Ivy (PBSmaven) -
Helpful Score: 2
I was really looking forward to this book. I have an interest in what happens to us when we die and also like to read humorous stories about such. This book was neither. It didn't go into detail about the preparation of the body after death or any funny stories, more so it was written in a gentle poignant manner so as not to upset the reader. It felt more like an older woman's gentle loving way of discussing what happens to the living after people pass on. I didn't like this book at all. It was too tame, too protected, too safe, and too gentle for me. Not interesting at all. I felt more like this was written by an elederly Sunday school teacher then a mortician and embalmer. This one bored me.
Maria H. (ri) -
Helpful Score: 2
This was a surprising little book. I'm not sure what exactly I was expecting, something more akin to Stiff by Mary Roach perhaps. What it actually turns out to be is a touching memoir of a grandmotherly type retired mortician recounting stories of grief, love and bits of humor from her long career. It made me think of my own mortality and what I'd like done when I die (organ donation, cremation and whatever type of funeral service would most serve those who survive me). It made me value my current relationships a bit more and recognize that there really is only this moment. Overall, a satisfying and touching read.
Kathleen L. (noisynora) reviewed Mortician Diaries: The Dead-Honest Truth From A Life Spent With Death on + 130 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
This book wasn't really what I was looking for. I thought it would be more about forensics (a "CSI" type of thing) and it wasn't. Basically, it's written by a woman who's a mortician and it recalls what she feels are poignant cases and lessons that can be learned from others. For example, one story was about two parents who were divorced whose son died in a car accident, and how they fought over who had custody to bury him, but then they worked it out in the end. It's a very short book (130 pages or so) and each story is about four pages long. She also has personal reflections at the end of each chapter. I think she wrote this as a guide for folks to read as either a warning to the mess you can leave behind if you don't plan ahead or maybe to help folks who are left behind over their loss. Either way, not what I was expecting.
Thomas B. (thomasebowen) reviewed Mortician Diaries: The Dead-Honest Truth From A Life Spent With Death on + 7 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
June Nadle is a caring woman who not only cared for the bodies that she prepared, but also for the family of the deceased. This is a well written book with a point. Do not be afraid of death is only one of her points. This book is not written in a humorous way, but in a loving way. A good read.
David G. (dmg1969) reviewed Mortician Diaries: The Dead-Honest Truth From A Life Spent With Death on + 2 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
While the book itself was well written from the author's point of view, it lacked the "behind-the-scenes" information about the industry that I was expecting. She relates accounts of funny, interesting and sad cases she has dealt with through her career as a funeral director/embalmer. Although it was not exactly what I thought it would be, it was still worth reading once.
