The Things We Never Say

by Elizabeth Strout

In this profound, resplendent novel, Pulitzer‑Prize‑winning author Elizabeth Strout follows Artie Dam, a 57‑year‑old high‑school history teacher in coastal Massachusetts. Beloved by his students and friends, Artie appears to have a stable life—married to therapist Evie, a weekend sailing routine, a spacious home—but he is haunted by a deep, indissoluble loneliness that pushes him toward thoughts of ending his life. A chance incident forces Artie to confront his past, his strained marriage, his distant son, and the political turmoil of a post‑pandemic America where a newly elected president polarises the nation. Through Strout’s characteristic empathy and precise observation, the novel explores solitude, middle‑age angst, class differences, and the fragile connections that define ordinary lives.