Here’s what he thinks when he looks in the mirror: An apartment is not merely tired but “absolutely knackered.” The point of the internet is to “mask inadequacies.” Upon finding a 20-pound note in her dressing gown, a woman “screamed so loud the dog farted.”Īndrew’s self-deprecating thoughts keep the world at a distance and underline his loneliness. Andrew empathizes with the dead and so goes beyond the job’s strict requirements by attending the funerals, often as the sole mourner.ĭespite Andrew’s somewhat grim job, the novel teems with dark humor and amusing observations about life. The address books or scribbled numbers on the back of snapshots lead him to kin or friends to notify. He works for the borough council and his job is to take care of the details for those poor sods (we’re in England) who die alone and lie unmissed, sometimes for months.Īny money he finds is used for a decent burial.
During the day, when he’s not attending strangers’ funerals, he goes through dead people’s flats, looking for money and address books.Īndrew’s not a burglar. “So what I’ve done there is to combine the beans and the bread, and now I’ll just add a blob of ketchup (I use Captain Tomato but any brand is fine) to make it a tasty trio.”Īt night, he lurks on a miniature-railroad-enthusiasts forum and listens to old vinyl records. Maybe it's time for him to start.Andrew enlivens his mornings by parodying a cooking show. For twenty years, Andrew has worked to keep his heart safe, forgetting one important thing: how to live. Could there be more to life than this?But telling Peggy the truth could mean losing everything. When new employee Peggy breezes into the office like a breath of fresh air, she makes Andrew feel truly alive for the first time in decades. A misunderstanding has left Andrew trapped in his own white lie and his lonely apartment. At least, that's what his coworkers believe. Luckily, he goes home to a loving family every night.
For years he's worked a thankless public health job, searching for the next of kin of those who die alone.
“Smart, darkly funny, and life-affirming, How Not to Die Alone is the bighearted debut novel we all need, for fans of Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, it's a story about love, loneliness, and the importance of taking a chance when we feel we have the most to lose."Wryly funny and quirkily charming."-Eleanor Brown, author of The Weird SistersSometimes you need to risk everything.
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