One Day We'll All Be Dead and None of This Will Matter: Essays

by Scaachi Koul

"In One Day We'll All Be Dead and None of This Will Matter, Scaachi Koul deploys her razor sharp humor to share all the fears, outrages, and mortifying moments of her life. She learned from an early age what made her miserable, and for Scaachi anything can be cause for despair. Whether it's a shopping trip gone awry; enduring awkward conversations with her bikini waxer; overcoming her fear of flying while vacationing halfway around the world; dealing with internet trolls, or navigating the fears and anxieties of her parents. Alongside these personal stories are pointed observations about life as a woman of color, where every aspect of her appearance is open for critique, derision, or outright scorn. Where strict gender rules bind in both Western and Indian cultures, leaving little room for a woman not solely focused on marriage and children to have a career (and a life) for herself"--

• ISBN10: 1250121027
• ISBN13: 9781250121028
• Publish Date: 2 May 2017 (first published 7 March 2017)
• Publish Status: Active
• Imprint: Picador USA
• Format: Paperback (US Trade)
• Pages: 256
• Language: English

Reviews

[clementine]

3.5 stars

Scaachi Koul's essays on womanhood and growing up as a first-generation Canadian child of Indian immigrants are funny (of course) and contain a lot of great lines. I think some of the essays could have been a bit more substantive - the book overall lacked the same "I've-just-been-sucker-punched" feeling that similar collections of essays have left me with. These essays are generally humourous takes on things frivolous and serious, and they're very enjoyable. Having followed Scaachi on Twitter for several years now, I'm quite familiar with her work, and I know that she can get to that "holy shit this killed me" place. Her essay on Jian Ghomeshi (which I absolutely did cite in the last essay I wrote in my undergrad) is a prime example of just how powerful her writing can be, and where I wanted at least a few of these essays to get to. But I can't deny that her essays are funny, sharp, and engaging. If you've read any of her BuzzFeed pieces or enjoyed her social media presence, you will enjoy her book as well.

I don't read memoirs or personal essays often. I think I've only read one besides this one. I found her stories funny, insightful and tender. I enjoyed this book a lot.