You Don't Have to Say You Love Me：A Memoir

TheInstantNewYorkTimesBestsellerOneofthemostanticipatedbooksof2017--EntertainmentWeeklyandBustleAsearing,deeplymovingmemoiraboutfamily,love,loss,andforgivenessfromthecriticallyacclaimed,bestsellingNationalBookAward-winningauthorofTheAbsolutelyTrueDiaryofaPart-TimeIndian.Familyrelationshipsareneversimple.ButShermanAlexie'sbondwithhismotherLillianwasmorecomplexthanmost.Sheplungedherfamilyintochaoswithadrinkinghabit,butshedheraddictionwhenitwasonthebrinkofcostinghereverything.Shesurvivedaviolentpast,butcreatedanelaboratefacadetohidethetruth.Sheselflesslycaredforstrangers,butwasoftenincapableofshoweringherchildrenwiththeaffectionthattheysodesperatelycraved.Shewantedabetterlifeforherson,butitwasonlybyleavingherbehindthathecouldhopetoachieveit.It'sthesecontradictionsthatmadeLillianAlexieabeautiful,mercurial,abusive,intelligent,complicated,andveryhumanwoman.Whenshepassedaway,theincongruitiesthatdefinedhismothershookShermanandhisremembranceofher.Grapplingwiththehauntingghostsofthepastinthewakeofloss,herespondedtheonlywayheknewhow:hewrote.Theresultisastunningmemoirfilledwithraw,angry,funny,profane,tendermemoriesofachildhoodfewcanimagine,muchlesssurvive.Anunflinchingandunforgettableremembrance,YOUDON'THAVETOSAYYOULOVEMEisapowerful,deeplyfeltaccountofacomplicatedrelationship