Things We Never Said - Softcover

Elliot Wright, Susan

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1471102327 ISBN 13: 9781471102325

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Ltd, 2013

Synopsis

In 1964 Maggie wakes to find herself in a psychiatric ward, not knowing who she is or why she has been committed. She slowly begins to have memories of a storm and of a man called Jack and slowly the pieces of the past begin to come together...In 2008 Jonathan is struggling to put his differences with his parents aside to tell them he and his wife are expecting a baby, when a detective arrives to question him about crimes committed long ago...And as these two tales interweave, the secrets of the past, long kept hidden, start to come to light in unexpected and sometimes startling ways. The Things We Never Said is a powerful novel about fatherhood and motherhood; nature and nurture; cruelty and kindness; and mental breakdown. Written in beautiful, compelling prose, it is by turns revealing, witty and moving.

About this title

Review:

'Passionate, intriguing and beautifully written, The Things We Never Said deserves to stand on the shelf next to Maggie O'Farrell's books. A powerful and talented new voice' Rachel Hore, bestselling author of A Gathering Storm and A Place of Secrets

'This is a staggeringly accomplished first novel, perfectly paced. It sweeps you up from the very first page and doesn't let you go until the end. The hauntingly nostalgic tale of the trauma of an unwanted pregnancy in the 60s, it has echoes of Lynn Reid Banks and Margaret Forster. You could almost smell the boarding house and feel the cold of an unforgiving winter as aspiring actress Maggie faces up to some brutal choices that will affect her for the rest of her life. The ensuing trauma is entwined with a very modern tale of marriage, impending fatherhood and the perils of the workplace in twenty-first-century Britain. The two stories dovetail to perfection. It's both deeply moving and uplifting - an emotional rollercoaster. If you love Maggie O'Farrell, you'll love this' Veronica Henry, bestselling author of The Long Weekend

'A brave and moving story about how much can be lost and what happens next. A compelling and impressive debut' Alison Moore, author of the Booker-shortlisted The Lighthouse

'Two intertwined stories explore a past filled with terror and grief, and a heart-breaking present, in writing as smooth and bittersweet as fine dark chocolate' Jane Rogers, author of the Booker-longlisted The Testament of Jessie Lamb

'Tightly-woven and tender, The Things We Never Said is a beautifully crafted story that explores harsh family secrets with effortless clarity. A wonderful debut' Isabel Ashdown, award-winning author of Glasshopper

'I was swept along by Elliot Wright's assured storytelling' Katie Ward, author of Girl, Reading

'Compelling and deeply moving... this is superb storytelling which transports the reader with ease between past and present, across a gulf of fifty years, while gradually revealing the connection between the two. I couldn't put it down' Jane Rusbridge, author of The Devil's Music

A powerful and compelling read about how the past shapes us' The Sun --The Sun

About the Author:

Susan Elliot Wright grew up in Lewisham in south-east London. Before becoming a full-time writer, she did a number of different jobs, including civil servant, cleaner, dishwasher, journalist, and chef.  She has an MA in writing from Sheffield Hallam University, where she is now an associate lecturer, and she lives in Sheffield with her husband. She is the author of The Things We Never Said and the Secrets We Left Behind. To find out more, visit her website: http:/www.susanelliotwright.co or follow her on Twitter @sewelliot.

About this edition

• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Ltd
• Publication date: 2013
• ISBN 10: 1471102327
• ISBN 13: 9781471102325
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 384