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A review by particledamage
From Here to Eternity: Traveling the World to Find the Good Death by Caitlin Doughty
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
I read this book at a surprisingly and hurtfully apt time. In between starting and finishing this book, my cat that I’ve had since middle school declined rapidly, his body giving in to the cancer that’s been ravaging his body since late last year.
I had to make the decision to put him down and I got to be there as a shot in his rear leg went from relaxing tranquilization to his final passing. I got to hold his head up as it went limp and limper still.
And as I sat on the room with his cooling body, kept warm by my mother gripping it tightly as she sobbed, I thought of this book.
About everything I’ve learned from Caitlin—death positivity in general, the concept of a good death, and the many rituals described within this book.
And it helped, immensely.
This book and her sympathetic but hearty tone helped put me in the proper mindset in ushering my beloved pet to his death and understand it better.
It’s a must read, though best put into context by Caitlin’s entire breadth of work and activism. It’s as culturally sensitive as it can be coming from the western, white perspective of its author while still letting her opinions come through. It’s informative, warming, and honest, never shying away from the true depths of death and the rituals (or lack thereof) around it.
Totally refreshing and somehow a light read despite the theoretically dark subject matter.
I had to make the decision to put him down and I got to be there as a shot in his rear leg went from relaxing tranquilization to his final passing. I got to hold his head up as it went limp and limper still.
And as I sat on the room with his cooling body, kept warm by my mother gripping it tightly as she sobbed, I thought of this book.
About everything I’ve learned from Caitlin—death positivity in general, the concept of a good death, and the many rituals described within this book.
And it helped, immensely.
This book and her sympathetic but hearty tone helped put me in the proper mindset in ushering my beloved pet to his death and understand it better.
It’s a must read, though best put into context by Caitlin’s entire breadth of work and activism. It’s as culturally sensitive as it can be coming from the western, white perspective of its author while still letting her opinions come through. It’s informative, warming, and honest, never shying away from the true depths of death and the rituals (or lack thereof) around it.
Totally refreshing and somehow a light read despite the theoretically dark subject matter.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Cannibalism