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eviecook0708's review against another edition
4.25
This is a massively impressive journalistic project and looks at the death industry in a way I haven't seen done in a lot of similar works. There were people interviewed here whose inclusion first confused me, but by the end I think it all came together in a really unique way. I'd definitely recommend this to fans of Caitlin Doughty's work and other things like that, though I think the approach and voice are actually pretty different.
mayareadsalittletoomuch's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
nothing better than a nonfiction that handles the worst part of life, death, with so much grace and empathy. yes, i cried multiple times!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Death of parent, Child death, Medical content, and Death
shaunie991's review against another edition
3.0
DNF @ 35%
I might give this another chance in the future. Just couldn’t stay captivated by the information being read.
(ALC received from NetGalley in exchange for honest review. Thank you.)
I might give this another chance in the future. Just couldn’t stay captivated by the information being read.
(ALC received from NetGalley in exchange for honest review. Thank you.)
roctothorpe's review against another edition
informative
reflective
medium-paced
3.0
I love the premise of this book: the author interviews a variety of professionals working in the death industry. I really appreciate the diverse perspectives that Campbell chose to feature here, including embalmers, bereavement midwives, crime scene cleaners, grave diggers, and executioners, to name a few. Her writing is vivid and full of sensory detail, but I was constantly pulled out of the reading experience by the author's insertion of her own personal beliefs and opinions. I felt that it took away from the voices of those she was profiling and in several cases it seemed like she was platforming her own views instead of actually listening to what her interviewees had to say. This is most apparent in the chapter with the death row executioner, where Campbell just could not accept their point of view. Notwithstanding of the fact that I completely agree with the author's stance on the death penalty, the way she repeatedly badgered the executioner with the same question and refused to accept their answer came across as very judgmental and disrespectful. Folks who like nonfiction where the author is very much at the forefront of the narrative and providing their own commentary/reflections will likely enjoy this book but I personally would have preferred a more fact focused, investigative journalism approach.
graveyardpansy's review against another edition
4.0
as a whole, good book!! i love multifaceted exploration of death and this is certainly that. my central dislike is the lack of any nuanced or meaningful critique of the multiple corrupt systems the book interacts with (most notably police, prisons, and the death sentence). i think this would’ve been a stronger book if it was less apolitical and journalistic. however, there’s still a lot of valuable conversations! i also rly love that she included maternal death / bereavement ward workers in this, definitely an overlooked aspect of the death industry and death care.
also, side note, as someone who consumes a lot of death nonfiction books/videos/etc, why is everyone so into bentham’s head? i swear everyone wants to talk about it all the time
also, side note, as someone who consumes a lot of death nonfiction books/videos/etc, why is everyone so into bentham’s head? i swear everyone wants to talk about it all the time
nanners's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
slow-paced
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Gore, and Death
alicebme's review against another edition
I read about half of this book. I found it very interesting, but I’m perhaps not in a great headspace for it right now. Also the library needs it back.