In 'Can't We Talk about Something More Pleasant?', cartoonist Roz Chast navigates the emotional turmoil of caring for her aging parents with wit and candor. Through a blend of poignant illustrations and personal anecdotes, she illuminates the complexities of family dynamics and the challenges of aging. As she grapples with the logistics of healthcare, independence, and loss, readers are invited to explore their own feelings about mortality and care. Chast's unique perspective transforms what could be a heavy subject into a relatable and humor-filled exploration of life's inevitable transitions. This graphic memoir not only entertains but also sparks deeper conversations about love, responsibility, and the passage of time.
By Roz Chast
Published: 2016
""The only thing worse than being old is being alone, but thinking about it is even worse.""
#1 New York Times Bestseller 2014 National Book Award Finalist Winner of the inaugural 2014 Kirkus Prize in nonfiction Winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award Winner of the 2014 Books for a Better Life Award Winner of the 2015 Reuben Award from National Cartoonists Society In her first memoir, New Yorker cartoonist Roz Chast brings her signature wit to the topic of aging parents. Spanning the last several years of their lives and told through four-color cartoons, family photos, and documents, and a narrative as rife with laughs as it is with tears, Chast's memoir is both comfort and comic relief for anyone experiencing the life-altering loss of elderly parents. While the particulars are Chast-ian in their idiosyncrasies--an anxious father who had relied heavily on his wife for stability as he slipped into dementia and a former assistant principal mother whose overbearing personality had sidelined Roz for decades--the themes are universal: adult children accepting a parental role; aging and unstable parents leaving a family home for an institution; dealing with uncomfortable physical intimacies; and hiring strangers to provide the most personal care. An amazing portrait of two lives at their end and an only child coping as best she can, Can't We Talk about Something More Pleasant shows the full range of Roz Chast's talent as cartoonist and storyteller.
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“"The only thing worse than being old is being alone, but thinking about it is even worse."”
Can't We Talk about Something More Pleasant?
By Roz Chast
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Roz Chast is a celebrated cartoonist and author known for her distinctive and humorous illustrations that explore the complexities of everyday life. With a career spanning several decades, she has contributed to numerous publications, including The New Yorker, where her work has become iconic. Chast's notable works include 'Can't We Talk About Something More Pleasant?', a poignant graphic memoir about her elderly parents, and 'Going into Town: A Love Letter to New York', which captures her affection for the city through a blend of sketches and wry observations. Her writing style is characterized by a blend of warmth, wit, and psychological insight, making her work both entertaining and deeply relatable.
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