Printable Book Club Questions for The Things We Never Say by Elizabeth Strout

We meet Artie at a very low point. Outward, he seems happy, but inward, he is struggling and suicidal. Why was Artie unable to tell anyone he was struggling and lonely?
What was the defining point that encouraged Artie to keep living?
Why was Artie so consumed with the idea and definition of free will? Do you believe in free will?
What did you make of his relationship with his wife, Evie? Why is she always so irritated at Artie?
Their son, Rob, survived a car accident that killed his high school girlfriend. As a result, Rob is closed off and distant. Let’s talk about how things could have been different if Artie and Rob had just talked.
A lot of the novel is dedicated to the idea that people can’t express how they really feel. Why do you believe it’s difficult to do so for many?
Rob reveals to Artie that he’s not his biological father. It turns out that Evie had an affair with the grumpy Reginald, who then wrote a letter to Rob revealing the truth before he died. What did you think about this reveal?
Throughout the whole novel, it seems Artie might tell Evie that he knows the truth. But he never does. Why didn’t he confront her about it? How do you think she would have reacted? Would they have survived that, or would Artie have left her?
Artie is a beloved high school teacher, and we see examples of how his teaching and guidance impact several of his students for life. Why couldn’t Artie see the impact he had?
The novel covers the 2024 election, which is a distressing event for Artie. Why do you feel the author included this?
Before the novel is done, we learn that Artie dies of a heart attack. Let’s talk about how we felt when we read that was Artie’s fate. Why didn’t the author wait until the end to reveal he had died?
After he dies, Evie goes through Artie’s belongings and finds the note from Reginald. What will Rob and Evie’s relationship be like going forward now?
While this is a tragic book, it does highlight the disconnect many people feel between disagreements with politics and everyone’s obsession with technology. Do you feel there is a lesson in the novel?