The Elephant Whispers

Loosely based on her own family, Fox’s (Days of Awe) latest novel tells the tale of four generations of women, jumping between Germany on the eve of the Second World War and present-day Milwaukee. Annelise is a young woman in Germany, working in her family’s bakery and hoping for more. She marries Walter, has a daughter, Ruth, and emigrates to America with plans to bring her parents there too. After Annelise’s death, her granddaughter Clare discovers letters written by her great-grandmother, Klara, to Annelise. The story is about connection with family, and the letters bolster this idea, as do the snippets of correspondence between the chapters. The shifting point of view creates a bit of a disconnect, but also supports the story’s concept of separations. Natasha Soudek’s distinctive narration provides each individual with a fitting voice, strengthening this tale of family, loss, and yearning.