Literary Fiction: Emma Cline’s ‘Switzy’ Follows a Dementia Sufferer to His End

Emma Cline’s new novel, “Switzy,” centers on a $13,000 cost. That is the price David, the protagonist, deems shockingly cheap for an assisted suicide. He is a corporate executive recently dismissed from his high-powered job following a dementia diagnosis. The book was published on Sept. 8.

David’s story unfolds over three meditative days. He does not scramble to organize his fading life. Instead, he watches his memory lapses with curiosity. He keeps a notebook to find answers when his mind blanks. This routine allows him to accept the chaos of his condition.

The timeline of David’s final days is specific. He begins by visiting his daughter, Rebecca, and his grandson, Rainer, in London. After these visits, he travels to Switzerland. His primary goal in Europe is to see Tom, his high school best friend. He has not spoken to Tom since a prank went wrong during their freshman year of college.

David’s assistant, Cody, manages the logistics of his decline. Cody reminds David of his daughter’s identity. Cody explains why they are traveling to Switzerland. Cody also endures David’s verbal abuse and blame. The assistant serves as the anchor for David’s fundamental tasks.

The title of the book references a tradition among the upper class. It refers to expensive ski trips to Switzerland. The term is casually used by David’s business partner, Stearns. In the narrative, the word takes on a second meaning. It names the place where David plans to die.

Cline structures the plot around simple movements between locations. The bulk of the text focuses on the space between conversations. David parses his surroundings and the memories they trigger. These internal monologues reveal how he became the man he is now.

The character of Tom provides a counterweight to David’s corporate persona. Tom represents David’s truest love. Their reunion is brief. They share a painfully awkward two-minute interaction near the end of the book. This meeting serves as a final destination for David before his death.

David’s visit to Rainer offers a look at his childhood. The scene takes place in Rainer’s room in London. The setting forces David to confront the cost of rigid parental expectations. He regresses into a younger version of himself in that space. He realizes this is the version of his life he misses the most.

The novel avoids a linear narrative structure. It moves between the present, memories, and songs stuck in David’s head. Each thought spawns a new question or moment of confusion. These moments always resolve in a demand for Cody’s help. The story builds a portrait of a successful man through the memories he leaves behind.