Thank You to Macmillan- Picador for providing me with an advanced copy of Scaachi Koul's, One Day We'll All Be Dead and None of This Will Matter: Essays, in exchange for an honest review.
PLOT- In her essay collection, One Day We'll All Be Dead and None of This Will Matter, Koul explores growing up in Canada as a child of Indian immigrants. She write about her culture, dating, and dealing with sexism and racism, both stemming from societal biases or the kind that is overt, and from a place of hate. Her writing is both funny and gut-wrenching.
LIKE- I immediately fell in love with Koul's voice. She's witty, razor sharp, and insightful. She writes with an openness that is rare: sharing with readers intimate details of her life. For example, she writes about body issues as a child, like worrying over her body hair with an obsession that would never have occurred to her fairer, white classmates. The pain of this is acute, when she recalls a male classmate pointing out the hair on her arms. As a woman, thinking back to that age, my heart broke for her. She writes about being roofied in her twenties, and the way young women have mixed messages drilled into them: Drink to be fun, but don't get sloppy drunk. Drink to be flirtatious, but be on guard that you're not a tease. Go out and enjoy yourself, but predators are lurking everywhere. Koul nails the frustrations of being a woman.
I was most disturbed regarding a chapter when explained how she was cyber attacked for voicing a controversial opinion. It wasn't so much that people disagreed, but it was the way in which they disagreed: through hate. She received messages attacking her sex, her race, her body; truly vile messages. It was shocking and stomach churning.
The chapters where she wrote about her family and traveling to India, were my favorite. The title of her collection actually comes from her cousin, who was getting married in India. It is in reference to the arduous and tedious week-long marriage celebration, which includes elaborate ceremonies, strict traditions, and many changes in outfits. Koul explains how no one who has actually attended an Indian wedding, would want to attend an Indian wedding. I enjoyed this glimpse into another culture and hearing about her family. Just like any family, there is a lot of affection and frustration.
DISLIKE- Nothing. This is an poignant, thought-provoking, and frequently humorous collection.
RECOMMEND- Yes!!! Koul has a unique and appealing writer's voice. I finished, One Day We'll All Be Dead and None of This Will Matter, and was left wanting more. She's a great writer!