Review: The Things We Never Say by Elizabeth Strout
The Things We Never Say by Elizabeth Strout is probably the most melancholy book I’ve read in years. If the book were a color theme, it would be all grey.
Literary fiction is known for its introspective character study. The novels are quiet and reflective. Book clubs are often drawn to the genre as there is much to discuss and analyze. You often see characters make a wrong choice and have to feel the impacts.
I’m a huge fan of the genre, and I think it’s well-suited for book clubs. But sometimes it can be too much in the wallowing and regret arena. That is the case with The Things We Never Say.
This is my first Elizabeth Strout novel, and I have a feeling I didn’t select her finest work. The main character never really lifts out of his dreadful fog.
What’s the Story About
Artie Dam, on the surface, seems like a guy with a nice life. He’s a beloved high school teacher. He’s married to the same woman for over 30 years, and they have an adult son with his own successful career.
But Artie is hiding the fact that he is depressed and lonely.
And then Artie finds out a secret that will change everything he thought he knew.
Heather’s Book Club
Artie’s Journey
The story is laser-focused on Artie and where he’s at in life. It starts off with him wanting to end his life, but he is eventually able to move past that.
But when he finds out that his wife has withheld a crushing secret, it brings things even more to a halt. What is Artie to do now? Does he reveal what he knows? And if so, when is the right time? Is there ever a right time?
Beyond this, we follow his work as a high school teacher and see the real impact he does have on those students, which helps change their lives for good. But Artie doesn’t realize the difference he does make, and that’s certainly a tragedy in itself.
I wanted Artie to have more agency in his own life, but I know that was also the point. We can see the path for Artie, but he can’t.
For instance, at the dinner parties he goes to, he feels everything is so superficial, and no one says how they truly feel or what they are struggling with. But it’s also hard for people to discuss real problems at that kind of event. So what does he really expect can happen?
There is an interesting element where outward Artie seems happy and enjoying life, but internally he is in pain and quite lonely, despite being in a room full of people.
But somehow that notion didn’t quite land like I wanted it to, and it didn’t feel as believable as it should have that Artie was truly hiding his loneliness. Not every book needs to be a 600-page one, but I think this could have used more length to really showcase this.
Politics
The other half of this narrative is dedicated to the 2024 presidential election. Sometimes it can work well to incorporate real-life politics in fiction. For instance, I think Jodi Picoult does a great job of doing so.
But it can be tricky. Especially as we are viewing it in the 2026 lens now. There was so much reference to real-world events, which does contribute to Artie’s despair.
I didn’t feel it was authentic to connect the two since Artie had enough bad things going on in his personal life. To also add his despair about the state of the world with his already fragile state of mind was a lot.
Tragedies
This book is tragedy porn. I think every character is miserable. Yes, there is an intriguing secret, and it could have been more engaging, but that even loses some steam. It could have been so much bigger.
No one is safe from the most traumatizing tragedy that one can endure. I’m starting to wonder if someone put a curse on Artie and that town.
This book is the equivalent of experiencing a sinus headache when you’re driving through a fog.
I can handle books that cover tragedies, tough topics, regretful decisions, etc. In fact, I read those kinds of books often. And I’m always open to reading a main character who is a different age group from me. None of that is the problem for me.
The issue is that there’s no light, no lessons, even no self-reflection, really. Just a buzz of disappointment that continues to grow with every page. Yikes.
Verdict
The title is accurate, and Artie never says what he needs to. I’m not sure if anyone does.
This was not the book for me. And I know I’m in the minority, as I see glowing five-star reviews everywhere. I would love to hear your thoughts.
That said, there is plenty to discuss for book clubs. If your book club reads a lot of literary fiction, this is a shorter option, so you could consider it. I didn’t like it, but a lot of people will.
But of all the literary stories I read this year, this one is my least favorite.
