Should We Stay or Should We Go
Shriver, LionelThe pact that Kay and Cyril Wilkinson make to lead their best lives and then end it all/commit suicide when they turn eighty and eighty-one respectively, always seemed so sensible and Kay's 80th birthday a long way off. But now it's 2020, the time is nigh and they are faced with the dilemma: should we stay or should we go?
Presented through twelve thoughtful and entertaining scenarios, readers accompany Kay and Cyril through these alternate futures all woven through with the familiar challenges of contemporary living, whether it be coronavirus or climate change. [Small-medium font]
Pages
266
266
Year
2021
2021
Reviews
26-02-2024
Thought provoking book that initiated great discussion.
17-01-2024
People enjoyed this book even though some of the scenarios were quite grim. Resulted in a very good discussion. I would not describe this book as 'hilarious' though. The front cover is misleading.
11-01-2024
Everyone got a lot out of this book. Clever concept about ageing. Some great descriptions of care for the elderly. Some thought the author was using the book to push her own politics.
09-11-2023
Mixed responses; most could not warm to the characters - felt they were not drawn well enough to care about.
01-11-2023
Stimulated lots of discussion. Didn't need the printed questions.
18-10-2023
A bit of a mixed response from our group. Some found it a bit triggering or just didn't enjoy - others loved it, finding it thoughtful and humorous. If you enjoy other Lionel Shriver books, then this is a definite must read.
02-10-2023
Well written - but became unrealistic and tedious.
13-09-2023
A robust discussion of this book!
11-08-2023
Lionel Shriver is a polarizer! Most people didn't finish reading the book. Even the finishers found it depressing. A couple of people acknowledged that it made them think though, and that it was a different kind of book from those they would normally choose.
24-07-2023
A very different book for our group, two didn't complete it - but we did have a thoughtful discussion on the topic of how to regard living in older age. Three of our members are mid-80s and 94 - all very sharp minded and physically fine.
19-07-2023
None of our group rated this book highly, although it did generate good discussion, and made us realise we should have documented arrangements ( as in Question 8),if we haven't already done it. We thought the author was out to shock us, but a lot of it was repetitive and far-fetched, and we didn't think much of Cyril and his opinions on life, and the NHS.
13-07-2023
Most members of our group found this book challenging and annoying. But it did spark a lively discussion.
22-03-2023
Wow - what a diversity of thoughts and opinions. Some found the whole thing depressing, far fetched and uncomfortable - disliked it a lot. 2 of us thought it interesting, thought provoking, sometimes funny and quite insightful. The rest refused to read it after about 80 pages. Definitely a lot of discussion!
15-09-2022
An original story exploring possible outcomes and solutions to ageing. Not everyone in the group felt comfortable with some of the solutions or possibly the whole ageing conversation. Comments included: the black box seemed sinister and overbearing; the idea of a TV series appealed but with a N.Z. focus that explored the loss of personal agency, financial choices, health etc. The book notes were comprehensive, focusing our attention on the themes in Shriver's novel.
30-06-2022
Mixed reviews - but it certainly sparked a lot of discussion around age and euthanasia, so led to a very good meeting.