Book: Smoke Gets in Your Eyes

[elusivek]

Smoke Gets in Your Eyes: And Other Lessons from the Crematory
Caitlin Doughty
Amazon Product Link

Armed with a degree in medieval history and a flair for the macabre, Caitlin Doughty took a job at a crematory and turned morbid curiosity into her life’s work. She cared for bodies of every color, shape, and affliction, and became an intrepid explorer in the world of the dead. In this best-selling memoir, brimming with gallows humor and vivid characters, she marvels at the gruesome history of undertaking and relates her unique coming-of-age story with bold curiosity and mordant wit. By turns hilarious, dark, and uplifting, Smoke Gets in Your Eyes reveals how the fear of dying warps our society and "will make you reconsider how our culture treats the dead" (San Francisco Chronicle).

= + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = +

I rather enjoyed the book. Mostly, it was very well edited. A couple of quotes here and there and references to research, I thought it a well prepared, well researched book.

I wasn’t really looking for the macabre details. It really was more for the insight of death and the rituals. So, for me, this was a good read!

I don’t recall how I came by this book, I think it was from some youtube shorts video and as I’ve always been curious about funeral homes, mortuaries, death, and such, I thought I’d get it. It’s been sitting on my shelf in April this year and decided to read my last book for 2022. Though now I still have a day to try and slip another book in :-)

Comments

[einhornmaedchen]

That one sounds super interesting! I think I actually have a couple of her other books on my list. Really need to get on that.

[elusivek]

Yes, it was interesting! I didn't think to check the author to see if she had other books, and now I saw the one titled will my cat eat my eyeballs (or something along those lines), and I'm intrigued!