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avisreadsandreads's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
navabrown's review
1.0
I was sadly disappointed in this book. A strange mix of reflection on her work in palliative care, coming to terms with her brother's death, and literary-cultural conjecture on death, left me dissatisfied about halfway through all the way to the end. Death is a place of ambiguity, but Joseph leaves the reader without means of finding meaning in death beyond the subjective experience.
heather_ann's review
4.0
Even at 206 pages, this book cannot be taken lightly. It must be savored, contemplated, and gradually understood. Eve Joseph's journey through the slender margin between life and death has so many poignant moments. Part of what resonated with me the most was her ability to weave a variety of traditions, people, and religions together into a shared story. It was a beautiful, beautiful book.
mynameiskate's review against another edition
5.0
This is an extraordinary book. A love letter to the dying and the people that support them. Poignant, beautiful, sad, hopeful.
thebacklistborrower's review against another edition
4.0
This book has been on my list since I read And the Birds Rained Down a few years ago, and it just finally got to the top of my list. This was a super interesting book. Eve Joseph compares how different cultures deal with death and dying, especially the Coast Salish, which was really unique. Another interesting technique that is used is etymology. Eve will review the etymology of a word relating to death and dying and by doing so makes the reader see the word, and the process, in a whole new light. The memoir aspect of this book is limited, but I didn't mind that. Joseph perfectly connects her experiences with the death of her brother, mother, and many patients into a frame, within which she weaves the anthropology, language, culture, and practices of death. This book was beautiful and fascinating and is definitely one I'd read again.
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