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horrorgardener's review against another edition
5.0
This just might be one of the most important books ever written and that's not just a gushing exaggeration.
The author takes us behind the scenes to some of the professions that deal with different aspects of death that we only hear about. She stand witness for us to experience the different ways the human body is treated after we pass away.
As someone who is forever chasing the horror story that also emotionally moves me, I found myself crying more then once during this book. There is a brutal honesty in how things are presented to the reader and you must be prepared when going into this. You will share in both the trauma and quiet love that makes up what I feel is an important work for anyone that is pondering death.
Hayley Campbell has written a book that will stick with me for the rest of my life and has forever given me an unimaginable amount of insight onto something that I think about daily.
Thank you Hayley for carrying the emotional baggage and giving us such a gift.
The author takes us behind the scenes to some of the professions that deal with different aspects of death that we only hear about. She stand witness for us to experience the different ways the human body is treated after we pass away.
As someone who is forever chasing the horror story that also emotionally moves me, I found myself crying more then once during this book. There is a brutal honesty in how things are presented to the reader and you must be prepared when going into this. You will share in both the trauma and quiet love that makes up what I feel is an important work for anyone that is pondering death.
Hayley Campbell has written a book that will stick with me for the rest of my life and has forever given me an unimaginable amount of insight onto something that I think about daily.
Thank you Hayley for carrying the emotional baggage and giving us such a gift.
gudgercollege's review against another edition
5.0
Great book but why do I keep doing this to myself? Jesus Christ, some of this was brutal
esseffjay's review against another edition
challenging
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
4.5
Incredibly interesting. I really appreciated that the author is an investigative journalist who clearly put so much time into really seeing and understanding all stages of the death trade first hand.
A lot of it was very eye opening to things (/jobs) I had never even thought of before. Difficult to read at times but I really liked how honest and confronting it was.
I also liked that the author was able to balance giving her opinions on each aspect and the people she met without colouring the whole exploration in her personal views.
I found the everyday-ness of all the jobs she explored very comforting and the book has given me a lot to think about and reflect upon.
A lot of it was very eye opening to things (/jobs) I had never even thought of before. Difficult to read at times but I really liked how honest and confronting it was.
I also liked that the author was able to balance giving her opinions on each aspect and the people she met without colouring the whole exploration in her personal views.
I found the everyday-ness of all the jobs she explored very comforting and the book has given me a lot to think about and reflect upon.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Miscarriage, Blood, Medical content, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
meereswogen's review against another edition
dark
hopeful
informative
slow-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Child death, Death, Gore, Miscarriage, Suicide, Terminal illness, Blood, Medical content, Murder, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
kiracat13's review
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
The people interviewed in this book had such interesting jobs and perspectives on the work that they did, and there were a couple jobs that I hadn't even realized existed. I also appreciated the author's insight and wish to normalize something that is already a part of our general existence.
crispy_tofu's review
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Finally finished this book 😮💨 it was not easy to get through in the slightest, but it was worth it. I learned so much and appreciate the author’s journey to write this book.
I mostly appreciated the final three or four chapters. Excellent prose, touching anecdotes, and final thoughts. Shed a little tear at the end 🥲
I mostly appreciated the final three or four chapters. Excellent prose, touching anecdotes, and final thoughts. Shed a little tear at the end 🥲
pinkie_pug23's review
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, and Grief
Moderate: Child death, Medical trauma, and Pandemic/Epidemic
nataliekeller97's review against another edition
5.0
A book about death has no right being this beautiful. But somehow — surprisingly, miraculously — Campbell frames the death industry as a work of art, a demonstration of love and tenderness, and a testimony to some of the noblest, most thankless jobs.
She quotes William Gladstone to conclude her journey: “Show me the manner in which a nation cares for its dead and I will measure, with mathematical exactness, the tender mercy of its people, their respect for the law of the land and their loyalty to high ideals.”
I’m a little less scared of death after reading this book. And for that, five stars are not nearly enough.
She quotes William Gladstone to conclude her journey: “Show me the manner in which a nation cares for its dead and I will measure, with mathematical exactness, the tender mercy of its people, their respect for the law of the land and their loyalty to high ideals.”
I’m a little less scared of death after reading this book. And for that, five stars are not nearly enough.