Should We Stay Or Should We Go
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''Should We Stay or Should We Go'' is a
satirical novel Satire is a genre of the visual, literary, and performing arts, usually in the form of fiction and less frequently non-fiction, in which vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, often with the intent of exposing or ...
by
Lionel Shriver Lionel Shriver (born Margaret Ann Shriver; May 18, 1957) is an American author and journalist. Her novel '' We Need to Talk About Kevin'' won the Orange Prize for Fiction in 2005. Early life and education Shriver was born Margaret Ann Shriver, ...
exploring the themes of ageing, illness and death. It was published in 2021 by
HarperCollins HarperCollins Publishers LLC is a British–American publishing company that is considered to be one of the "Big Five (publishers), Big Five" English-language publishers, along with Penguin Random House, Hachette Book Group USA, Hachette, Macmi ...
.


Background

The novel was written against the background of the
Covid pandemic Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. In January 2020, the disease spread worldwide, resulting in the COVID-19 pandemic. The symptoms of COVID‑19 can vary but often include fev ...
and Shriver's parents' decline into old age as well as her own ill-health and chronic nerve pain. In addition to the end of life, the title ''Should We Stay or Should We Go'' refers to
Brexit Brexit (, a portmanteau of "Britain" and "Exit") was the Withdrawal from the European Union, withdrawal of the United Kingdom (UK) from the European Union (EU). Brexit officially took place at 23:00 GMT on 31 January 2020 (00:00 1 February ...
, the
United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Northwestern Europe, off the coast of European mainland, the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...
's decision to leave the
European Union The European Union (EU) is a supranational union, supranational political union, political and economic union of Member state of the European Union, member states that are Geography of the European Union, located primarily in Europe. The u ...
in 2020. Throughout the novel, the two protagonists observe and discuss Brexit, which is happening on the same timeline as their planned suicide pact. They hold opposing views, which allows them to explore both sides of the issue of whether to stay or go.


Plot

Kay and Cyril Wilkinson are a middle-aged couple living in London. Kay works as a nurse and Cyril as a physician for the National Health Service, where they have a first-hand view of issues with the health care system. They raise their three children in a lovingly renovated house in Lambeth. After witnessing Kay's father's slow decline and death, they make a pact to commit suicide when Kay reaches the age of 80. As they grow older, they are able to make future plans and manage their finances because they know when they plan to die. They can spend their nest egg, take vacations, stay in their long-time home, and reflect on their lives and deaths. On Kay's 80th birthday, they move forward with their suicide pact. It does not go exactly as planned, however. One partner succeeds in ending their life, but the other goes back on the agreement. After the initial scenario is played out, the subsequent chapters take us through twelve alternative scenarios for the Wilkinsons’ old age and end of life.These include ''both'' Kay and Cyril reneging on their pact; Cyril living but then suffering from locked-in syndrome; both being cryogenically frozen and waking up to a very different world; and being committed to an old people's home against their will. In one scenario, the Wilkinsons enjoy a new scientific advancement: ageing and death have been eliminated. They then experience the advantages and disadvantages of living forever.


Reception

Reviewers of ''Should We Stay or Should We Go'' often commented on the novel's wit. In ''
The Washington Post ''The Washington Post'', locally known as ''The'' ''Post'' and, informally, ''WaPo'' or ''WP'', is an American daily newspaper published in Washington, D.C., the national capital. It is the most widely circulated newspaper in the Washington m ...
'', Wendy Smith called it a "sharp-elbowed satire," and Alex Preston of the ''
Financial Times The ''Financial Times'' (''FT'') is a British daily newspaper printed in broadsheet and also published digitally that focuses on business and economic Current affairs (news format), current affairs. Based in London, the paper is owned by a Jap ...
'' called it "a novel of riotous, occasionally bilious satire." ''Kirkus Reviews'' highlighted the book's structure, saying "Shriver has written her best novel since The Post-Birthday World (2007), in no small part because it revisits that book’s alternate-timeline conceit." In ''
The Times ''The Times'' is a British Newspaper#Daily, daily Newspaper#National, national newspaper based in London. It began in 1785 under the title ''The Daily Universal Register'', adopting its modern name on 1 January 1788. ''The Times'' and its si ...
'' (UK), David Grylls wrote "Through the potent spell of Shriver’s language, horror gets alchemised into amusement." And the ''
Financial Times The ''Financial Times'' (''FT'') is a British daily newspaper printed in broadsheet and also published digitally that focuses on business and economic Current affairs (news format), current affairs. Based in London, the paper is owned by a Jap ...
'' commented on the novel's lack of sentimentality, calling it: "admirably heartless."


Themes

The novel explores issues of ageing and
euthanasia Euthanasia (from : + ) is the practice of intentionally ending life to eliminate pain and suffering. Different countries have different Legality of euthanasia, euthanasia laws. The British House of Lords Select committee (United Kingdom), se ...
, as well as wider issues of life and death. In ''
The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...
'', Walter Kirn summarized the novel as "a novel of issues, a thesis novel concerning euthanasia and medical rationing." He also said: "Yet the novel isn’t really about death... It’s about marriage. The persistence of relationships."


References


External links


''Should We Stay or Should We Go''
at publisher, HarperCollins
Interview
with the author from The Center for Fiction {{DEFAULTSORT:Should We Stay or Should We Go 2021 American novels Novels by Lionel Shriver