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Emma Cline's 'Switzy' explores man's final journey with Alzheimer's

Emma Cline's new novel, 'Switzy', a Booker Prize longlistee, follows a wealthy man with Alzheimer's on his journey to a euthanasia clinic in Zurich.

  • Emma Cline's third novel, 'Switzy', has been longlisted for the Booker Prize.
  • The book's central character, David Hastings, is afflicted with Alzheimer's, though the word is not used in the novel.
  • The story details David's journey from the US to the UK, then to Zurich for euthanasia at a facility resembling Dignitas.

Emma Cline's third novel, 'Switzy', has been longlisted for the Booker Prize. The book centres on David Hastings, a wealthy former chief financial officer, who is experiencing the advanced stages of what is understood to be Alzheimer's disease.

The novel begins with David and his assistant, Cody, travelling by private jet from the US to the UK. After visiting his daughter's family in the UK, David continues his journey to Zurich, where he plans to be euthanised at a facility similar to Dignitas.

David's condition has progressed to a point where daily tasks like operating a phone or holding a conversation are deeply problematic. He has experienced memory lapses, including forgetting how he arrived in his car and losing the ability to tie his shoelaces.

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