emmelynreads-blog

[emmelynreads-blog]

Book #1 - Smoke Gets in Your Eyes by Caitlin Doughty 

Caitlin Doughty has been an inspirational figure for me ever since I first discovered her youtube channel ‘Ask A Mortician’ in 2017. A pioneer of The Order of the Good Death, she aims to decrease the fear and stigma surrounding death through informative and often hilarious videos.

These videos and the above book were my first glimpse into the death industry and, despite my initial horror, they have aided me on my journey to become more understanding and ‘death positive’. 

Of course, the breezy descriptions of mould growing out of noses and bones grinding in the cremulator are shocking, but this serves to prove how far removed our society is from death practices, preferring to ‘leave it to the professionals’.

However, the book is emotional as well as educational. I adore and admire Doughty’s passion as well as her vulnerability as she details her first encounter with death, all the way through to her first love and her dealings with her own mortality.

All in all, this book was an excellent start to the new year, providing inspiration to achieve goals and hope of a better, more open future.