Coming in November 2020 is a debut novel that is sure to rock the book world! I say that because there aren't too many novels written in an epistolary style.
I asked Amy what inspired her to write this style novel and she said,
"A few years ago, I read The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society and fell in love with the epistolary style. I'm a letter-writer myself, and I often noticed how my pen pals had different "voices" that came through in their letters. The most interesting ones in the novel and in real life were blazing with strong emotions and conflict, so I made a note of that and waited for the right story to fit the epistolary format. When I had the idea for Things We Didn't Say, I realized I'd found the right one. I had a spitfire translator heroine who was friends with a Japanese American based miles away (facing plenty of prejudice of his own), so their letters could tell the story of the POW camp and the town that didn't want it. Add in some conflict with the local newspaper editor, censored mail from the POWs back to Germany, and angry letters to the editor, and there was potential for all kinds of documents...and strong emotions."
I appreciate the insight from Amy. Sounds like an amazing premise for a story, right??
And now here is the beautiful cover for Things We Didn't Say...
"A few years ago, I read The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society and fell in love with the epistolary style. I'm a letter-writer myself, and I often noticed how my pen pals had different "voices" that came through in their letters. The most interesting ones in the novel and in real life were blazing with strong emotions and conflict, so I made a note of that and waited for the right story to fit the epistolary format. When I had the idea for Things We Didn't Say, I realized I'd found the right one. I had a spitfire translator heroine who was friends with a Japanese American based miles away (facing plenty of prejudice of his own), so their letters could tell the story of the POW camp and the town that didn't want it. Add in some conflict with the local newspaper editor, censored mail from the POWs back to Germany, and angry letters to the editor, and there was potential for all kinds of documents...and strong emotions."
I appreciate the insight from Amy. Sounds like an amazing premise for a story, right??
And now here is the beautiful cover for Things We Didn't Say...
Things We Didn't Say
by Amy Lynn Green
About the Book
Johanna Berglund didn’t want to return to her small Midwest town for any reason, and certainly not to become a translator at a German prisoner of war camp. She arrives to find the once-sleepy community exploding with hostility toward the prisoners and those who work at the camp. Her friend Peter Ito, a military intelligence instructor, encourages her to give the town that rejected her a second chance, and as Johanna interacts with the men of the camp and censors their mail, she begins to see the prisoners in a more sympathetic light. But when the men her country is fighting become the men she is fighting for, she must decide who to trust—and whose side she’s truly on.
You can connect with Amy on Facebook and Instagram or her website AmyGreenBooks.
Pre-order link:
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I sure can't wait to read this story! Have you read an epistolary novel? If so, please share in the comments!
Sounds wonderful!
ReplyDeleteI am really looking forward to this story!
DeleteThanks so much for showing this cover to the world!
ReplyDeleteYou are most welcome, Amy!!! Thanks for taking time to answer my question. I look forward to reading your book.
DeleteI will read it. Hope someone translates it into Dutch :-)
ReplyDeleteThat would be a great thing, indeed!
DeleteI love epistolary novels! I've read several: Daddy Long Legs, and My Dear Enemy are both great; 84 Charing Cross Road is charming; and of course, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society is wonderful. Thanks for recommending this new one. I'm a letter writer too and love to read others letters.
ReplyDeleteI loved Daddy Long Legs and TGLPPPS. I'll have to look up the other two you mentioned.
DeleteThis books sounds good to me! I've read a few epistolary novels, but The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society is the most memorable.
ReplyDeleteHave you read Then Came You by Becky Wade? It's a novella written in this style, or at least I think it is. It's journal entries and completely captivating.
DeleteAnne, thank you for your nice comment on my blog. I thought I would come and take a peek at yours! I love that you review books. I'm an avid reader and love finding new authors that I love. I had never heard of an epistolary novel! In all my years of reading, that word never crossed my path. I looked it up and now see what it is, and I don't think I've ever read one in that form. The ones that have come closest are by Richard Paul Evans. He wrote The Walk series which I loved, and he does a few letters and diary entries which I do like. I'm going to take a look at this newest novel that you just reviewed, after it comes out. I do most of my reading from the library, as I can order almost any book, and I preorder new ones and then they notify me when they are in. I'm subscribing to your blog for future reviews! Marilyn (Pink Paper Cottage)
ReplyDeleteHey Marilyn! Thanks so much for subscribing, and chatting books with me!! I don't think I've read more than one of RPEs books. I always enjoy when a book has letters and diary entries. I also love papercrafting so seeing all the gorgeous cards you made for St Patty's Day makes me want to put down my book and pick up my paper! :-)
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