By Satu Sarkas-Bosman
Antigone, whilst navigating the oddities of her life, finds a dog waiting outside her front door. This is no ordinary stray, separated from its owner, but Death making an entrance to Antigone’s already complicated existence. This does not surprise her because Death always appears in the form of a dog to all the women in her family. There are no questions, laments or hesitation offered, only a quiet resignation whilst inviting the hound in. Death soon makes itself integral to Antigone’s everyday life, becoming a close companion and a trigger for contemplation of life already lived.
This book is only 130 pages long and miraculously manages to cover many deep and difficult topics. Those who find death and suicide challenging subjects may struggle with this one. Death and ghosts here are both real and allegorical, signifying a real loss and the residue left behind. What if the ghosts we sense around us are created by trauma that we carry and not an apparition of those who cannot leave this earthly plane? There are no longing, suffering spectres here, but ghosts who invade your life and make themselves known in no uncertain terms.
Cassandra Khaw’s writing is articulate, sharply observed, and presents difficult questions in an uncomplicated manner as if to invite us to consider these topics without fear. The characters are complex, very real, and their life choices are often relatable to many. The author manages to combine reflections on life and death with everyday interactions in a way that never feels contrived or pretentious. Antigone’s endeavour to navigate her life, whilst still feeling the weight of her past, is so keenly written that readers can find themselves rooting for her and a hopeful outcome. Please do not be put off by the challenging themes because, although at times a difficult read, this is ultimately a meditation of life and how death is just one aspect of it.
Cassandra Khaw has written a highly personal, fearless book, and this is what makes it so impactful. She reaches out to all those whose own black dogs sometimes threaten to outweigh everything else whilst, at the same time, making the book reflective reading for everyone. Antigone finds her own path and, accepting that death is ever present, reminds us that hope forever remains.
Find Me Where It Ends by Cassandra Khaw is available now in various formats from Titan Books.
