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serendipitysbooks's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
fast-paced
4.75
Mrs Death Misses Death was a fabulous read. The basic premise is that death, personified as a shape shifting Black woman known as Mrs Death, is feeling burdened by all she has seen and decides to tell her story through the means of Wolf, a troubled poet. The pair travel in time and space and cover a lot of ground - Black Lives Matter, violence against women, refugees drowning, poverty, homelessness, Grenfell Towers, serial killers Jack the Ripper and Myra Hindley, class, climate change and so much more. It could get confusing but it doesn’t. And if it did it wouldn’t matter because the whole experience of the book is far stronger than any particular details.
The writing was fantastic - a lyrical mix of prose and poetry - and brilliant on audio (read by the author herself) since all that poetical wonderfulness is designed to be heard. The book covers plenty of tough territory. Apart from the multitude of deaths Mrs Death has been involved in Wolf narrowly survived a fire that claimed his mother’s life. Mental health issues feature prominently. Despite this the book never felt dark or depressing, something I partly attribute to the power and beauty with which it was written. While it was centred around death a key message was to value life. There was also a forceful plea to stop accepting all the needless deaths, and a call to recognise the true heroes- those like doctors, nurses, teachers and volunteers who work to save lives and enhance their quality.
“Only she that is invisible can do the work of Death. And there is no person more silenced than the woman, talked over, walked over and ignored than the woman, the poor woman, the poor old woman, the poor old black woman, your servant bent over a mop, cleaning the floor of a hospital.”
Unique. Powerful. Highly recommended.
The writing was fantastic - a lyrical mix of prose and poetry - and brilliant on audio (read by the author herself) since all that poetical wonderfulness is designed to be heard. The book covers plenty of tough territory. Apart from the multitude of deaths Mrs Death has been involved in Wolf narrowly survived a fire that claimed his mother’s life. Mental health issues feature prominently. Despite this the book never felt dark or depressing, something I partly attribute to the power and beauty with which it was written. While it was centred around death a key message was to value life. There was also a forceful plea to stop accepting all the needless deaths, and a call to recognise the true heroes- those like doctors, nurses, teachers and volunteers who work to save lives and enhance their quality.
“Only she that is invisible can do the work of Death. And there is no person more silenced than the woman, talked over, walked over and ignored than the woman, the poor woman, the poor old woman, the poor old black woman, your servant bent over a mop, cleaning the floor of a hospital.”
Unique. Powerful. Highly recommended.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death
anartfulreader's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Murder
Moderate: Death of parent, Gore, Mental illness, and Suicidal thoughts
jamieleepilk's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Grief, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Mental illness, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Toxic relationship
amberjanereads's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Suicide and Suicidal thoughts
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