2024 the best time we ever had review

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(as of Nov 18, 2024 06:05:08 UTC - Details)

Now a New York Times best seller!

From the author of Truths I Never Told You, Before I Let You Go, and the upcoming The Warsaw Orphan, Kelly Rimmer’s powerful WWII novel follows a woman’s urgent search for answers to a family mystery that uncovers truths about herself that she never expected.

"Kelly Rimmer has outdone herself. I thought that Before I Let You Go was one of the best novels I had ever read.... If you only have time to read one book this year The Things We Cannot Say should be that book. Keep tissues handy." (Fresh Fiction)

"Fans of The Nightingale and Lilac Girls will adore The Things We Cannot Say." (Pam Jenoff, New York Times best-selling author)

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.

Since she was nine years old, Alina Dziak knew she would marry her best friend, Tomasz. Now 15 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. 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.

Don't miss Kelly Rimmer's new and unforgettable novel, The Warsaw Orphan.

Reviewer: Amazon Customer
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Stunning!
Review: This probably the best historical story I've ever read! Absolutely terrific, extremely well written, characters incredibly developed, just an amazing story!! I plan to keep this and read it again. So full of history from this era, had me on the edge of my seat, hating to put it down! Fear for the characters, and tears together. Absolutely wonderful, highly recommend to anyone!! Bravo Kelly Rimmer!!

Reviewer: Roger.
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: simply astounding.
Review: I wouldn’t know where to begin. This is a multi faceted, very touching novel. Parts infuriated me. Parts brought tears to my eyes. Relatively easy to follow and woven together brilliantly. It’s a “smaller” world nowadays. What probably seemed worlds away in the early 40s is now so relatively easily accessible. And we come to learn that we are in so many ways alike, regardless the continent. Well, aside from the barbaric, incomprehensible brutes that brought about such horror during this period. I find delight when I read of any of them getting some of what they dished out. At any rate, this book is excellent

Reviewer: andrea
Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Family making a life thru the war
Review: The story begins in 1942, Alina Driak, loves her best friend Thomasz, and they plan to marry.. However, war comes in between that happening so fast. He leaves with the intent of going to college in Warsaw. BUT national soldiers take over and bring, fear, hate, and despair. Alina lives on a farm and the soldiers come by to monitor what is going on.There is a second story line of the present running along the war story. The lead is Alice, a stay at home mom. She has two children, a gifted girl, and a difficult autism son, Eddie. The dad, Wade, tends to favor the girl. An entire section goes on about their relationship. I think in my opinion it was distracting and not necessary.Alice's Grandma, Babcia, had a massive stroke and can not communicate except on a device. She continually, shows Alice, Babcia fire Tomasz. She wants Alice to go to Poland and find him. She does and it is an interesting part of the story.Alina, the war part of the story is somewhat sheltered because of her parents. She notices smoke in the distance and no one tells her about the holocaust and the news. She becomes aware of the persecution of the jews.The story has heartbreaking parts, uplifting parts, horrifying and cruel parts. The only part I had to stop was to keep track of the ton of characters and who relates to who. But, if you love reading war stories, while not as factually written as other books. It has what it was like for the families and people to try and live thru the war in Poland. As well as the ones who don't make it. I recommend reading the book!

Reviewer: Rosie
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Totally captivated
Review: I cried, laughed and loved the characters so much. The love that with stood a lifetime, tragedies and devastation. This was very well written and a must read. Thank you for sharing part of history that has been overlooked or played down. No one can know how devastating circumstances can be more than those who have lived and survived it.

Reviewer: Jorge Artola
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: A Captivating Journey Through Unforgettable Stories
Review: The author's storytelling prowess shines through in every chapter, painting vivid pictures and evoking a wide range of emotions. From moments of heart-wrenching sadness to exhilarating triumphs, the reader becomes fully immersed in the lives of the characters. The depth of emotion conveyed in the narration is truly remarkable, leaving a lasting impact on the reader's heart and mind.What sets this book apart is its ability to leave no story untold. The author skillfully weaves together multiple narratives, ensuring that each character's journey is given the attention it deserves. The seamless transitions between different storylines create a sense of cohesion and keeps the reader engaged and invested throughout.

Reviewer: Katy
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: absolutely amazing!
Review: Couldn’t put it down! Finished in about 3 days. The twists in the plot were so unexpected and made the story feel so real.

Reviewer: Tiffany Kopp
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Highly recommend!!
Review: Such a great book and well written! Worth the read!

Reviewer: Dadannac
Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Title: A Book of Two Tales
Review: I enjoyed this book—particularly the WWII story. I figured out the story twist early but that did not diminish the pleasure of seeing it unfold and experiencing occupied Poland. The book switched back and forth between WWII and a current day family drama involving descendants of the WWII characters. I found the present day story and characters less compelling and fulfilling. At times those portions of the book seemed to border on a Young Adult novel or a Hallmark movie script. Did not feel authentic to me. I found myself constantly yearning to jump back to the WWII scenes.

Reviewer: User
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: What an absolutely amazing story! It's truly fascinating how certain decisions can have such a profound impact on an entire generation. And the incredible power of telling a story ! This book shed so much light on the resistance in Poland during World War II, especially how it looks like to live in the area just a stone's throw away from Auschwitz birkenau.What really struck me about this book was its powerful message of redemption and doing the right thing, even in the face of unimaginable cruelty and injustice. It's a timely reminder of how important it is to hold onto our humanity, no matter how bleak things may seem. And It also taught me not to judge what we see at first glance. Even when we think it’s obviousI absolutely adored the story and the characters. And i loved how the author seamlessly weaved together two timelines , I was completely captivated from start to finish.

Reviewer: Donna75
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: This story is truly beautiful but also difficult to read at times. I felt I knew the characters so well, and was there with them and their hardships during the war. The events of World War 2 continue to be so shocking, and reading them through a fiction story where you know and care for the characters is hard to believe this actually happened, but really important to remember it did.The last few chapters were very emotional, I loved the way the story came together and the family trip to Poland to lay them to rest. Beautifully written.

Reviewer: Aayushi Agarwal
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: Reminded of The Nightingale. Something that hits you to the very core of your heart. Very close to heart and couldn't imagine anything less than reading this book multiple times. Thankyou for sharing this story with us!!

Reviewer: Angie67
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: After reading this book, one cannot help but compare the terrible invasion of Poland in 1939 with the senseless invasion taking place in Ukraine today. Perhaps that is why Poland is so ready to assist the refugees pouring into its country today, because the memory of what happened so long ago is still in everyone's mind.Why don't we learn from our past mistakes?Alina and Tomasz are childhood sweethearts. The night before he leaves for university in Warsaw, he proposes to her. But when her village of Trzebinia falls into Nazi hands, Alina doesn't know whether Tomasz is dead or alive.The story is told in two timelines, both equally compelling. It is 2019 when Alice's Polish grandmother suffers a stroke and has little time to live. Unable to speak, she desperately conveys the urge to seek out Tomasz in Poland. But Tomasz was Alice's grandfather, who died last year. Is Grandma suffering from a memory lapse or is she hiding a bigger secret?I absolutely loved this book. The characters were multi-layered and so imperfect that they seemed real. We follow Alice, who struggles with a young son with Asperger's Syndrome, a prodigy daughter and a work-addicted husband as she travels to Poland and begins to uncover a heartbreaking story that will touch her family in more ways than one. I braced myself for the ugly cry I knew was coming and I wasn't wrong. It made me feel so many emotions. 😢The writing style was exquisite and I loved how each chapter slowly brought us closer to the truth as I hoped Grandma 𝐵𝑎𝑏𝑐𝑖𝑎 would hang on until Alice could give her the answer she had been waiting for.This is a poignant story of loss, sacrifice, unconditional love and family bonds. Can't recommend it enough.

Reviewer: Barbara Garzon
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: This was a wonderful book. I didn't want it to end. I am looking forward to reading more of Kelly Summer's books.