Helena Colden is a veterinarian who has died of breast
cancer, leaving behind her husband David, and a menagerie of
pets. However, Helena cannot move on to the other side,
afraid of what may be awaiting her. Over the years, she has
euthanized hundreds of pets, and she fears they wait for
her, judging her and all of her mistakes over her 37 years.
So she sticks around to watch David, her pets, and the rest
of her friends mourn their loss and try to move on with
their lives.
David is a corporate attorney, and he struggles to take care
of Helena's numerous pets, many of whom don't understand the
sudden disappearance of their mistress. Joshua is the
veterinarian who Helena practiced with, and he isn't sure if
he can continue practicing; he's older and continuing as a
sole practitioner may be too much for him, especially with
memories of Helena around every corner. Jaycee is a former
colleague of Helena's when Joshua was Helena's faculty
adviser at Cornell vet school. Jaycee finds herself
constantly reminded of Helena because Helena is the only
person who could help her out with a professional situation.
But when Jaycee's situation takes a serious turn and she
finds herself facing criminal charges, she turns to David to
help. David is reluctant to help since he doesn't practice
criminal law and Helena never told him about her work with
Jaycee, but certain evidence comes to light that convinces
him to assist Jaycee.
This is a story about love, healing, and, even more
compellingly, animal rights. The work that Helena and
Jaycee did with Charlie and Cindy (both chimpanzees) make
for utterly compelling stories that drive this story and
weave all of these characters together in an unexpected way.
The subplot involving Sally and her son Clifford, who has
Asperberger's syndrome, is told deftly and with compassion.
Sally is a vet tech for a competing veterinarian who finds
herself suddenly without a job and ends up working for David
(through a connection with Joshua) as a housekeeper and
animal-tender. As someone who has also suffered loss in her
life, she also serves as somewhat of a guide to David
through this tumultuous period in his life, sometimes
through a health dose of tough love.
This was a sublimely beautiful book, that hooked me from the
very first scene. The only (extremely minor) fault I have
with this book is that, although the initial scene grabbed
me, after that, I was left wondering where the book would
take me. I wasn't sure what the book was actually about,
other than Helena observing her loved ones, for quite
awhile. But once I understood it, I was extremely
captivated. One last warning to future readers: have a box
of tissue handy!
UNSAID is told from the perspective of Helena Colden, a
veterinarian who has just died of breast cancer. Helena is
forced to witness the rapid emotional deterioration of her
husband David. With Helena's passing, David, a successful
Manhattan attorney, loses the only connection that made his
life full. He tries to carry on the life that Helena had
created for them, but he is too grief-stricken, too angry,
and too quickly reabsorbed into the demands of his career.
Helena's animals likewise struggle with the loss of their
understanding and compassionate human companion. Because of
Helena, David becomes involved in a court case to save the
life of a chimpanzee that may hold the key to unlocking the
mysteries of animals consciousness. Through this case all
the threads of Helena's life entwine and explode -
unexpectedly, painfully, beautifully.
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