I have long been fascinated with the subject of death. Why we die, how we die, whether or not we get a good death, these are all subjects that have long intrigued me. So I came into this book knowing it would be up my alley.
The author spends extensive amounts of time with people who work with death every day. Embalmers, executioners, midwives, and more. And what she finds is that these people are not all morbid, glum people. And that the work they do is necessary and needed even if it often goes unappreciated or undervalued.
I liked this book's exploration of the importance of death and the people who work with it. I liked how this book didn't shy away from the more gruesome aspects of the business. And I appreciated it for giving a face and voice to the people who do this kind of work. They often go unnoticed and so I liked that she gave them a chance to share their stories.