pp - 170
Genre - Literary Fiction
Release - 07 May 2026
Rating - ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Artie Dam, the protagonist, a history teacher, is stunned when he comes to know that a very great secret of life is hidden. He had never expected this kind, but it leads to silent shock. He feels so alone, although placed between students, staff members, friends and family. With dread in his honest heart and plagued by bad dreams, anticipating getting killed, he falls into the water only to be saved miraculously by a saviour, Ken. Soon Artie strikes a solid friendship, sharing hearty feelings and searching for familial peace as his life is about to collapse due to marital affairs.
Within them is Rob, son of AD, and Francesca, wife of Rob, also a pianist, are cautious and caring to make Artie feel well despite the stress. They're worried about AD, he is slipping into over-isolation amid the busy Evie, his wife. Sometimes it's only his thoughts of freewill and teaching classes that make it good. But AD's life is not the visible reality that people around him thought he was. Nor is his wandering mind.
As a dark secret springs from the past, Artie and the thoughts about to rule a great part of his life and remind him constantly, and control, things that he never thought would surprise him at the sad end phase of his life would test his soulful spirit. It could tear him hard and change to face the given relations in the new light of truth, or a complete view shift and a fresh examination of understandings.
The pace of the novel is so lively—I just sailed it. Lots of interactions, secrets pop up, marital bliss gets disturbed and all in a grief, brilliant writing style. A truly feel-sympathy, heartwrenching story with vital shining empathy. What I enjoyed most was the engrossing narrative that speaks so directly to feel the power of storytelling. Lovely families, joys, emotions, and a bond—all I could turn the pages warmly. I was drawn into the story right from the first chapter. ES knows so well what it is to be a man with deep pain.
@lizstroutauthor @thebookerprizes
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a month agoindianladyreads
Been seeing this around quite a lot. The cover reminded me of The Safekeep by Yael. Might add this to my TBR
2 months agothebookstabrews
Wonderful review and absolutely bang on👏You and I share very similar thoughts about this book. It was such a beautiful read❤️
2 months agoiram_untold
You’ve finished this one and I haven’t even begun!! So excited to read my first Elizabeth Strout novel.
2 months agowhispers.of.a.reader
This sounds like such an emotionally layered read. ❤️ I love how you’ve highlighted the loneliness beneath Artie’s seemingly ordinary life and the way hidden truths can completely reshape our understanding of relationships. Elizabeth Strout’s writing seems to have brought all that quiet pain and empathy to life beautifully. 📖✨
2 months agoshweta_bookswonderer
Wow! Such a detailed review but not boring at all it's to the point for readers❤️,thank you so much 😊.
2 months agoruler_of_words
Lovely review, my friend! 🔥 🙌 I am so glad we both enjoyed this! I still do not know whether this will be one of our favourites/ predicted ones for the short list (I think there might be many good books this year!) but it was definitely a good read!
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