3 out of 4 stars
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In the competitive and rigorous daily life of a professional musician, interpersonal relationships sometimes end up on the back burner, which can have disastrous effects. Lilia, a professional cello player, and star of Roberta R. Carr’s The Things We Don’t Say, finds this truth out the hard way. Despite her serious and stable relationship with Matthew, whom she has known since childhood, Lilia can’t help but dream of advancing her musical career prior to settling down and having children. When an opportunity arises to join an elite orchestra in another state, Lilia accepts, thinking that the relationship is strong enough to survive the distance.
Matthew, however, reacts terribly to her new plan and the distance he perceives as growing between them. He makes a series of rash decisions, impacting his job, his home, and finally his relationship with Lilia, who cannot understand his anger and self-absorption. Complicating matters is the presence of a rival for Lilia’s affection, the suave and mysterious musician Eduardo. Lilia must decide whether her destiny is with her music, or her childhood love, or whether she must forge another path altogether, independent from the influence of those around her.
Though a love triangle is far from a unique concept, there were several elements that nonetheless made this an interesting story. The author did an excellent job researching the world of professional musicians and orchestras, and included those details seamlessly into the story. There is a certain level of pretentiousness in that world, which was captured poignantly in the character of Eduardo, and his disdain for everything casual or pedestrian. This contrasted nicely with Matthew, who had a more approachable down-to-earth outlook, despite also being financially secure. I also appreciated that, ultimately, it was a story of a woman seeking to make her own decisions, rather than to have them made for her. This was especially significant because it was a lesson that both of the male characters had to learn, which was much more realistic than having one of them ride in on a white horse to save the day from the other lesser rival. The author ultimately left the power of agency in Lilia’s hands, which elevated this story beyond the tropes of a simple romance.
Though this book was written and edited very professionally, and I only found a couple of minor typos, one aspect of the story made me reduce the rating to 3 out of 4 stars. In short, I did not find any of the three main characters particularly likable, which made it difficult for me to be fully invested in the events of their lives. Each of them came across as self-centered in their own way, and while this made sense for the smarmy character of Eduardo, it did not fit with the boy-next-door charm of Matthew, nor the altruistic naivety of Lilia. For example, Matthew expresses extremely harsh judgement and disdain for his brother’s girlfriend, simply because she is a recovering drug addict, despite her behavior not warranting this reaction. Lilia, while caring for a terminally ill friend, repeatedly focuses on the burden and inconvenience this places upon her own life. Each of the characters, at various times, came across as sheltered within their world of affluence, and careless to the plight of those less well-off. Though they undergo character development through the events that occur toward the end of the story, it feels somewhat shallow and rushed. I would have preferred that the author devote a bit more time on the psychological impact of the events that shaped these changes.
The pace of the story makes this a light and easy read, good for a plane ride or weekend away. Readers who are likely to appreciate this story are those who enjoy romantic dramas, and explorations of different types of relationships. This is a book with a strong female character, though it is one that I believe any reader could enjoy, as there is little that is specifically feminine about it. Lovers of classical music and the orchestra would also find quite a bit with which to relate in this novel, as the author does an excellent job of submerging the reader in the world of music.
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The Things We Don't Say
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