Book · 2020 · American literature
What Are You Going Through
Why people recommend it
What Are You Going Through by Sigrid Nunez is a poignant novel that explores complex themes of aging, mortality, friendship, and empathy through the narrative voice of a woman who agrees to accompany a dying friend on her final journey. Discussing her reading habits on The Book Review episode titled The Critics’ Picks: A Year in Reading in 2024, Jen Szalai named this book alongside the author's earlier novel, The Friend, expressing her appreciation for Nunez's literary output. Szalai highlighted the profound emotional resonance of the narrative, which deals with sensitive subject matter with remarkable grace, intelligence, and restraint. By bringing up the novel during the year-end review, Szalai underscored the lasting impact of Nunez's prose and her unique ability to capture the nuances of human connection in the face of inevitable loss. The discussion reflected the critic's deep engagement with contemporary fiction that addresses the fundamental questions of how we live and how we support one another through life's most difficult transitions.
Who recommended it
- Jen Szalai Recommended
Jen Szalai — 1 mention
“I read the friend and what are you going through”