A collection of essays about the joys and struggles of being alone by 22 literary writers including: Lev Grossman, Jhumpa Lahiri, Lena Dunham, Jesmyn Ward, Yiyun Li, and Anthony DoerrIf you’re feeling lonely or if you’ve ever felt unseen, if you’re emboldened by solitude or secretly longing for it: Welcome to
The Lonely Stories. This cathartic collection of essays illuminates an experience that so few of us openly discuss. Some stories are heartbreaking, such as Jesmyn Ward’s reckoning with the loss of her husband and Dina Nayeri’s reflection on immigrating to a foreign country. Others are witty, such as Lev Grossman’s rueful tale of heading to the woods or Anthony Doerr’s struggles with internet addiction. Still others celebrate the clarity of solitude, like Claire Dederer’s journey toward sobriety and Lidia Yuknavitch’s sensual look at desire. Thoughtful and affirming,
The Lonely Stories reveals the complexities of an emotion we’ve all felt—reminding us that we're not alone.
Contributors include:
Megan GiddingsClaire DedererImani PerryJeffery Renard AllenMaggie ShipsteadEmily RaboteauLev GrossmanLena DunhamYiyun LiAnthony DoerrHelena FitzgeraldMaile MeloyAja GabelJean KwokAmy ShearnPeter Ho DaviesMaya Shanbhag LangJhumpa LahiriJesmyn WardLidia YuknavitchDina NayeriMelissa Febos
Thoughtful and affirming, this collection of essays about the joys and struggles of being alone illuminates an experience that is rarely openly discussed.
Praise for The Lonely Stories:
"This collection is a reminder of the commonalities of human experience, an examination of the challenges of a social species, and an uplifting look at how we connect with ourselves when we are alone." —
Oh Reader"An absorbing, moving, cathartic collection."—
Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
"Solitude gets the spotlight in this illuminating anthology . . . Garrett has made a subject often feared into something uplifting . . . Fans of the personal essay will want to check this out." —
Publishers Weekly"This profound collection shines light on the different facets of being alone, a condition of modern life that predates the pandemic and will continue beyond. It's a gorgeous, illuminating exploration of the ways in which connection is crucial to survival and creative expression can heal." —Suleika Jaouad, author of
Between Two Kingdoms"Surprising, sly, heart-stopping, celebratory—the essays in
The Lonely Stories evoke the gamut of emotions, in the way of isolation itself. A timely, and lasting, collection." —Claire Messud, author of
The Burning Girl
Praise for Eat Joy:
"The essays in
Eat Joy are so sharp, so real, so beautiful, so full of heartbreak . . . Each is an extraordinary act of generosity." —Helen Rosner, food correspondent for
The New Yorker"Natalie Eve Garrett's
Eat Joy does this magical thing where it makes you remember the tastes of the heaviest times in your life, while reminding you that everyone on earth has experienced the taste of love and loss, though none of our tastes are the same. This is the first collection that ever made me want to sensually eat, cook, write, and thank all the wonderful makers of the most memorable memories in my life." —Kiese Laymon, author of
Heavy
