Untold Lessons
by Maddalena Vaglio Tanet
This title was previously available on NetGalley and is now archived.
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Pub Date 12 Sep 2024 | Archive Date 20 Sep 2024
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Description
One morning, a teacher disappears into the woods. As whispers fill her classroom and relatives scout the streets, she melts into a wild landscape. This is a darkly entrancing place where boars roam free, silver birches tower overhead, and the air is filled with ancient bird calls. Sinking deeper into a bed of moss and her own memories, the teacher seeks to escape the shocking news of a favourite student's death.
Back in town, behind shuttered windows and on factory floors, the mystery takes hold. Who is Silvia really? A teacher of rare kindness, living outside of expectations, or a solitary misfit without a family of her own? When a local child stumbles upon her hiding place, it seems at first like the search might be over. But what do you do with a missing woman who doesn't want to be found?
Lushly written and told with a mesmerising intensity, Untold Lessons is a suspense-filled debut about what it means to return to ourselves by an exhilarating new international talent.
Available Editions
EDITION | Hardcover |
ISBN | 9781805330073 |
PRICE | £16.99 (GBP) |
PAGES | 272 |
Available on NetGalley
Featured Reviews
"Untold Lessons" is a beautifully written novel that masterfully intertwines poetic language with a haunting storyline. The emotional depths of the characters are touchingly portrayed, with each journey illustrating themes of loss. Although I found these dark themes and tragic events overwhelming and depressing, the compelling storytelling and poetic beauty offered me quite an immersive reading experience. Despite its somber tone, the moments of introspection and hope make this book a captivating read for those who appreciate stories with many emotional layers.
After an eleven (!) year old girl commits suicide, her guilt-ridden teacher disappears into the forest. The villagers go out on an search and when they don't find her they expect the worst.
I haven't read too many Piemontese novels (I can only think of Natalia Ginzburg), and found the atmosphere interesting. The highlight is the nature writing, with beautifully written and detailed descriptions of the forest and the mountains.
The plot I found ultimately slightly unsatisfying (though I understand it is based on a true story) and I also would have expected a deeper exploration of the suicide rather than the teacher.
3,5 rounded down.