Learning to Die

by Thomas Maloney

Is thirty too late to reconsider? Natalie can’t remember why her life is following Plan B. Dan’s vision of the universe has never extended to understanding his wife. But their marriage has some precious ember at its core, doesn’t it? Meanwhile, trader Mike is relieved to discover that it doesn’t matter if there’s a void where the weightiest substance of your character should be. Fearless mountaineer Brenda sweats and trembles in a crowded room. And James doesn’t know how to unfollow his dreams. Thrown off course by a shocking diagnosis, five friends confront the realities of money, meaning, marriage, and mortality, in this vivaciously intelligent novel about how to live and die.

Genres: Fiction

288 pages, Paperback

Published July 11, 2019

About the author

Thomas Maloney was born in Kent in 1979, grew up in London, and studied Physics at Oxford. His first novel, The Sacred Combe, was published in 2016. He lives in Oxfordshire with his family.

Reviews

[Alan Riles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written, erudite, moving and personally telling

Did not disappoint my high expectations after the delights of Sacred Combe.
The ending is inexorably inevitable but not pat with platitudes.
Telling passages on the robustness as well as the fragility of closeness for both Dan and Nat , and James and Brenda.
Finished it in a cafe in highland Peru trying to hide my tears.

[Tink · Rating 1 out of 5]

Trying so hard to be good makes it so bad, couldnt even finish it and life is too short for bad books

[Benedict Reid · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book of 30s Angst, which rang true to my own experience in that decade of questioning the life path you seem to have committed to.
Some beautiful lines and lots of story arcs set off at the beginning. One flaw was that the way the various plot lines ended was often flagged much earlier in the book, which all lead to the last few chapters lacking the element of surprise which helped drive the rest of the book.

[Oliver Titheradge · Rating 4 out of 5]

The meticulous and scientific writing style is so unique, especially in such an emotional book.

Deals with some brave topics which I do not often encounter. Although, the heavy subject matter did lead to me taking a very long time to get through the book.

[Scribe Publications]

Startling and sad but also sly, punchy and full of heart — I admire Maloney for going where few novels dare.
Julie Myerson, Author of The Stopped Heart>/i>

A crisply written and ferociously intelligent account of a disparate group of thirtysomethings trying to make sense of the world they inhabit, and a welcome reminder that the English novel — as opposed to all the other kinds clamouring for our attention — is alive and well.
D.J. Taylor, Author of The Prose Factory

A novel replete with formal virtues — Learning to Die by Thomas Maloney assembles a vibrant cast of recognisable characters to wrestle with the contemporary challenge of how we live and die now, and whether engagement is any more possible than escape.
Richard Beard, Author of The Day That Went Missing