“What I Leave Behind” is a novel by Alison McGhee in 2018 that explores the inner workings of a teenage boy’s mind. 

The main character, Will, has experienced trauma throughout his life from his father committing suicide to his best friend being raped at a party. Through all this, he walks to forget. Or to think. Both really. 

Written only on the right side of each page, the formatting of this novel is the most normal thing about it (and it’s not remotely normal). There are no distinct chapters, each page acts as its own chapter, only one hundred chapters with one hundred words each.The few characters and a lack of description also creates a fast paced book. 

However, the downside is that the book does not create a plot. It feels like 200 pages of exposition.  There are pages upon pages of Will’s existential musings: “You know what’s weird? That something – something big – can happen to someone you know, someone you’ve known forever, while you’re just living your life, and you don’t even know it’s happening.” 

As someone who enjoys character development over plot, I did not mind this. However, readers looking for a fast pace, excitement filled book, this book is not for you. 

“What I Leave Behind” is a unique book that tackles the theme of moving on with the motif of walking, along with Will giving his friends gifts in order to help them move forward in their lives. Overall, this book is a fast, inner monologue based book for those who enjoy to read about the human mind.