When her father dies Kay Wilkinson can't cry. Over ten years Alzheimer's had steadily eroded
this erudite man into a paranoid lunatic. Surely one's own father passing should never come as
such a relief. Both medical professionals Kay and her husband Cyril have seen too many elderly
patients in similar states of decay. Although healthy and vital in their early fifties the
couple fears what may lie ahead. Determined to die with dignity Cyril makes a modest proposal.
To spare themselves and their loved ones such a humiliating and protracted decline they should
agree to commit suicide together once they've both turned eighty. When their deal is sealed
the spouses are blithely looking forward to another three decades together. But then they turn
eighty. By turns hilarious and touching playful and grave Should We Stay or Should We Go
portrays twelve parallel universes each exploring a possible future for Kay and Cyril. Were
they to cut life artificially short what would they miss out on? Something terrific? Or
something terrible? Might they end up in a home? A fabulous luxury retirement village or a
Cuckoo's Nest sort of home? Might being demented end up being rather fun? What future for
humanity awaits-the end of civilization or a Valhalla of peace and prosperity? What if
cryogenics were really to work? What if scientists finally cure aging? Both timely and timeless
Lionel Shriver addresses serious themes-the compromises of longevity the challenge of living a
long life and still going out in style-with an uncannily light touch. Weaving in a host of
contemporary issues from Brexit and mass migration to the coronavirus Shriver has pulled off
a rollicking page-turner in which we never have to mourn perished characters because they'll
be alive and kicking in the very next chapter.
