I’ve been excited to start this book for quite some time. And here we are. To clarify, I saw this book in Waterstones back in winter of 2018, and even got it as a gift for Christmas, but for one reason or another was not able to pick it up until May this year. In some way, it was almost as if I was not ready for a non fiction book until now and maybe that stalled my picking it up until spring, but this was exactly what was needed after the academic year came to an end. As, even though a non fiction book has the suggestions of being heavy, this was a very light and engaging read.
“We view birth as the beginning of life and death as its natural end. But what if death is just the beginning of a different phase of existence?” (p.4 Introduction)
When reading through the introduction, one of the first things that stood out to me was how the author, Sue Black referred to death as a she. The author continues this notion throughout, never really explaining it and leaving me almost with a sense of confusion as to why. From what I understood, there is no real rhyme or reason to how people refer to death, so be it he or she, at the end of all things, it’s still one and the same, bones in a grave or ashes in the air (no pun intended). Yet, it is a curious concept that I could get on board with it.
“As a living person, you remain separate from death, but the mesmerizing beauty of human anatomy has created a bridge into the world of the dead, one that few will cross and non who do will ever forget.” (p.23 Silent Teachers)
This quote was taken from a slightly more gory chapter, explaining in detail the process of dissecting a human cadaver. Not the most pleasant to read, so if you have a weak stomach, this may be one to give a miss, not much of the overall story is missed. Nonetheless, it is still a rather important chapter and it gives the reader a deeper insight into the life and profession of the author herself.
But, at the same time it does offer an interesting take on education. While up and coming anthropologist and medics delve into the human body to teach them what a book may not be able to, literature students analyze works by authors from centuries ago, mathematicians utilize the same mathematical formulas that came to fruition from around the world. Really puts things into perspective of how really, everything around us allows us to learn something.
“Death works on her own timetable, not ours.” (p.86 Death up close and personal)
On another note, I quite enjoy the tone of this book. It’s casual and almost conversational, and despite the overall slightly grim subject matter of so far, death, there is a positivity and almost a cheerfulness to the overall text.
“We cannot die as long as there are people on earth who remember us.” (p.118 Dem bones)
I think everyone should read this book if they have the chance. If not the entirety of it, at least some of the chapters. There’s definitely something different to reading a non-fiction, almost in some way biographical book, than a fiction one. It allows for an image of the real world, instead of one that strays away from reality, even if held in a modern place close to home.
“The dead are much more predictable and co-operative.” (p.288 Fear, fate and phobias)
I gave this book five out of five stars on Goodreads, it was eye opening to a different profession that is out there and showed aspects of the world and life that are not shown or communicated regularly and explicitly. I really enjoyed how the book flowed together in the end, connecting past, present, and future. It’s definitely something that many readers could reach for, if not out of curiosity, then for a change of pace.
aga is reading 
lovely review!