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Returnable | Yes |
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Resolutions | Eligible for refund or replacement |
Return Window | 30 days from delivery |
Refund Timelines | Typically, an advance refund will be issued within 24 hours of a drop-off or pick-up. For returns that require physical verification, refund issuance may take up to 30 days after drop-off or pick up. Where an advance refund is issued, we will re-charge your payment method if we do not receive the correct item in original condition. See details here. |
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Grief Is for People Hardcover – February 27, 2024
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A New York Times Book Review Editors' Choice, one of Vogue, Esquire, W, and Real Simple's Best Books of the Year So Far, and one of The Most Anticipated Books of the Year: TIME, The Washington Post, Vogue, Vanity Fair, Publishers Weekly, Paste, The Millions, Kirkus Reviews, Lit Hub, Real Simple, Nylon, BookPage, Book Riot, The Story Exchange, Sunset and Zibby Mag
Disarmingly witty and poignant, Sloane Crosley's memoir explores multiple kinds of loss following the death of her closest friend.
How do we live without the ones we love? Grief Is for People is a deeply moving and suspenseful portrait of friendship, and a book about loss that is profuse with life. Sloane Crosley is one of our most renowned observers of contemporary behavior, and now the pathos that has been ever present in her trademark wit is on full display. After the pain and confusion of losing her closest friend to suicide, Crosley looks for answers in philosophy and art, hoping for a framework more useful than the unavoidable stages of grief.
For most of her adult life, Sloane and Russell worked together and played together as they navigated the corridors of office life, the literary world, and the dramatic cultural shifts in New York City. One day, Sloane's apartment is broken into. Along with her most prized possessions, the thief makes off with her sense of security, leaving a mystery in its place.
When Russell dies exactly one month later, his suicide propels Sloane on a wild quest to right the unrightable, to explore what constitutes family and possession as the city itself faces the staggering toll of the pandemic.
Sloane Crosley's search for truth is frank, darkly funny, and gilded with resounding empathy. Upending the "grief memoir," Grief Is for People is a category-defying story of the struggle to hold on to the past without being consumed by it. A modern elegy, it rises precisely to console and challenge our notions of mourning during these grief-stricken times.
- Print length208 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherMCD
- Publication dateFebruary 27, 2024
- Dimensions5.85 x 0.75 x 8.3 inches
- ISBN-100374609845
- ISBN-13978-0374609849
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Get to know this book
Popular highlight
The miracle of life is not that we have it, it’s that most of us wake up every day and agree to fight for it, to hold it in our arms even when it squirms to get away.325 Kindle readers highlighted thisPopular highlight
The past is quicksand and the future is unknowable, but in the present, you get to float. Nothing is missing, nothing is hypothetical.295 Kindle readers highlighted this
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Editorial Reviews
Review
"There's nothing traditional or twice-cooked about Crosley's voice, her arresting observations . . .Throughout, Crosley cites Joan Didion, whose two personal books on grief, The Year Of Magical Thinking and Blue Nights, she obviously sees as a touchstone for her own. To me, Grief Is For People is every bit their equal in eloquence, intensity and toughness."
―Maureen Corrigan, NPR
"Sloane Crosley finds a way to take the formless devastation of an acute loss ― the death of her friend Russell ― and transform it into a work of art: a chronicle of grief finely, closely observed."
―Christopher Cox, New York Magazine
"Impeccably crafted, this book pushes an already feted writer into potent new territory."
―Hephzibah Anderson, The Guardian
"Grief Is for People finds Sloane Crosley grappling with an apartment break-in and, not long after, the death of a dear friend and colleague by suicide. In prose that is both personal and raw―and yet somehow still makes room for Crosley's rightfully-heralded wit―Grief Is for People is a powerful, touching memoir that explores a place we are all going to be at some point. Yet, despite it being a mourning book, this is not a grim or dark book-- but a poignant and relatable one, with a sly humor and heartbreaking candor that beautifully expresses anger, acceptance, and love."
―Isaac Fitzgerald, The TODAY Show
"[Crosley's] signature shrewdness comes through, particularly in the Depression section, which shows the author in the depths of her grief, but offers relief through humorous lines of dialogue and passing thoughts on pandemic-era activities . . . [Crosley is] offering us a look into [Perreault's] life through the lens of her love, pain and admiration. Telling us, with precision and generosity, how it might be when it is our turn to remember what was true about those we’ve lost."
―Ashley C. Ford, The New York Times Book Review
"Grief Is for People is a moving and much-needed tribute to this vital but often unsung human relationship. . . Crosley's book is a roaring success."
―Becca Rothfeld, The Washington Post
“Crosley’s writing sparkles with a remarkable wit . . . [Grief Is for People] is more bold, probing, and exposed than anything else she has published . . . By attesting to her pain so publicly and poignantly, Crosley again shows her noteworthy literary chops, as well as her unambiguous love for all that’s been lost.”
―Cory Oldweiler, The Boston Globe
“A stunning investigation into the nature of loss . . . [Crosley] hasn’t abandoned her spritely wit, but she is looking more critically at what matters here.”
―Chloe Schama, Vogue
“Raw and poignant . . . Leavened by Crosley’s characteristic gimlet wit, this excavation of grief, loss, and friendship leaves a lasting twinge.”
―Adrienne Westenfeld, Esquire
"A beautifully written, illumination, mordant and moving meditation on [Crosley's] experience of loss and its aftermath."
―Abigail Fagan, Psychology Today
"Is it wrong to say that a memoir about loss and grieving is fun to read? If so, I’m in trouble, because I enjoyed every word of this book. I also ached and suffered along with Crosley: Her portrait of mourning after the suicide of her best friend is gutting and deeply engaging."
―Susan Orlean, author of The Orchid Thief
"Potent and propulsive, a lyrical meditation on loss and what comes after. Grief Is for People is heartbreaking and wholly original."
―Tara Westover, author of Educated
"I have come to rely on Sloane Crosley for her oyster knife humor, bourbon hot observation, and indelible portraits of how we live with each other. Grief Is For People is about how we live without the ones we love. Crosley brings her whole self to this memoir―her gifts, her flaws, her intellect, her wit and emotion. She loves hard, grieves hard, and writes with the beauty and urgency of a white hot star. I wish I didn’t 'get' this book as much as I do but Grief Is for People is the book I didn’t know I needed to read."
―Tayari Jones, author of An American Marriage
"Grief Is for People captures the feeling of watching a beloved, inappropriate and wild person fit less and less with the times we live in. Like Didion's The Year Of Magical Thinking or Defoe's Journal of a Plague Year, Grief Is for People takes us through the ordinary, awful and never-quite-ending experience of loss. It also made me laugh very hard, many times. I can't stop thinking about it."
―John Mulaney
“An indelible portrait of a singular friendship, Grief Is for People is a beautifully written and sharply observed memoir about grief, yes, but also: secrets, betrayal, rage, work, community, and most of all, love. It's both a provocation and a balm to the soul.”
―Dani Shapiro, author of Family History
"In this vivid, and bitingly funny account, Sloane Crosley exposes the magical thinking and murk that follow a friend's suicide. Crosley's prose is honest, lucid, and always surprising; I can't imagine a better companion to guide us through the pain of losing a friend. A painful and necessary book; I will be keeping it close for years to come."
―Meghan O'Rourke, author of The Invisible Kingdom
"Grief can feel like falling off a tall cliff in slow motion. Sloane Crosley maps each second of her descent through anguish and disbelief with such intelligence, humor, and unvarnished honesty that we never want to hit the ground. It’s a testament to Crosley’s enormous talent that she could transform such a terrible loss into a story that becomes more satisfying with each page: a celebration of the ambiguities of our deepest connections and a manifestation of love so strong that it emanates forgiveness and gratitude."
―Heather Havrilesky, Ask Polly columnist and author of Foreverland: On the Divine Tedium of Marriage
"Novelist and essayist Crosley is a tightrope writer of devastating wit and plain devastation, a balancing act no doubt requiring even more muscle in this memoir of her grief...This is a searching, impassioned, cathartic, and loving elegy."
―Booklist, starred review
"Not only a joy to read, but also a respectful and philosophical work . . . A sharp narrative that finds commonality in the dislocation brought on by these events . . . A warm remembrance sure to resonate with anyone who has experienced loss . . . Marvelously tender."
―Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
"In this aching meditation on loss and friendship, essayist and novelist Crosley (Cult Classic) eulogizes her late literary mentor and best friend against the backdrop of the high-pressure publishing industry...Her characteristically whip-smart prose takes on a newly introspective quality as she reinvigorates dusty publishing memoir tropes and captures the minutiae of a complicated friendship with humor and heart. This is a must-read."
―Publishers Weekly (starred review)
About the Author
Product details
- Publisher : MCD (February 27, 2024)
- Language : English
- Hardcover : 208 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0374609845
- ISBN-13 : 978-0374609849
- Item Weight : 10.4 ounces
- Dimensions : 5.85 x 0.75 x 8.3 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #13,924 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #26 in Self-Help & Psychology Humor
- #189 in Women's Biographies
- #559 in Memoirs (Books)
- Customer Reviews:
About the author
Sloane Crosley is the author of the New York Times bestselling essay collections "I Was Told There'd Be Cake" and "How Did You Get This Number" as well as "Look Alive Out There." Her debut novel, "The Clasp," and her sophomore novel, "Cult Classic," were both national bestsellers and have been optioned for film. Her latest book, "Grief Is for People," a memoir, is a New York Times bestseller and has received critical acclaim. A two-time finalist for The Thurber Prize for American Humor, Crosley lives in New York City.
Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers find the story touching, with unyielding intellectual honesty and commitment. They also find the content humorous and sparkling. Readers describe the writing quality as brilliant and sparkling prose.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers find the story touching, moving, and enduring. They also mention that the book is about the enduring importance of literature and storytelling.
"...While she doesn’t tout this as a self-help book, she touches on the stages of grief, sensitive to the fact that not all grief is tied to death,..." Read more
"...focused on the impact of grief, and the enduring importance of literature and storytelling. It's also, as John Mulaney said, a wildly funny book...." Read more
"This is an amazing, painfully moving book about the grief the author experiences after losing not a parent, or a child, or a sibling, or a partner,..." Read more
"I am embarrassed to admit this is the most enjoyable account of life and death that I have read. "..." Read more
Customers find the book humorous.
"...senior, an effusive, voracious reader, lover of authors, brilliant, humorous. Russell took a liking to Sloane straight away...." Read more
"...however, since when they come out, she organizes them into sharp, funny, insightful sentences that tell us more about her than they do the who/what..." Read more
"...It's also, as John Mulaney said, a wildly funny book. A magic trick. I will be rereading this book." Read more
"...Crackling sentences, astute observations, sly wit... a hard but satisfying read. Congrats to Crosley!" Read more
Customers find the writing quality of the book sparkling, hard but satisfying, and bearing the author's smart style. They also appreciate the crackling sentences and astute observations.
"...This narrative is like nothing she’s written before, yet it bears her same smart style, and despite the subject of loss and grief, she manages to..." Read more
"...Her description of her grief and her life are incisive and beautifully written...." Read more
"...Crackling sentences, astute observations, sly wit... a hard but satisfying read. Congrats to Crosley!" Read more
"...subject matter and tone are unified and shot through by Crosley's sparkling prose, stubborn bigheartedness, and unyielding intellectual honesty and..." Read more
Customers find the content insightful, intelligent, and honest. They also say the author is incredibly intelligent and they love being allowed into her story.
"...since when they come out, she organizes them into sharp, funny, insightful sentences that tell us more about her than they do the who/what/when of..." Read more
"...are unified and shot through by Crosley's sparkling prose, stubborn bigheartedness, and unyielding intellectual honesty and commitment...." Read more
"Observant, touching, and where there is sadness, there is her signature wit...." Read more
"Honest and touching as only Sloane Crosely can be..." Read more
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She began her career in publishing as a publicist. As luck would have it, she found a best friend in her boss, Russell, more than a decade her senior, an effusive, voracious reader, lover of authors, brilliant, humorous. Russell took a liking to Sloane straight away. His vast literary knowledge, love of things (especially those acquired at the flea market), which he attached magical qualities to, and Sloane couldn’t help but absorb this almost unspoken language it seemed only the two of them shared. They had fun. Lots of it, from everyday antics at the office to walking home from work together, author events, and weekends spent at Russell’s country home where she had a standing invitation. While out one evening, a burglar broke into her apartment, stole her jewelry, some priceless, most irreplaceable and given to her by her grandmother, all of which she didn’t realize she’d miss, until they were gone. She felt violated, of course, but a connection to her friend whose touch was often through a large gold ring she wore or stories he made up about the pieces she’d never see or wear again. Just weeks after, while still trying to process the robbery, Russell died by suicide. In disbelief, shock, and soon followed by grief, Crosley walked around in a somewhat of a daze. As if she were looking for her friend. Where did he go. He vanished. Along with her jewelry. Then came the pandemic.
Crosley touches on feelings that many of us have experienced when losing someone so important. Namely, how it feels to move on without your person. It’s not just the waking up and realizing they’re no longer here, it’s what they’re missing and how can we possibly enjoy that thing without them experiencing joy right alongside us. While she doesn’t tout this as a self-help book, she touches on the stages of grief, sensitive to the fact that not all grief is tied to death, there are many types of loss. This is about life, love, friends who are like family, and the question; how do we process grief in all its various forms.
The phrase "grief is grief" irritates me. Having lost dear pets, grandparents to old age, a father to suicide, and a 10-year-old daughter to her heart defect, I can say that each grief is vastly different. But they all have to be navigated. Instead, I like the concept that grief expands to fit the container it's in, (even if that's essentially saying "grief is grief" but without the comparative, dismissive undertones.) It's a better way for me to understand that the grief someone has is the only one they know, and it matters. I thought using the burglary as a contextual entry into the more complicated grief of losing her friend was well done and honored both of her losses. (Not to mention, the sleuthing she does to retrieve some of her pieces was first-rate crime thriller. This woman's got some serious cajones.)
As for the actual writing, this author writes as if she has a million words in her brain and she must get them all out as fast as possible. This isn't a criticism, however, since when they come out, she organizes them into sharp, funny, insightful sentences that tell us more about her than they do the who/what/when of what she's telling. She's obviously incredibly intelligent and I loved being allowed into her story.