Blurb: 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).
Review: Morbidly honest and heartfelt stories from the crematory.
I discovered Caitlin first on YouTube through her Ask a Mortician series. I love her humor and forthrightness. I picked up this book, and her voice continued to sing marvelously right through. She entertains us with stories from her time working in a crematory and other aspects of the death industry. She unveils some of the mysteries and tells of the realties of what goes on. She does so with humor, wonder, and respect. I agree with her that we live in a society with death denial culture and that needs to change. Both in this book and in her web series, she gives fantastic options other than the standard embalming and burial or cremation. Caitlin brings up many things that are important to talk to with family and friends, and I can't wait to do so.
I've made this review short because I really want to ramble on about the death industry and death in different cultures. That is more opinion and philosophy than a book review, though. Even if you get queasy at the thought of anything to do with death, at least check out some of Caitlin's YouTube videos and hopefully it will ease your mind.