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The Things We Cannot Say
The Things We Cannot Say | Kelly Rimmer
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 fifteen 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 that weaves together two women's stories into a tapestry of perseverance, loyalty, love and honor. 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.
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monkeygirlsmama
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Pickpick

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Don't walk- run to your nearest bookstore or library, and get your hands on a copy of this book! While you're at it, grab some wine and tissues cause you're gonna need them. Because, wow! Just wow. Such a wonderful, incredible, amazing story this was.

Plus, fantastic narration on this #audiobook. 💗👍

Suzze Ooh, I have that. Moving it up on the pile! 7mo
monkeygirlsmama @Suzze Girl, I happened on this one by chance on Libby, and I am so freaking happy I did! I don't typically do historical fiction, but always have a soft spot for those centered around the holocaust. No idea why, but damn. This was so good. Hope you enjoy it! 7mo
AmyG I have this audiobook on reserve. Good to know how wonderful it is! 7mo
26 likes3 comments
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BkClubCare
Things We Cannot Say | Kelly Rimmer
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“… managed to escape… [ ], lived with a group of rebels loosely affiliated with the Home Army in the forests of Warsaw.”

I practically DNF‘d this WW2 novel that I didn‘t finish by book club discussion so now I know most of the pieces. But HOW ODD in coinky-dink land that my next random book, *Dear Fang, With Love*, references a grandma from Poland!

Always makes me go 🤔

Ruthiella Book serendipity! 8mo
BkClubCare @Ruthiella - Have you read Dear Fang? Rufi T is now on my “read-everything” list. (edited) 8mo
26 likes1 stack add2 comments
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Karisimo
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#Bookspin is an #auldlangspine rec from @MeganAnn so I'm excited to read it! #Doublespin is a re-read for the book club I lead at my library. I hardly ever re-read, but I remember enjoying this one, so I don't mind too much!

Thanks @TheAromaofBooks ! I always look forward to the 2nd of the month!

TheAromaofBooks Yay!! Enjoy!! 10mo
MeganAnn Yay!! 🎉 10mo
26 likes2 comments
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britt_brooke
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Mehso-so

⭐️⭐️ The WWII historical fiction market is so oversaturated, I usually steer clear. #bookclub Turns out this is really more present-day family drama and historical romance. Alternating timelines/POV clumsily tie together the lives of Alina and Alice. I had trouble with how an AAC was used as a plot device. It felt exploitative. And the story truly couldn‘t happen without it. Just too forced and convenient.

56 likes1 stack add
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Victoriahoperose
Things We Cannot Say | Kelly Rimmer
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Pickpick

One of my absolute favorite books that I have read this year. I didn‘t want to put it down. It was so well written and such a unique story about the Holocaust, written from a very different perspective. I loved the story and the characters and would highly recommend this book.

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JohnLAndBenji
Bailedbailed

This book seems to be well written, but my friends said it is one sad part after another, so I am abandoning it.

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thecaffinatedreader
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Reading the news this morning has put my soul in a funk. Then I read this paragraph and it seemed so fitting for the current trajectory of our country.

If we don‘t learn from the past, we‘re doomed to repeat it.

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thecaffinatedreader
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Weekend lake reading #thingswecannotsay

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carlthecattt
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Pickpick

Present and past, we go on an amazing journey with many characters. Through America to Poland we travel the world.
Eddie and Babica were my two favorites, both so strong and brave. Their bond is undeniable, and they offer so many lessons.
This is not a book I would typically pick up and am so glad I did.
If you are looking for a tear jerker and amazing story you should read this.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

emilymorrs I loved this book! I just finished and agree about the tearjerker! 10/10! 3y
12 likes1 comment
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BarkingMadRead
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Current stack for #nutsinmay #readathon with @Andrew65 I have about 5.5 hours of my 15 hour goal done already!! #whatthedickens #pemberlittens

Andrew65 Fantastic 👏👏👏 4y
45 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Djspens
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Pickpick

I really enjoyed this story about Alina‘s story of living and loving in Nazi occupied Poland. A story of family, love, grief and determination.

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Hestapleton
Pickpick

I was surprised by how much I ended up enjoying this. The Alina narrative was by far my favorite and the strongest. The Alice POV felt slightly unnecessary and some of the autism representation made me feel a little uncomfortable. While there is a wide spectrum, autism is not something that needs to be fixed. And after living with someone with a debilitating disability, perhaps I‘m a bit sensitive to disability caregiver narratives 😂 #netgalley

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Jebpix
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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AlisBookNookCorner
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Throwing in the towel at 100 pages in. I LOVE historical fiction, but this is anything but. It has come off more as a Chic Lit Love Story, that just so happens to be set during World War II. I'm pretty disappointed honestly. This came so highly recommended and has gotten such high reviews on Goodreads, I'm just not seeing or understanding the hype on this one. Maybe something to revisit at a different time, but for now a pass.

Blerdgal_Fenix Another goodreads book bites the dust. I had 2 books like that. I was so pissed. 4y
AlisBookNookCorner It really is the absolute worst! It has been happening more often than not to me lately. Then the ones with lower reviews end up being rather good. 4y
20 likes2 comments
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AlisBookNookCorner
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I had a hard time choosing what to read after, The Midnight Library, after a bunch of pickups and put-downs, I decided to go with another long-standing TBR pick. I am a rather large fan of historical fiction, and this came highly recommended to me. Happy I am finally getting around to reading this one, it has been on my shelf for too long now.

28 likes1 stack add
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suvata
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Mehso-so

• Continuing my TBR project:
This is one of the highest rated book on my TBR list - Originally added July 2, 2020.

This was a well-written book and was an interesting story. Unfortunately, I am rather burned out with the WWII genre. I really should take a long break before I try to read another one from that era.

Crazeedi It is a time period one can burn out on for sure. I've taken a break from it too. Though there are many excellent books waiting for me to read 4y
suvata @Crazeedi 👍🏻 4y
57 likes2 comments
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Djspens
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I joined a secret Santa group on Facebook. Was super excited when my gift showed up! Love adding to my grandkids‘ “library”

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LatrelWhite
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🎧 Great story so far!

13 likes2 stack adds
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GinaKButler
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Ending October with 3 bingos! What a great reading month, @TheAromaofBooks ! #bookspin #doublespin #bookspinbingo

TheAromaofBooks Yay!! Fabulous month!!! 4y
8 likes1 comment
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GinaKButler
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Up next on audio 🎧
#bookspinbingo

10 likes2 stack adds
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a.bookish.byrd
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Pickpick

❤️

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FelinesAndFelonies
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A few of my favorite things... 🤗

michellelav 😻😻❤❤❤ 4y
perfectsinner That was just ok for me. Cute fur babe 4y
6 likes2 comments
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Butterfinger
Things We Cannot Say | Kelly Rimmer
Mehso-so

It was okay. There are things I would change for ME to like it more - I didn't enjoy the dual timelines. I think focusing on Alice's adventures to discover her grandmother's secrets would have been fascinating. I think using real historical people/heroes would have made this book epic.

You don't have to make up a person when there is a plethora of real-life people to move the story.

26 likes2 comments
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Jolynne
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Pickpick

Incredible story mostly based in Nazi occupied Poland. I didn‘t realize it was going to also be a love story going in but wow, what a story.

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Reecaspieces
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Just got my walk in. I am listening to the tagged book. It is super good! #24in48 #24in48readathon

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1jules
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Pickpick

📚🤓 great read!

Check out this book on Goodreads: The Things We Cannot Say http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40899464-the-things-we-cannot-say

14 likes1 stack add
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janeycanuck
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It‘s been a long time since a book sparked this much discussion - and we‘ve had a string of misses with our books so it was such a delightful evening the other night at #GirlyBookClub!

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MrsBibliophile
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Pickpick

This book was our February Book Club pick and I wasn't disappointed. Much like The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah, this story follows a non-Jewish family during WWII and documents the horrors they endured. And jumps back and forth between modern times and the 1940's. It's also, beautiful love story and a testament of the human heart.

I would recommend this book to anyone who loved The Nightingale

📚📖Happy Reading!📖📚

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AmyK1
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Pickpick

This book about family, love, loyalty and survival had me crying like a baby at the end.

The timeline set in Poland during the war was beautiful while the one in the present sometimes hit close to home-Alice is also the mother of a child with autism and while our situations are different I could completely relate to some of her thoughts and feelings.

Letter R for #LitsyAtoZ

thecaffinatedreader I see your Bing album 🥰 2y
30 likes1 stack add1 comment
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AmyK1
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1. Tagged. Just started it last night.
2. The Kitchen House
3. When you order a new book online and the cover and/or pages are bent/folded.

@rachelsbrittain #weekendreads

rachelsbrittain Oh yes I hate that too! I know my books are going to get worn and look loved eventually but I want it to be *my fault* 😂😂 5y
AmyK1 Yes, exactly! @rachelsbrittain 😂 5y
24 likes2 comments
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Kempfme
Pickpick

I read this for #girlybookclub. This is a tale of loss and found and change. Like all WWII books there was ugly crying, but this is for a heartwarming end. This is my first read of Rimmer. Looking forward to more.

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MelKelsey
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Pickpick

Book 13: A beautiful, emotional book! Though the climax is apparent to the reader before it is to the characters, it does not hinder the satisfaction that comes from reading it. Rimmer's strength is definitely her emotional intellect, and it will come as no surprise that much of what she writes is from her experience; she writes mothering with fitting complexity.I plan to check out all of her books and cannot wait to be lost again in her stories.

16 likes1 stack add
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Karla2
Pickpick

Book #8 2020, Great story, totally addicting you wont be able to stop reading.

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TerriGreen
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Pickpick

Even though I am starting to get tired of the granddaughter uncovers the grandparents WWII story trope, I really loved this book. The modern day story line was just as strong as the historical one. 4⭐️ #2020book3

Tracyantoon Yay for great historical fiction! Guess I need to add that one to my TBR now. 5y
10 likes1 comment
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Nitpickyabouttrains
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Pickpick

Two timelines as one woman deals with having a nonverbal son and a sick grandmother and that grandmothers story in wwii.

20 likes2 stack adds
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janeycanuck
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Pickpick

This was my mom‘s pick for our #mummydaughterbookclub and I won‘t lie, I wasn‘t looking forward to it. I‘m a bit maxed out on historical fiction taking place in the world wars, particularly since many of them seem to romanticize what it was like. But, this one didn‘t seem to do that the same way some others had. Overall, a good pick if that sort of book is up your alley but not a must-read if it‘s not.

34 likes1 stack add
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GypsyKat
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Today‘s #AudibleDailyDeal looks good!

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perfectsinner
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Mehso-so

2.5 stars
I bought this on a whim when I was really into historical fiction... I then read a bunch back to back, and as a result, got a bit burned out and this has been sitting on my book shelf for six months. I finally got around to reading it tonight. I wish I had read it sooner, if only to get it out of the way. It was just alright/okay for me. I'll be donating my copy to my little free library, as I won't be re-reading.

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perfectsinner
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Mehso-so

It was okay. Different settings, going back & forth, secret family histories being discovered decades later, an autistic son... It's not the best read, or the worst. I only finally picked it up because it's literally been sitting on my bookshelf for at least 6+ months. I'll probably donate it to my little free library

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perfectsinner
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Onto Chapter 17. Page 193/426, close to 50% mark

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perfectsinner
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It's the weekend, finally. Getting back into this.
Page 120/416

1 like1 stack add
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Sheridanb

“It‘s only when I look back now with the wisdom of age that I can see that warning signs were scattered throughout our simple life even then.”

3 likes1 stack add
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PrezBookster
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Reading the afternoon away.. time well spent with this unique book!

46 likes1 stack add
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CallieBrowning
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Had to pick this up at the bookstore because I just love historical fiction. What‘s your favourite historical fiction book?

rather_be_reading great pic! 5y
4 likes1 comment
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jamerlynn
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Couldn't put this down. An intricate story about love, family and the resilience of people to hope, love and triumph in the most difficult of times. I can't imagine the horrors that people went through during that time. :/

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KaylaD
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Pickpick

Wasn‘t sure if I was going to be able to get into this book because it‘s not what I normally choose! But it was so so good!! I could never imagine life back then! How scary it must have been!!! 💔💔💔

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booksaremyfavorite
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Pickpick

Amazing book! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 for me. Grab some tissues as you read this story about a love so strong it will bring tears to your eyes.

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peaKnit
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Take the long way home...

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baes
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Pickpick

First day of my summer break and I spent it finally reading this gem. ❤️ I couldn‘t put it down. I have read a couple of her books (Me Without You is one of my favorite books), and have yet to be disappointed. This is a new genre for her and I am pleased. I loved how these two stories intertwined. #BookFitnessChallenge #BookOne • 26 Points to start. @wanderinglynn

wanderinglynn 🙌🏻 6y
SW-T 😊😊😊 6y
Kaye 💚 6y
See All 7 Comments
alisiakae What a great way to spend your first day of break! 😄 6y
Clwojick ♥️💜💚 6y
kspenmoll Wonderful way to start a break! 6y
Caterina Sounds like the perfect start to break! ❤ Good job finishing a book on your first day! 6y
82 likes5 stack adds7 comments
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RosieBoo65
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Pickpick

There are so many books on the subject of WWII and you never know if the story will be a repeat of another story. This one was unique and and an intriguing plot following present day and wartime. Alina and her family are in Nazi-inhabited Poland and the story of her love, Tomasz, as they try to maintain their relationship though separated. Alice, the granddaughter of Alina, is pulled into returning to Poland as the final wish of her grandmother.

5 likes1 stack add