The novel is narrated by a woman whose terminally ill friend asks for help dying and becomes a melding of reflections on familiar books, movies and other media and real-life-like lectures.

The book is a collection of tangents, recitations of conversations and interactions the narrator has had throughout her life. Though often depressing and sometimes controversial, this structure was a brilliant way to mirror the distance most of us instinctively try to maintain from topics such as death and dying in our everyday lives.

Thus, “What Are You Going Through” did what good literature is supposed to do — and is the main reason, I would argue, why we read: Communicate to the reader that they are seen, that they are not alone.