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A review by kaylo88
All That Remains by Sue Black
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
3.25
The book in question is a fascinating read, though I found it more challenging to rate than most others I've read. The author, Black, undoubtedly knows her stuff, and her writing style is enjoyable, though I found myself both drawn to and repelled by her at different points in the book.
While some have criticized the first hundred or so pages for being irrelevant, I believe that the context they provide is necessary, though it could have been spread throughout the book rather than being concentrated in the first section. The book starts quite differently than I had anticipated, but Black intended to set the stage and provide insight into her views on death and commemoration, which she reiterates towards the end of the book.
Several aspects of the book stood out for me, particularly the story of Arthur and his attitude towards death. The human stories and the author's emphasis on the significance of human donors to science were impressive. The respect and dignity with which human cadavers are treated are precisely what is required.
The chapters on warfare, terrorism, and natural disasters were also noteworthy, and this section was precisely what I was looking for, even though these topics can be difficult and emotional. Kosovo, in particular, stirred something within me, and I recall studying the conflict during my forensic archaeology classes at university.
However, there were times when I found myself disliking Black's writing. For example, her portrayal of how the group of scientists treated the counsellors during these trying times was disrespectful. While I understand that the scientists were bonded and that counselling may not have been beneficial to everyone, these counsellors were just doing their job, like Black was. They were there to assist. Just because Black can compartmentalize the horrors of war so that she can sleep at night does not imply that everyone else in the group is as strong or as capable of speaking up as she is.
There were also a few instances where Black contradicted herself. For instance, when she discussed archaeology and forensic archaeology, she stated that our ancient past is primarily theory-based and that we will never know all the answers. She went on to say that she was more interested in the here and now because it is based on fact. While I appreciate opinions, I agree to some extent, and she then goes on to explain how determining the identity of remains is sometimes impossible and how some causes of death are never determined. She also explains how determining the sex and age of skeletal remains is not an exact science.
Overall, I enjoyed the book, and the positives outweighed the negatives. I am glad I read it.
While some have criticized the first hundred or so pages for being irrelevant, I believe that the context they provide is necessary, though it could have been spread throughout the book rather than being concentrated in the first section. The book starts quite differently than I had anticipated, but Black intended to set the stage and provide insight into her views on death and commemoration, which she reiterates towards the end of the book.
Several aspects of the book stood out for me, particularly the story of Arthur and his attitude towards death. The human stories and the author's emphasis on the significance of human donors to science were impressive. The respect and dignity with which human cadavers are treated are precisely what is required.
The chapters on warfare, terrorism, and natural disasters were also noteworthy, and this section was precisely what I was looking for, even though these topics can be difficult and emotional. Kosovo, in particular, stirred something within me, and I recall studying the conflict during my forensic archaeology classes at university.
However, there were times when I found myself disliking Black's writing. For example, her portrayal of how the group of scientists treated the counsellors during these trying times was disrespectful. While I understand that the scientists were bonded and that counselling may not have been beneficial to everyone, these counsellors were just doing their job, like Black was. They were there to assist. Just because Black can compartmentalize the horrors of war so that she can sleep at night does not imply that everyone else in the group is as strong or as capable of speaking up as she is.
There were also a few instances where Black contradicted herself. For instance, when she discussed archaeology and forensic archaeology, she stated that our ancient past is primarily theory-based and that we will never know all the answers. She went on to say that she was more interested in the here and now because it is based on fact. While I appreciate opinions, I agree to some extent, and she then goes on to explain how determining the identity of remains is sometimes impossible and how some causes of death are never determined. She also explains how determining the sex and age of skeletal remains is not an exact science.
Overall, I enjoyed the book, and the positives outweighed the negatives. I am glad I read it.