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deviki's review against another edition
5.0
This is one of the best books I've read about post-mortem and life of an APT. This is not my first book about death industry....the other one being Caitlin Doughty. Caitlin talks about green death and funeral industry, Carla is more on the APT part of the death industry :)
I went to a new bookshop nearby my workplace and was determine not to buy any new books for the day but I took one look at the book cover and the words "Life and death behind mortuary doors" and was swoon!!!!
I honestly been very curious about post post-mortem and would watch loads of documentaries about it, I love to watch Dr. G: Medical Examiner, Dr. Richard Shepherd (Celebrity autopsy) and Crime Scene clean up crew shows and of course Ask a Mortician on youtube because Malaysian TV is so darn sensitive to this shit. Although, oddly enough Asians countries are more intimate with death compare to "air brushed" view of death in the western world.
I was very intrigued from the first page, I really like reading from Carla's POV, she is very funny and witty person and her embarrassing slip ups and misunderstandings and awkward moments are hilarious to read. I also liked that she explain about the death and decaying with enough scientific input for layman to understand but not too detailed and sciency to become a medical text book. I also adore the way she deliver the information in such an amusing and easy to understand using loads of amusing analogy for us to understand the facts she is trying to deliver.
I admire Carla's intense passion for the death industry, she was dedicated and she did everything she needed to do to go from stages to stages, she went out there and put herself in the room to study it, all the while other college students went out partying on their free time. I admit her dedication and experience progression is so satisfying to read because, we can see that the death industry is actually a whole new tree with loads of branches. You can move around the branches but still be in the same tree (death industry). Of course, there is a lot more branches not covered by Carla, I mean you can't be doing all different jobs all your life, you gotta land somewhere.
I also learn loads from this book, for example I had no idea they used Anatomical Venus to study about human anatomy. And like of course the "corpse model" have to look sexy and alluring ecstasy LOL ....because "they" cannot traumatize the all young male doctors wanna be from the actual reality of it .....LOL
I exceptionally found the whole process of decaying stages to be beautifully written. While I knew some information about death and decaying process, this book was a lot more detailed and I find myself pausing the read and google images to solidifying my understanding.
All CPR doll is modeled after this lady l'inconnue de la seine, unknown lady (possible) drown in Paris River
La donna scandalosa - created to teach people of death and sins
Vitreous humor extraction can be used to detect drug in system even after embalming
Pediatric autopsy (not gonna share pictures here) but I had no idea they had their own specialist and autopsy procedure is different to an adult. I admit, child death is always so sad because you always wonder what they would have been like if they had lived.
AHHH so much learnt!! All which I shared with my mom and she was like ohhhh is that why the corpse felt like that (when she was handling her uncle's funeral all those years back). While my mom is ok with death talks she sometimes think it's weird I like to talk about it too openly over lunch hahah
I also pleased when Carla had included her own work experience, feelings and thoughts she went through her life as she was progressing in her career. She had her ups and downs, and met loads of people along the way. I also felt really bad about her cheating prick of an EX who cause such a mess in Carla's life and I'm glad she found her way out of that miserable period. I did wonder while reading this book though, if that hadn't happen to Carla would she had continue to be an active APT ? Working another 10 years in that PM room.
I learnt a lot from this book and yes!! I too thought they usually presented the dead for viewing like they showed on TV, although not on the fridge slide table, but I really thought they had a stainless steel room behind a windows screen. No idea they had some much thoughts and consideration put into the dead person's religion and cultural need.
Alas, I enjoyed reading this book and would like to read other books from this author soon :)
P/S: Would be great if they had included images or illustrations for readers to refer
I went to a new bookshop nearby my workplace and was determine not to buy any new books for the day but I took one look at the book cover and the words "Life and death behind mortuary doors" and was swoon!!!!
I honestly been very curious about post post-mortem and would watch loads of documentaries about it, I love to watch Dr. G: Medical Examiner, Dr. Richard Shepherd (Celebrity autopsy) and Crime Scene clean up crew shows and of course Ask a Mortician on youtube because Malaysian TV is so darn sensitive to this shit. Although, oddly enough Asians countries are more intimate with death compare to "air brushed" view of death in the western world.
I was very intrigued from the first page, I really like reading from Carla's POV, she is very funny and witty person and her embarrassing slip ups and misunderstandings and awkward moments are hilarious to read. I also liked that she explain about the death and decaying with enough scientific input for layman to understand but not too detailed and sciency to become a medical text book. I also adore the way she deliver the information in such an amusing and easy to understand using loads of amusing analogy for us to understand the facts she is trying to deliver.
I admire Carla's intense passion for the death industry, she was dedicated and she did everything she needed to do to go from stages to stages, she went out there and put herself in the room to study it, all the while other college students went out partying on their free time. I admit her dedication and experience progression is so satisfying to read because, we can see that the death industry is actually a whole new tree with loads of branches. You can move around the branches but still be in the same tree (death industry). Of course, there is a lot more branches not covered by Carla, I mean you can't be doing all different jobs all your life, you gotta land somewhere.
I also learn loads from this book, for example I had no idea they used Anatomical Venus to study about human anatomy. And like of course the "corpse model" have to look sexy and alluring ecstasy LOL ....because "they" cannot traumatize the all young male doctors wanna be from the actual reality of it .....LOL
I exceptionally found the whole process of decaying stages to be beautifully written. While I knew some information about death and decaying process, this book was a lot more detailed and I find myself pausing the read and google images to solidifying my understanding.
All CPR doll is modeled after this lady l'inconnue de la seine, unknown lady (possible) drown in Paris River
La donna scandalosa - created to teach people of death and sins
Vitreous humor extraction can be used to detect drug in system even after embalming
Pediatric autopsy (not gonna share pictures here) but I had no idea they had their own specialist and autopsy procedure is different to an adult. I admit, child death is always so sad because you always wonder what they would have been like if they had lived.
AHHH so much learnt!! All which I shared with my mom and she was like ohhhh is that why the corpse felt like that (when she was handling her uncle's funeral all those years back). While my mom is ok with death talks she sometimes think it's weird I like to talk about it too openly over lunch hahah
I also pleased when Carla had included her own work experience, feelings and thoughts she went through her life as she was progressing in her career. She had her ups and downs, and met loads of people along the way. I also felt really bad about her cheating prick of an EX who cause such a mess in Carla's life and I'm glad she found her way out of that miserable period. I did wonder while reading this book though, if that hadn't happen to Carla would she had continue to be an active APT ? Working another 10 years in that PM room.
I learnt a lot from this book and yes!! I too thought they usually presented the dead for viewing like they showed on TV, although not on the fridge slide table, but I really thought they had a stainless steel room behind a windows screen. No idea they had some much thoughts and consideration put into the dead person's religion and cultural need.
Alas, I enjoyed reading this book and would like to read other books from this author soon :)
P/S: Would be great if they had included images or illustrations for readers to refer
mikecross's review against another edition
3.0
Very good on the science side, but got a little to memoirish toward the end. An enjoyable read.
untitledlullaby's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this book more when I wasn’t reading it. I do not think her path is set out to be a writer because it was hard to read and she kind of annoyed me even though I did like her and found her funny at times. I learnt so much from this book though and how the UK is separate from the US. She does go into green burials but not much and doesn’t really talk about how or if the UK does them.
_rowan_'s review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
informative
medium-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Drug use, Medical content, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Suicide, Terminal illness, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, Infidelity, Death, Miscarriage, Murder, Car accident, and Eating disorder
thedustbunnyslibrary's review against another edition
4.0
4.5/5
I listened to the audiobook performed by Beverly A. Crick (who has the sweetest voice lol!)
While listed as a memoir, Past Mortems is so much more! I’ve seen other reviewers claim that the author talks about herself too much, but I thought this presented a healthy mix of personal life and educational value.
Carla Valentine is a curator, pathology technician, and death professional. The story starts with her humorous training experience at a mortuary. This is reminiscent of Caitlin Doughty’s “Smoke Gets In Your Eyes: And Other Lessons from the Crematory,” (which I recommend), however, you’ll notice that Valentine gives us almost everything Doughty did and more!
The author goes on to tell us the history of coroners, morgues vs mortuaries, misleading TV stereotypes, how to prepare bodies, the stages of decomposition, embalming tools, autopsies, anatomical lessons, more history lessons.. I could go on! She also supplies great detail of her work, giving step-by-step descriptions, keeping things amusing and easy to understand.
There were a few chapters where she includes more of her personal life: boyfriends, living arrangements, friends, and the toll of working with the dead. Some of it was a little awkward to listen to, but being a memoir I’d find that to be a silly thing to complain about.
I went in with a good bit of knowledge on mortuary work, and came out with at least twice as much! If you’re interested in what goes on behind mortuary doors definitely pick this up!!
I listened to the audiobook performed by Beverly A. Crick (who has the sweetest voice lol!)
While listed as a memoir, Past Mortems is so much more! I’ve seen other reviewers claim that the author talks about herself too much, but I thought this presented a healthy mix of personal life and educational value.
Carla Valentine is a curator, pathology technician, and death professional. The story starts with her humorous training experience at a mortuary. This is reminiscent of Caitlin Doughty’s “Smoke Gets In Your Eyes: And Other Lessons from the Crematory,” (which I recommend), however, you’ll notice that Valentine gives us almost everything Doughty did and more!
The author goes on to tell us the history of coroners, morgues vs mortuaries, misleading TV stereotypes, how to prepare bodies, the stages of decomposition, embalming tools, autopsies, anatomical lessons, more history lessons.. I could go on! She also supplies great detail of her work, giving step-by-step descriptions, keeping things amusing and easy to understand.
There were a few chapters where she includes more of her personal life: boyfriends, living arrangements, friends, and the toll of working with the dead. Some of it was a little awkward to listen to, but being a memoir I’d find that to be a silly thing to complain about.
I went in with a good bit of knowledge on mortuary work, and came out with at least twice as much! If you’re interested in what goes on behind mortuary doors definitely pick this up!!
seejayes's review against another edition
3.0
could've been four stars if it weren't for the weird amount of body comparison between the author and other women in the book, though at least the comparison was between two living individuals?