What We Lose

What We Lose follows Thandi, a young woman born to a South African mother and American father, as she navigates life in Pennsylvania. The narrative centers on her experience of loss when her mother develops cancer during Thandi's college years. The book takes an unconventional form, incorporating photographs, charts, blog posts, and song lyrics alongside traditional prose. The story moves between Thandi's experiences in America and her connections to South Africa, examining her mixed-race identity and relationship to both cultures. Through Thandi's journey of grief, relationships, and motherhood, the novel tracks the ways that fundamental loss shapes a life. The protagonist must reconstruct her understanding of family, love, and identity in the wake of her mother's absence. The work grapples with universal themes of inheritance and belonging while offering a fresh perspective on grief, race, and the complexities of modern identity. Its experimental structure mirrors the fragmentary nature of memory and mourning.

Readers describe this as a fragmented, experimental narrative that blends fiction with autobiography. The nonlinear structure and incorporation of essays, photographs, and diagrams creates a collage-like exploration of grief, identity, and belonging. Readers appreciated: - Raw, honest portrayal of loss and mother-daughter relationships - Fresh take on the immigrant experience - Unique structural approach that mirrors scattered thoughts during grief - Short chapters that pack emotional impact Common criticisms: - Disjointed narrative feels incomplete - Character development lacks depth - Some segments feel disconnected from main story - Too brief at under 200 pages Ratings: Goodreads: 3.7/5 (7,000+ ratings) Amazon: 3.9/5 (200+ ratings) LibraryThing: 3.8/5 (300+ ratings) Reader quote: "Like memory itself - fragmentary, nonlinear, and deeply personal. Not everyone will connect with the style, but those who do will find it haunting." - Goodreads reviewer

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🌍 The novel draws heavily from Clemmons' own experiences as the daughter of a South African mother and American father, mirroring protagonist Thandi's background 📚 What We Lose was named one of the best books of 2017 by Vogue, NPR, Elle, and The Los Angeles Times 📸 The book's unique format includes real photographs, graphs, and social media posts, challenging traditional novel structures 🎓 Zinzi Clemmons was a co-founder of Apogee Journal, a publication dedicated to art and literature that engages with identity politics and social justice 🏥 The author wrote much of the novel while caring for her mother, who, like the character in the book, was battling cancer - making the grief portrayed deeply personal and authentic