This collection is amazing...so perfect for where we are now. We are all both fearful and hopeful about what will happen next but we are in it Alone Together! Some of the writing is humorous, some of it is heartbreaking but it is all wonderful and full of hope.

A nice book to read to see how others coped during lockdown. It's a book you can dip in and out of with no commitments as its a collection of short stories.

There were some very relatable stories, however, as another reader has mentioned I felt less connected to the US stories. I have checked out some of the authors in here for future reading too.

This was a great read for everything that has been going on in 2020. It made you sit and think how people are struggling, coping and dealing with all the craziness! I will definitely reread and recommend this book.

I loved this book--I have already recommended it to literally everybody who will listen.

A stunning anthology of the fear and loss of this unprecedented, (ongoing) global pandemic. Through raw poems, honest interviews, and powerful, memoir-style essays, 70+ poignant, diverse authors (so many of my favorites!) love, grieve, and comfort together. The soul of the collection lives on the experiences of stress, isolation, devastating loss, and human connection we have all (uniquely) had to wrangle in this difficult time.

They tackle the impact on and disintegration of the health and social fabric of our communities. Blunt conversation on the hit to marginalized (black, brown, gay, etc.) neighborhoods, and the unavoidable relationship to current racial and political landscapes/movements, it unguardedly discusses where our broken systems fail us—mentally, and physically.

It’s a picture of all walks of life. The pain so many have endured, the lives lost, the goodbyes missed. Unsafe to go with them to the hospital, unsafe to go to their funeral. Raw, unfiltered grief. I cried more than once.

“How does one cope when all the people who loved you best, one by one, disappear forever? Maybe you tell yourself a story.” - Grace Talusan

It speaks to the cravings of normalcy, the demand to heal, to survive, to find comfort, to love and support each other, and to maintain some semblance of control through the endless uncertainty.

“I believe it is immoral, yes, but also unhealthy—emotionally, spiritually, to bear witness to this tragedy and not feel it’s ache.” - Robin Black

Insanity and reality have bled together these past months, and this collection makes the closest thing to sense of the madness. Reading this, I felt both validated in my aloneness, and also somehow less alone? Major recommendation to anyone experiencing literally anything in COVID-19 (so, everybody).

This was a solid book. However, I just don’t think short story collections are my cup of tea. That aside, it was enjoyable and cute and fun and sad and all of the emotions. It definitely helps in knowing that we are all TRULY in this pandemic together (but socially distanced of course 😉). It was nice to read such a creative format and everyone’s unique experience in our current “situation” for lack of a better word.

I think this is something I will value more in the years to come, given that I write this in the midst of the event in question. Haupt has put together a thoughtful and comforting collection of essays, which run the gamut of human experience in an extremely strange time. I really enjoyed reading this, it felt like a bit of a communal hug from many voices in many places all at once.

I really enjoyed this book, it's unlike anything I usually read but I found myself drawn to the short stories and interviews. Not sure I'm converting to a poetry reader anytime soon though!

Some of the stories were so relatable, it's reassuring to know that we are all going through this pandemic together. Other things were more specific to the United States and felt insightful to the situation there.

Took me a long time to read as it's something to dip in and out of rather than something I struggled to put down. The chapter on Grief I found quite challenging at times. I have definitely picked up on some authors whose work I would like to read more of.

**Thanks to netgalley and the publishers for giving me advance access in return for an honest review.

Alone Together is the kind of book you take in bits - it's a short story/ essay collection that captures life during the months of March - June 2020 when the whole world was turned upside down. For those looking for stories about life during that time, this sure is something to look into.

Some stories are relatable, not so much; some are sad, some written in a funny and silly way; some go deeper, some focus on the surface things - but one thing that connects them all is the common thread of how people dealt with quarantine and lockdown.

I liked how there are different voices and styles used, including poems (although I skipped right over those) to appeal to various readers.⁣⁠ It took me a few weeks to finish it, but I can see the value of a common thread in times of uncertainty. It was nice to read someone's story and know that all over the world people had to deal with the same thing, yet things weren't the same.⁣⁠

I really enjoyed reading this book. It's a collection of short stories from many different authors all edited together by Jennifer Haupt. I loved that this book was put into different sections (love, grief, comfort) so I could choose what I wanted to read when I wanted it. I also liked that it wasn't a continuous story because with everything going on, it was nice to just read something heartfelt, short, and sweet.
This book reminded me that we are all humans, living and trying to live through this pandemic. It helped to remind me that I am one small part of a whole collective that is the human race. A good reminder for me as I try to navigate my way through month of being stuck at home with little to no interaction outside of my house. This book lives up to it's name, and will help remind you that you're not alone, you're alone together with many other people just like you.

Thanks so much to the author, NetGalley, Kate Rock Book Tours, and Central Avenue Publishing for the complimentary advanced e-copy of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts and participation in this blog tour. All opinions are entirely my own. { partner } All of my reviews can also be found on Instagram @Tackling_TBR and on my blog at tacklingtbr.home.blog

TW : COVID-19 pandemic, loss of loved ones, sickness

I will say, first and foremost, that if I wasn't on the blog tour for this book I likely would not have picked it up or read it when I did. This virus, and the time we have been living in hasn't been easy for anyone - there is so much fear in the world right now, and being basically locked into your houses for a full quarantine was really hard on a lot of people's mental and emotional health, myself included. And so diving right into a book about the world seemingly falling apart while we are still very much in the middle of it was a bit strange for me.

That being said, I am so incredibly glad that I read it.

This book, and all of the poems, short stories, etc. that make it up, were so powerful. And not every story will speak to every reader, but I think every reader can find at least a handful of stories that really will speak to them, and will possibly stick with them after they're done reading. More so than anything else, this book was amazing to show me that I am not alone while I'm locked in my house all day having conversations with my pets. To show me that all of my really big feelings that I'm feeling are not only valid, but I'm not the only one feeling or experiencing them.

I would say that at this moment in time this book might not be a healthy read for every single person, and that maybe some people would do better to wait and read it once it feels like we have, as a country, come out on the other side of all of this. But I do think that more people should read it, either now or then. As I said, it felt wonderful to read some of the stories that were so similar to my own - so if that is something that you have been craving, that connected, togetherness with other people, then I really think you need to read this book. And if you can't intake media right now because we are still too close to the situation, maybe consider buying the book to read later on. You'll be supporting the book-ish community with your purchase, and then if nothing else 10 years from now you will have this very real, very raw look back at this crazy time in history that we will have all lived through.

In his Foreword, Garth Stein states that ".. art reflects the human experience ...", and never more so has it then in this collection of short stories, poems and interviews; writers joining together to make sense of COVID-19 and to raise money for the Book Industry Charitable Foundation (Binc), keeping struggling indie booksellers afloat during this difficult time.

Prose can be interpreted in so many different ways to its reader; so too has the experience of this dreaded pandemic affected each one of us differently. For some, this has been a time of great fear and alienation, while others have felt connections never before experienced. This anthology is packed full of emotion, insight, frustration, loss and love, however don't assume that this book is depressing. It's not. Like a warm cup of tea, I found it soul nourishing and comforting. I am not alone in this pandemic. Others feel the same as me. Reading this has also reminded me of how lucky I am and, when all is said and done, what always remains is hope.

This book is important not only to help booksellers survive, but to begin the healing. As editor Jennifer Haupt puts it, "In telling our stories, we hope to enable you to tell your story".

My favourites in this anthology include:

- Andrew Dubus III looks at how his long-held tendancies to catastrophise energises him to make daily grocery deliveries to vulnerable relatives.

- Nikki Giovanni's dedication to Maya Angelou reminds us of the loss of innocence and that "at times like this" it's okay to take time to mourn.

- Andrea King Collier juxtaposes the loss of breath from symptoms of the virus to the last breath of George Floyd, and the pandemic of hatred and racism.

- Dinty W Moore feels like "a bug sealed in amber but wide awake" as his exciting plans for his first year of retirement in 2020 are reduced to a simpler life of watching the afternoon sun create shadows through the window.

- As his 22 year job at a beloved bookstore in Portland is temporarily put on hold, Kevin Sampsell discovers there is so much more he has lost than just an income and insurance.

- One hour after learning how to use Zoom, Gina Frangello sends out invitations for her pop-up wedding.

- Grieving the loss of her friend, Laura Stanfill walks a virtual Camino de Santiago along with two thousand other pilgrims.

- Grace Talusan has been thinking a lot lately about those loved ones who have passed many years before, perhaps because quarantine allows her the time to grieve them.

- Breaking up with her boyfriend and unable to be physically comforted with hugs, Paulette Perhach looks at how the skin has gone from being identified with pleasure and beauty to that of fear and a vehicle for the virus.

- Similarly, Susan Henderson sits six feet apart from her mother wearing a mask and gloves, unable to physically console her for the loss of her husband, Susan's father, the night before.

- Jean Kwok bonds with her over-bearing mother during lockdown and forgives herself for not being the "good Chinese daughter".

- Jessica Keener is familiar with another kind of quarantine, one that was not shared with the whole world - isolating alone while waiting for a bone marrow donation.

- Roberto Lovato goes on a first date via Zoom, while Sommer Browning and David Shields spend their date night on Zoom, picking apart a crappy Tom Cruise film and plotting the sexy times they hope to have again one day.

- Jennifer Rosner and her 90-year-old mother bond over daily cooking calls.

- Isolating on a farm in Iceland, Pam Houston camps in the barn to nurse a lamb that has been rejected by its mother.

- As a black person in America, W Ralph Eubanks has worn a mask his entire life.

- Quarantine has forced Logan Blanton to become reacquainted with himself and to enjoy being still in silence.

- Estranged from her sister, Caroline Leavitt discovers that not even COVID-19 can fix a fractured relationship.

- As Meg Waite Clayton's son becomes a newly minted Professor unable to physically walk across a stage donning the silk gown and mortarboard, she questions how can we observe rituals, prococols and conventions in a pandemic.

- Anna Quinn illustrates all the maybes of COVID-19 ... maybe you're eating dinner at three o'clock because who can keep track of time anymore ... maybe you ache of loneliness or maybe you're most alive in solitude.

Thank you to the publisher, editor and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

Actual rating: 3.5/5

I admit, I felt rushed into reading this when I realised I only had 2 days left before it expired! (Still getting used to the Netgalley app... so a little confused with that and my backlog). In saying that, I'm glad that I read this whilst still in this Covid era as I think I got more out of it, rather than waiting any longer. I do feel like it would have been better had I read a few pieces over a slightly longer span of time (say a week or so) as some pieces did end up blending a little.

The cover and title was what drew me in initally, it actually gave me romance vibes, but what we have is a collection/anthology of interviews, poems, and essays (making it a very readable format) revolving around covid, and particularly how to stay connected and thrive during isolation and strained time a part from loved ones, so it's very relatable to the current times.

The author who wrote the introduction (Garth Stein) has a lovely writing style, even just from the introduction (also appreciate a part of the profit of this book will go to the editors bookselling charity, Binc, that supports small bookstores in need) and I enjoyed reading from other writers I hadn't read from before.

highlights of some of the contributions
The poem of "At times like this" by Nikki Giovanni reminded me of the Lockdown cover of times like these, with the title. That just made me smile.
Andrea King Collier's essay "Feeding my Heart and Soul" warmed my heart and I've since added her book about her relationship with her and her mum, who died of ovarian cancer, to my tbr because it sounded like something I could resonate with, though I know will hit me hard.
The David Sheff interview on addiction, grief and activism intrigued me enough to be interested in checking out his memoir in "Beautiful Boy".
Grace Tulan's discussion on grief and death rituals sent tears to my eyes in her essay called "River of Grief".
"Skin" by Paulette Perhach was achingly beautiful. It was a grief that mainly focused on lost love, and the absence of contact just as covid struck in.
Michelle Goodman's "Touch" was heart breaking. It was more about before covid and the passing of her husband, but tainted with how that gathering was the last physical one she would really have, due to covid.
"Today, when I could do nothing" by Jane Hirshfield was a beautiful poem.
I also loved "Alone and Awash in Desire" by Sonara Jha.
I very much enjoyed "In the Bathtub" by Jenna Blum, featuring beautiful poetry from her friend, Stephen P. Kiernan, that soothed her frustrations away.
Others that spoke to me included:
"State of the Art, State of the Union" by Devi S. Laskar.
"What to Bring in a Die-In" by Amber Flame.
"On Asking Mama to Pray for Me" by Teri Elam.
Pam Houston's "Stamina (Memorial Day Weekend, 2020)" was very touching.
"Don't Stop belivin' " by Shana Mahaffey.
"We Wear the Mask" by W. Ralph Eubanks.

Perhaps at a later date I'll try to get a hole of other copies such as the audio book, as they contain bonus content.

Overall, this made me feel supported and understood as well as widening my compassion for others as it tackles a very prevalent topic worldwide and the many different facets associated with Covid19.

This book was an important book to read, especially in such tough times. With so much uncertainty in the world, it was nice to feel less alone. Even for those of us who are living with others, there is a certain loneliness that has come with the pandemic and with the racism that is still occurring in our world. It’s easy to become complacent or to feel lonely in all of this.

I think that this is truly an anthology for everyone. We can all find a little piece of what we are feeling and experiencing while reading these poems, essays, and interviews. I really enjoyed reading so many different perspectives and thoughts. It made me feel less alone.

I especially appreciated that all of the authors contributed their share to The Book Industry Charitable Foundation, a nonprofit organization that coordinates charitable programs to strengthen the bookselling community. Thank you for your dedication to the reading community.

I wish I had the physical copy of this book, because I would hug it. Even though we are all experiencing the pandemic right now, it's so easy to feel alone. We are all in the same storm, and yet it often feels like I am in a boat completely by myself. I know many others feel exactly the same way. Alone together provided me the small comfort of feeling less alone.

From others who have to navigate an anxiety disorder during a global pandemic to others who have lost a loved one and missed all the normal markers of processing grief, I saw myself in so many of these essays. Even in essays that were experiences I haven't had, my heart recognized the feelings others are having and felt a kinship to them. If you've been feeling alone during the pandemic, pick up Alone Together for the reminder that your soul is not the only one aching, and the world mourns this change with you.

This book gives you lot of insights through essays, poems and interviews, about handling stressful times in covid crisis. I found it equally motivating and informative.Some give you heartbreaks, while some give you smile and laughs. Ultimately the book gives you hope.

I loved this book of short stories. Some where just a page and some were longer. Some I binged and some I read one and thought. Some made me feel happy, sad, safe, scared, privileged, worried, etc. I’m glad I came across this book

When COVID really started to ramp up in the U.S. in March of this year, I remember thinking to myself, "In about 6 months, there are going to be lots of TV shows, movies, and books written about this." Here we are, over 6 months later, still in the midst of a kind of altered reality, wondering if and when things will get back to "normal."

This book is a compilation of different authors using various styles of writing to express their personal experiences with COVID. The stories offer a glimpse into the experiences of people from all walks of life, how isolation from the community, and extended time with immediate family has affected everyone differently. Stories of fear, hope, loneliness, and community permeate these works of writing, and each one is just as important as the next. There were a few stories that I skimmed or skipped that were a little too abstract for my taste. Overall, the stories were unique and eye-opening, and it's comforting to see how every person is dealing with this time differently. I particularly liked the last chapter, "Before You Go," which is exclusive content for eBooks and Audio.

This mandated pause in life for everyone on this planet is a time that everyone has to confront their own anxieties, mortality, and relationships face on.

Six months on from the beginning of a global pandemic, it seems a bit early to be reflecting on the experience. Yes, we’ve all experienced a lot in these months, but with second waves springing up across Europe and elsewhere, it feels like the worst is yet to come.

With the publication of Zadie Smith’s Limitations and this, Covid memoirs are now already on the rise. Should we already be writing our experiences of this pandemic when there is so much more to come? Yes and no, I’m not sure of the answer.

I was sceptical about reading Alone Together, a book that combines experiences of the pandemic from 91 authors. I was worried it would be a bit preemptive, and it was to a certain extent, as it only covers the first few months of what is set to be a long-term pandemic. There are natural limitations to this, as it’s an ongoing experience.

However, I was surprised at the volume and diversity of experience this collection of poems, essays, interviews and personal stories manages to convey. It was never going to be an easy book to read – so I read it in small, regulated doses over a month. I enjoyed it more than I thought – and gained a lot from learning about the range of experiences the book shines a light on.

Covid-19 has affected the whole world, but this book reminds us that every experience of the pandemic has been different. “Today we may all be required to wear a mask. But our masks are unequal.” (W. Ralph Eubanks) Which is part of the beauty of the book. It gives voices to the multitude of different experiences of the pandemic and the range of difficulties faced. From caring for loved ones, trying to home-school and overall – just trying to stay sane and afloat in our tumultuous world. It’s a book about every felt aspect of the pandemic – love, loss, grief, comfort, connecting, and moving forward.

Although it is American-centric, as a UK reader, it shines a light onto the experience of Covid-19 from across the pond. It features words from 91 writers that I had never heard of and I found myself Googling authors and adding their books to my TBR list – you could say I learnt a lot about new writers. Alongside every poem, essay or interview is a brief description of the author and their works which I found useful and noteworthy.

I found the essays to be the most enjoyable to read. Although only ever a few pages long, I felt it gave a more in-depth view to understanding the person’s experience of the pandemic. They were all beautifully written, as they would be, but deeply insightful.

The entire book is self-reflective by nature and harrowing at times to read – since we are still very much living through it. Although preemptive, readers will gain a lot from reading this. It will become one of those books that are studied when trying to make sense of our current history. Hopefully, future historians will realise the diversity at the heart of experiences of the Covid-19 pandemic.

It doesnt support or open after I download the pdf version of it. It's also not showing in my shelf in netgalley and I cant open it to read

Please look into the issue and if you can send me the pdf in my mail ID- taniagungunsarkar@gmail.com

I cant read the book from here. Please look into the issue

This is the book we all need right now. Filled with a mix of poetry, essays guessing at the future, and honest, raw personal reflections, the authors pinpoint the conflicting feelings many of us are currently struggling with. Reading this felt like a revelation, being able to put what I've been unable to articulate into words. There was a lot of nodding in agreement, writing down quotes, and calling my mom to share an especially poignant passage (and some of these essays made grateful I still have my mom around to call).
This a must-read that is difficult to summarize into a review. It deals with issues that are still ongoing, breaking down initial reactions and fears for the future into palatable pieces that offer just enough to not feel overwhelming or like the reader is bogged down in further feelings of isolation or despondency.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a complimentary copy. This did not impact my review.