Reviews

Still Life with Bones by Alexa Hagerty

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soleander's review

challenging dark informative reflective

5.0

Incredibly difficult and intense topic but so well written. The author mentions in the book that forensic anthropology sits at an intersection of science and humanitarian work and that really comes through in the stories she shares.

She references Hannah Arendt's work on the banality of evil (the dull, administrative work required for mass atrocities to happen and continue) a few times and the meticulous, grueling, and often unsuccessful work of these forensic anthropology teams seems to be a counter to that- a banality of hope, perhaps.

The information about the historical and political context surrounding the team's work is related so compellingly . Both the past (the Madres resistance group, the role of the Catholic Church and US government in the genocides, etc) and the present day (the purpose of testimonia, the struggle to fund these projects and get governmental cooperation, etc) context that's offered to the scientific analysis work that's happening adds so much to the story being shared.

vbarsi's review

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challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense fast-paced

5.0

This is one of my favorite books of the year so far (I’ve read over 15 books as of May 2024). It combines history, forensic science, politics and religion, and cultural beliefs surrounding death with the anthropologists own personal stories and experiences of her life and her time doing forensic anthropology in Argentina and Guatemala. I think this is an incredible read, though it is gut-wrenching and challenging to read about the violence. It also shows how the United States is complicit in overthrowing democratically elected governments in favor of violent dictatorships, because it suits their financial interests. I will always think of Guatemala when someone tries to mention the United States as the moral compass of the world. Additionally Alexa highlights the corruption of the catholic church in Argentina

and their ability to overlook or help the dictatorship with disappearing people.

Overall, it was beautifully written, with amazing metaphors. The one quote that really hit me: “the work of mourning involves killing the dead or dying with them”. As someone who lost their dad at 10 years old this hit me in my feeeels. Will be recommending this to every person I know!

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