"The Things We Never Say" by Elizabeth Strout. How a 200 page book could possibly have so much impact is beyond me. This is one of the most deeply moving books I have read in a long time, if ever. I have been so lucky recently to read some fantastic books, but this is indescribable. It made me think about things that I may not have spoken about, not being sure if there are those things. And the way the world and the political situation factors in to everything. That, I already knew but so succinctly described almost my own words. FIVE stars all the way and already have 2 more books by Elizabeth Strout in my TBR pile.

Secretly, Artie is contemplating suicide. He thinks: "people do die of loneliness."

*The Turning Point:*

One day, while stepping from his dinghy into his sailboat, Artie slips and almost drowns. He is rescued by a local man named Kenneth.

That near-death experience gives him a sudden, powerful shock: *he wants to live.*

He and Kenneth become friends and start having monthly lunches. Their friendship is tested when Artie learns Kenneth is a Trump supporter - they decide to keep the friendship by never talking about politics.

*The Family Secret:*

10 years earlier, Artie's son *Rob* (now 27) was in a car crash that killed his girlfriend. Rob survived but became withdrawn and distant.

Now Rob comes to visit and tells Artie a devastating secret: He did a DNA test and found out *Artie is not his biological father.*

Rob got a letter from his biological father. It means Evie had an affair decades ago, at the very beginning of their marriage, and never told Artie.