Dying of Lassitude and Ennui

Phil Fletcher-Stokes’ Dying of Lassitude and Ennui is a candid exploration of the manifold frustrations and ironies that punctuate the twilight years of life delivered in a unique poetic voice. Though the book may appear heavy with personal lament, it sparkles with a piercing humor that offers readers both introspection and entertainment. Through loosely connected essays and poetic utterances, Fletcher-Stokes employs various stylistic devices, particularly wit and satire, to reflect on aging, isolation, and the human condition. The book's structure, a series of poetic musings, enables Fletcher-Stokes to ricochet between profound despair and almost slapstick observations. This kaleidoscopic approach mirrors the erratic nature of emotional states experienced during aging, perfectly encapsulated in pieces like “When You're Too Cute to Poop,” wherein Fletcher-Stokes discusses the nuances of human fragility with a tongue-in-cheek tone that is as amusing as it is sobering. His satirical treatment of somber themes becomes a coping mechanism, suggesting that humor is not merely an antidote to suffering but a survival tool against life's inevitable absurdities.  

Fletcher-Stokes’ thematic development is rooted firmly in monotony and existential dread juxtaposed, embellished with moments of whimsical absurdity. The titular 'lassitude and ennui' are ever-present, not only as thematic cores but as stylistic undercurrents that brand the book's tone. “Dying of Boredom and Despair” captures the author's self-aware exaggeration of these states, skillfully balancing gravity with levity. By doing so, Fletcher-Stokes transforms mundane observations into broader reflections on life's futility and the search for meaning. The book illustrates Fletcher-Stokes’ skillful use of conciseness to convey complex emotions. Phrases like “Satan's knee on my neck’ from “Prozac Nation Revisited” capture both the physical and metaphysical weight of aging's oppressive yoke. Such vivid imagery, paired with dark humor, paints a stark picture of Fletcher-Stokes’ inner world, simultaneously inviting empathy and evoking laughter. Dying of Lassitude and Ennui is a unique literary creation that will appeal to readers who enjoy well-written poetry and fans of existentialism. I laughed through each poem.