Book Review: Smoke Gets In Your Eyes

Smoke Gets In Your Eyes
By Caitlin Doughty
Review by Mida

This is a deeply personal and incredibly important read. After beginning her new job at a crematorium, Caitlin Doughty bears witness to a side of society that we try to keep hidden. A desperate plea for healthier grieving practices and a call to end the commercialization of death, her passion is obvious from page one. Deftly unpicking the misconceptions that are held around her job, Doughty snuffs out myths and salacious rumours, shining light on a necessary and nebulous industry, and bringing solutions to problems you may have never thought about.

But tucked within this call to action is a fascinating and well written memoir. Twinkling with humour, it never shies away from some of the absurd aspects of her job –no, filling yourself with popcorn before you die would not result in a small explosion in the chamber– or the colourful characters she meets on a daily basis.

This is a fascinating book, one that will make you feel a bit more at ease with your eventual end. You might find yourself getting weird looks when you push it onto your friends – it’s really good, guys, I promise! – but it’s worth it all the same.

Perfect for fans of The Great Dead Body Teachers.