Hornby, Nick: *1957

A Long Way Down, 2005 - Thematic Parallels: Depression

Hornby, Nick: A Long Way Down, 2005
The novel explores themes of suicide, depression, and human connection. The characters form an unlikely support network, navigating personal struggles, mental health challenges, and the complexities of friendship and hope.
The following books are thematically similar. They lend themselves well to being read in groups, compared with one another, or used to teach a similar topic over an extended period with a class:
- Cleave, Chris: The Other Hand, 1998, ~200pp
  This novel addresses themes of trauma, survival, and the impact of personal choices, resonating with the emotional depth found in "A Long Way Down."
  - Both novels explore how unexpected encounters bring together disparate characters who are facing crises, using multiple perspectives, blending humor with dark themes, and highlighting moral responsibility and human connection. They show that even in the midst of trauma or despair, relationships can catalyze growth, reflection, and change.
- Hosseini, Khaled: A Thousand Splendid Suns, 1999, ~270pp
  This novel addresses hardship, resilience, and difficult life circumstances.
  - Both novels focus on human suffering and the capacity to endure, highlighting resilience in the face of adversity. They emphasize how human connection provides emotional support and a means to navigate crises and how external pressures and societal norms shape individual experiences of pain and decision-making.
- Prejean, Helen: Dead Man Walking, 1963, ~250pp
  This is a documentary-style book dealing with intense emotional and moral questions about life and death.
  - Both works confront society’s and individuals’ responses to death and the moral questions surrounding it. They evoke empathy and challenge the audience to confront uncomfortable truths about human suffering, morality, and societal attitudes toward death.
- Wiesel, Elie: Night, 2017, ~440pp
  This memoir deals with profound trauma and survival.
  - Both texts explore the human response to extreme suffering and the ways individuals cope—or fail to cope—with it. The intensity and stakes differ drastically—"Night" deals with historical atrocity and life-or-death situations, while "A Long Way Down" deals with modern personal crises with dark humor and eventual hope. Despite this, the central human themes of suffering, despair, and connection resonate in both.
List of general discussion questions on Depression (pdf)
List of essay prompts on Depression (pdf)