Tobin’s review of The Things We Never Say > Likes and Comments
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The quoted passage made me queasy. Reads like nobility lamenting that their favorite servant (for some reason) doesn't worship their very presence.
Goatllama wrote: "The quoted passage made me queasy. Reads like nobility lamenting that their favorite servant (for some reason) doesn't worship their very presence."
Interesting. As that was almost the only aspect of the novel I didn't mind. I think because I do find it very true, at least in my experience. I find I'm always observing people in the wild, so completely self-absorbed, self-important, and self-righteous that they have no gumption or interest in trying to see or understand those around them.
Or... maybe it was simply because a couple of days earlier, I walked into the staff room, and a coworker said, "How you doing?" and she was so distracted, so disinterested, that I said, "Oh, you know, life sucks, and then you die."
And her response? Without looking at me, still distracted, said, "Oh good, good."
Didn't hear a damn word. So, this particular passage struck me as somewhat relevant.
However, I also do see how it can be taken the way it hit you, too!
May be entirely the fault of my personal inner voice. XD
Oh wow. That's wild. Like something you'd see in a TV show. Honestly, no matter how well-meaning, I tend to ignore "how you doing" and its ilk at this point, for the exact same reason. I know at least one person (who, granted, is also a genuinely nice person) who simply says it in passing, not really expecting a response. But hitting them with the "life sucks then you die" is hilarious. I'm reminded of Bateman's situation in American Psycho.
Goatllama wrote: "May be entirely the fault of my personal inner voice. XD
Oh wow. That's wild. Like something you'd see in a TV show. Honestly, no matter how well-meaning, I tend to ignore "how you doing" and its ..."
LOL. Totally forgot about that psycho Bateman, but yeah, you're right.
Thank you for this review! You put it perfectly - reading is supposed to be an escape. Unfortunately, Strout started using her writing for her own purpose to lecture us all. Sure, she has that right, but the obvious obsession and self-absorption are so disappointing. Started with the first book after Covid. She was an absolute LOVE of mine until then. I had hoped she might have stopped. So thank you!
Karen wrote: "Thank you for this review! You put it perfectly - reading is supposed to be an escape. Unfortunately, Strout started using her writing for her own purpose to lecture us all. Sure, she has that righ..."
Yeah, this was the first and last book I'll read from her. Just a big ol' nothing burger, with a side order of political angst.
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Goatllama
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Apr 09, 2026 06:48AM
The quoted passage made me queasy. Reads like nobility lamenting that their favorite servant (for some reason) doesn't worship their very presence.
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Goatllama wrote: "The quoted passage made me queasy. Reads like nobility lamenting that their favorite servant (for some reason) doesn't worship their very presence."Interesting. As that was almost the only aspect of the novel I didn't mind. I think because I do find it very true, at least in my experience. I find I'm always observing people in the wild, so completely self-absorbed, self-important, and self-righteous that they have no gumption or interest in trying to see or understand those around them.
Or... maybe it was simply because a couple of days earlier, I walked into the staff room, and a coworker said, "How you doing?" and she was so distracted, so disinterested, that I said, "Oh, you know, life sucks, and then you die."
And her response? Without looking at me, still distracted, said, "Oh good, good."
Didn't hear a damn word. So, this particular passage struck me as somewhat relevant.
However, I also do see how it can be taken the way it hit you, too!
May be entirely the fault of my personal inner voice. XDOh wow. That's wild. Like something you'd see in a TV show. Honestly, no matter how well-meaning, I tend to ignore "how you doing" and its ilk at this point, for the exact same reason. I know at least one person (who, granted, is also a genuinely nice person) who simply says it in passing, not really expecting a response. But hitting them with the "life sucks then you die" is hilarious. I'm reminded of Bateman's situation in American Psycho.
Goatllama wrote: "May be entirely the fault of my personal inner voice. XDOh wow. That's wild. Like something you'd see in a TV show. Honestly, no matter how well-meaning, I tend to ignore "how you doing" and its ..."
LOL. Totally forgot about that psycho Bateman, but yeah, you're right.
Thank you for this review! You put it perfectly - reading is supposed to be an escape. Unfortunately, Strout started using her writing for her own purpose to lecture us all. Sure, she has that right, but the obvious obsession and self-absorption are so disappointing. Started with the first book after Covid. She was an absolute LOVE of mine until then. I had hoped she might have stopped. So thank you!
Karen wrote: "Thank you for this review! You put it perfectly - reading is supposed to be an escape. Unfortunately, Strout started using her writing for her own purpose to lecture us all. Sure, she has that righ..."Yeah, this was the first and last book I'll read from her. Just a big ol' nothing burger, with a side order of political angst.
