Can't We Talk About Something More Pleasant?: A Memoir

Published in 2014, Can’t We Talk About Something More Pleasant? is a graphic memoir by American cartoonist Roz Chast, who is known for her work in The New Yorker. The memoir recounts the author’s experience caring for her elderly parents during the last years of their lives, as they transitioned from independence to dependence. The book’s title derives from her parents’ refusal to discuss their impending death.

Through her illustrations and candid narrative, Chast tackles the complexities of caring for aging parents, the challenges of navigating elder care systems, and the common use of emotional avoidance as a coping mechanism. The memoir has been acclaimed for its heartfelt honesty and humor, earning praise for its ability to capture the universal ordeal of caring for aging parents and balancing guidance with empathy. The work received several awards, including the National Book Critics Circle Autobiography/Memoir award and the inaugural Kirkus Prize in the nonfiction category presented by Kirkus Reviews in 2014.

This guide refers to the 2014 e-book edition published by Bloomsbury USA.

Content Warning: The source material and this guide openly address death and illness.