In a mad, fast-paced, non-stop world, all we’re looking for is a bit of light relief, a few laughs, some advice and a heart-to-heart — You’re Gonna Die Alone encapsulates all these things in between a cheerfully bright yellow cover with a bewildered pigeon staring out at us looking like, if we’re honest, how most of us feel at some point. Our November Book of the Month, this is a genial, funny, honest, and insightful companion that will make you feel seen, heard, laugh, cry, and inject a little perspective and much-needed optimism into our world.
An initially shocking title (and a startling email subject line notification to receive), this book is almost a genre all on its own, with each chapter almost a standalone essay: part humour, part essay, part self-help, and part autobiography in the form of anecdotes and stories of Devrie Brynn Donalson’s life. Covering a range of topics and experiences such as childhood, billionaires, feminism, theatre, friendship, growing pains, healing, and pigeons, Donalson reaches out and touches the hidden parts of us that desperately want to be heard and understood, to embrace the beauty in the light parts and dark part of life as, if we allow it, it will help us grow, heal and become more steady and trustful in our own two feet.
As well as writing on some well-discussed topics such as dating (Donalson’s case study on Tinder is a real treat of a chapter and I highly encourage you to delve into the ‘godforsaken wasteland’ with her), she also covers universal experiences that aren’t really spoken about, such as the painful heartbreak of the loss of a friendship, or the myth of life milestones as a way to measure success or completeness in this capitalism-driven rat race. Donalson reminds us that there is no time limit or deadline for life goals — we count our own successes (if we choose to count them at all), even if they are as small as eating a vegetable that day. She recounts the short-lived beauty of a chocolate cosmos to the vast and expansive uncontained phenomenon that is outer space that is a constant reminder that we are all insignificant specks of stardust on a floating rock, so why not have another slice of ranch-dipped pizza or do a ridiculously crappy but delightful cartwheel in the park? Life is too brief.
The gorgeous poems at the beginning of each chapter and the footnotes at the end of the pages are the quintessence of this book, as well as the essential list of realistic and achievable affirmations (I repeat number 4 daily). Donalson’s narrative voice feels like the voice of a friend with a warm humour and familiarity that speaks directly to the heart. Its not often you open a book and immediately relate to the first page (or indeed the blurb), thinking ‘Can you feel chemistry with a book? Is this book The One?’
In some ways, we are not alone in our shared humour, pains, love, losses and the general human experience. But something incredible happens when we become our own cheerleader when we feel we’ve crossed a finish line, or when we become our own light in the dark. Sure, we’re all going to die alone. But as long as we’re content with our own company and being that person for ourselves that we’ve always searched for, we’re all gonna die alone together.
You’re Gonna Die Alone (& other excellent news) is published by Blackstone Publishing
9798212882453 | PB | £14.99 | 16th November 2023
