of this author! To date, I've only read one of her books, which I really connected to, so I most certainly read more by her.

Wonderful that you got to hear her speak at the event and wonderful review Linda!

Thoroughly engaging review, Linda. Looking forward to reading this one soon.

Jonas wrote: "I love the opening quote you selected. I am SO happy you were able to attend her author event. Thank you for sharing your experience from the event. A truly heartfelt and wonderful review, Linda."

Thanks so much for your kind words, Jonas.

Debbie wrote: "Fascinating review, Linda, and lucky you to have had the opportunity to meet and ask a thought-provoking question of this author! To date, I've only read one of her books, which I really connected ..."

Thanks, Debbie. You should try Olive Kitteredge or Olive ,Again. I think you would enjoy the acerbic humor.

Karen wrote: "Wonderful that you got to hear her speak at the event and wonderful review Linda!"

Thanks, Karen.

Watchdogg wrote: "Thoroughly engaging review, Linda. Looking forward to reading this one soon."
Thanks, Watch dog. I look fforward to your thoughts on this one.

Linda wrote: "Debbie wrote: "Fascinating review, Linda, and lucky you to have had the opportunity to meet and ask a thought-provoking question of this author! To date, I've only read one of her books, which I re..."

I read and enjoyed Olive Kitteridge!