47 pages • 1-hour read
Can't We Talk About Something More Pleasant?: A Memoir
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Background
Authorial Context: Roz Chast
Roz Chast, born in 1954 in Brooklyn, New York, is an American author and a staff cartoonist for The New Yorker. In her 2014 memoir, Can’t We Talk About Something More Pleasant?, Chast reflects on her childhood in Brooklyn, revealing that she doesn’t have fond memories of that time. Raised as the only child of George and Elizabeth Chast, whose families came to America from Russia, she had a close bond with her father and a turbulent relationship with her mother. In her memoir, Chast explores her upbringing and family dynamics: As she cared for her parents during the final years of their lives, she delved into her complex relationships with them.
Chast received a BFA in painting from the Rhode Island School of Design. In 1978, at just 24, Chast became one of the contracted artists on The New Yorker magazine’s roster. Her work has also appeared in numerous other publications, including The Village Voice, National Lampoon, and Harvard Business Review. Chast has written and illustrated various books, of which her memoir Can’t We Talk About Something More Pleasant? is her most famous. She is celebrated for her unique illustration style and her humorous, honest depictions of everyday life. Her art often explores the anxieties of daily life. In Can’t We Talk About Something More Pleasant?, she recounts the last years of her parents’ lives, exploring her complicated relationship with them, her financial anxieties, and the duality of wanting to care for them while also feeling resentment toward them. Chast’s contributions to literature and illustration have earned her several awards, including the 2012 NYC Literary Honor in Humor and the 2015 Reuben Award. In 2017, she received the Alumni Award for Artistic Achievement at the Rhode Island School of Design’s commencement ceremony.
Social Context: Elder Care
As the global population ages, elder care issues have become increasingly relevant. According to the World Economic Forum, between 2020 and 2050, “the global population over 60 will double from 1 billion to 2.1 billion” and “the number of over-80s will triple to reach 426 million” (Whiting, Kate. “Could These Old and New Ideas Be the Future of Social Care for the Elderly?” World Economic Forum, 3 Aug. 2023). This demographic shift is accompanied by a rise in age-related illnesses, such as dementia, which Chast’s father experienced, and chronic conditions like diverticulitis, which her mother experienced.
The growing number of elderly individuals requiring assistance presents emotional and logistical challenges for caregivers and families. Healthcare systems worldwide are not yet fully ready to address the complex health needs of the elderly, and seniors face multiple challenges, including the prohibitive cost of assisted living facilities. In her memoir, Can’t We Talk About Something More Pleasant?, Roz Chast highlights these issues as she recounts her parents’ transition from independence to dependence, which involved moving into an assisted living facility that was not covered by insurance. Chast frequently expresses concern about the financial toll and whether her parents’ savings were sufficient to cover all the costs associated with their care. She also visited other facilities, describing them as sad and highlighting the inadequacy of many elder care options available.
Elder care places significant strain on family members, who often juggle caregiving responsibilities with their personal and professional lives. Chast recalls her feelings of guilt, frustration, and helplessness as her parents became increasingly dependent on her. As an only child, she bore the full responsibility for their care. She reflects on the duality of her emotions: On one hand, she felt significant resentment toward her parents; on the other, she was grateful to spend time with them. This underscores the emotional complexity of elder care for families and the need for better support systems for caregivers.
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