The older I get, the more eager I am to learn, especially about the people of the world and how they lived their lives. Never a history buff, I’m now learning more about historical events and their impact on not only the people who lived through them but also about future generations and how they were influenced by their forbears’ experiences. Kelly Rimmer’s The Things We Cannot Say taught and inspired me, and I’m confident it will do the same for you.

Here’s the Amazon review:

Thank you, Babcia

“There are so many things I like about this novel that I don’t know where to start. It’s educational, engaging, and inspiring.  It’s a story spanning at least four generations and two continents, a story of love, loss, heartache, bravery, and determination.

“I never knew about Poland’s occupation by the Nazis except in a factual way. Now I can see it on an individual level affecting real families. I was reminded of intergenerational relationships and how people from the past affect our lives and our children’s lives…not just with hair and eye color but also with character traits like courage. I was reminded of love and how it’s the strongest, most powerful emotion on the planet. Families have their struggles, but many can be resolved with faith, love, and mercy.

“You think things are going along just dandy and then Wham there’s another incident, setback, or scary scene that keeps you reading. You think you have it all figured out, but about that time, Rimmer surprises you/us with a zinger. The way she alternates the chapters between Alina and Alice, grandmother (aka Babcia) and granddaughter, who lived decades apart on separate continents, is well-done.

“After reading The Things We Cannot Say, I called a friend of Polish ancestry to recommend the novel and to encourage her to find out more about her family. I’m also inspired to find out more about my ancestors…and to read another of Kelly Rimmer’s books.”