Mary Graham

Trusty Chucks Blog

  • Home
  • ABOUT MARY
  • contact

weekend read: Smoke Gets in Your Eyes

I read a book about death and loved it.

Smoke Gets in Your Eyes and Other Lessons From the Crematory by Caitlyn Doughty is funny, thought-provoking, and startling. Doughty graduated college and went to work as a crematory operator–yes, the person who puts the bodies in the giant furnace for cremation. It’s as weird (and wonderful) as you would imagine.

Smoke Gets in Your Eyes

I really enjoyed this book. For weeks after reading it, I would tell everyone I came across that they should read it. Doughty is a phenomenal writer, great at weaving history, facts, and opinions in an engaging and informative way. Smoke Gets in Your Eyes really makes you think about our rituals of death and what a mess we’ve made of death culture. The book really made me think about what I want when I pass away and what conversations I need to start with people I love.

Doughty attacks the subject of death with such love and tenderness, she has an obvious passion and heart for handling death with the respect it deserves. Plus, the book is just funny. I laughed out loud at such random, serious spots. (One thing that was lacking in the book was a religious aspect–which I wasn’t too concerned with–but as a Christian, we do view death and life-after-death with a slightly different set of eyes. But that lack isn’t even a complaint, this book is just so good.)

You should read Smoke Gets in Your Eyes by Caitlyln Doughty–it is such a great conversation to join.

LOVE TALKING ABOUT BOOKS? ALWAYS LOOKING FOR A GOOD BOOK TO READ? WANT TO KNOW WHAT I’M CURRENTLY READING? FOLLOW MY INSTAGRAM ACCOUNT DEDICATED TO ALL THINGS BOOK-RELATED: @THEMARYGRAHAMREADS.
« Bringing Indiana with us
weekend read: Made You Up »

Comments

  1. Jackie says

    May 28, 2016 at

    I heard the author talk about this on NPR and it sounds super interesting and different. Might need to add it to my reading list!

    Reply
    • mary says

      May 29, 2016 at

      A few friends have said they heard her on NPR too–I missed it! But I stalked her website after I was done reading, she’s very intriguing. Read it and let me know what you think!

      Reply
  2. Kcaddy says

    May 31, 2016 at

    I read Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach two summers ago and I think about it EVERY DAY!!!!! I will have to check this one out.

    Reply
    • mary says

      June 3, 2016 at

      I need to add that one to my list! Thanks!

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Categories






SHARE OUR SITE

Trusty Chucks

Copyright © 2022 · Foodie Child Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in