And Other Lessons from the Crematory Thorndike Press large print nonfiction
363 pages
English language
Published May 12, 2015 by Thorndike Press.
Most people want to avoid thinking about death, but Caitlin Doughty -- a twenty-something with a degree in medieval history and a flair for the macabre -- took a job at a crematory, turning morbid curiosity into her life's work. Thrown into a profession of gallows humor and vivid characters (both living and very dead), Caitlin learned to navigate the secretive culture of those who care for the deceased. Smoke Gets in Your Eyes tells an unusual coming-of-age story full of bizarre encounters and unforgettable scenes. Caring for dead bodies of every color, shape, and affliction, Caitlin soon becomes an intrepid explorer in the world of the dead.
Perfect. Flawless. A fantastic treatise on how capitalism corrupted funerary tradition and how stubbornly American culture denies the reality of death.
Smoke gets in your eyes, or death gets in your eyes, or you have to deal with reality… What a thorough and thoughtful exposition of death culture in the US and how exploring options has become more accepted and relevant in today's society! The thought of coming full circle on the expectations and allowances for the living when they experience a death of a loved one is comforting.
