Live for Yourself, Live for Others
The phrase “trigger warning” triggers people in opposite directions. Some think it represents the weak in society, while others shy away from any book that could conjure up unwanted memories. Author Yiyun Li tells people with preconceived notions about suicide to stop reading “Things in Nature Merely Grow” after the first 40 pages, repeating the phrase “There’s no easy way to say this.”
Lit attempted suicide in her youth, and she lost two sons to the same end. To subject anyone to this well-written, pathos-driven piece, you would need to know about their history. I, for one, classify this as I do “Schindler’s List” and “Saving Private Ryan” as a brilliant, emotional work that I may struggle to endure again.
Li has a lot of questions about grammar as it relates to the tragic loss of a child, but they are not the ones that you consider. Are you still a parent if you die or your kid does? These thoughts populate the mind of a grieving parent who needs to move on but must do so at her own pace.
The ending of one’s life brings about many philosophical questions that require deeper thought. Do people actually want to die or just for their pain to end? Is it selfish, even among those who feel like a burden to their loved ones? To answer that, we will say that there are no answers, only empathy for the suffering parents.
The fact that Li finishes this book in a way that not only affirms life but also teaches you why your life is worth living is nothing short of a miracle. I still recommend the novel with caution because I would not dare tell anyone how to grieve. I, for one, will remember that people are counting on my presence.
(06/03/26)
