A Single Man is a novel by Christopher Isherwood. It was published in 1964 and is quite short, at just 186 pages in length. It was later adapted into a film in 2009, starring Oscar winners Colin Firth and Julianne Moore, and directed by acclaimed fashion and makeup designer Tom Ford.

The story is about a man named George, who works as an English professor at a university. He is greatly suffering after the loss of his partner, Jim. We follow him over the course of one day in his life as he struggles to carry on, often finding only the most fleeting moments of clarity before sinking back into depression.

This book is a truly heartbreaking, master work of prose. I bought it prior to the film's release and have since read it a handful of times. Because it's so short, it's easy to pick it up and go through it over a day or two. Isherwood was a gay man himself and most of his books have some sort of LGBTQ subject matter to them. Regardless of your sexuality or your beliefs, I feel that this is a stunning depiction of love, loss, and depression. The film is equally as good.

I recommend it if you're in the mood for a quick read, but be forewarned that you may need a tissue.