Cassie McCullagh

What do you think, Geordie?

It was a little bit of homework, but I'm glad I did it.

And we promised the latest from the American writer Elizabeth Strout, whose books include Olive Kitteridge, My Name is Lucy Barton, Olive Again and O William.

Now, this is called The Things We Never Say.

Robert, Kate, you've read this.

Yes.

Is she back with her gang or is this a fresh world?

It's interesting to hear you say that, Robert, because I was very relieved when I heard this was a standalone book because, like you, when you're getting back into a book, it's a bit like going back into old bathwater, you know, or someone else's bath.

Yeah, it is.

It is.

So this is nice and fresh.

But I get what you're saying about the characters having similar shapes in that each has the negative and the positive.

First you see the positive.

She's said, and I think it was either, I mean, we've both interviewed her, Kate, but I think she might have said it to me, that she used to sit on the train a lot of the time working and she would just look at people and imagine a whole life.

For them.

So closely observing them that each little detail suggested another part of their story.

So, I mean, maybe she is, she does have a way of going about things, Kate, or maybe this is her style.

I'm curious.

I'm just trying to remember.

Is this the closest that Elizabeth Strout has written to the present day?