Smoke Gets in Your Eyes (Caitlin Doughty)

In the past few months, I've been on quite the Caitlin Doughty kick. I recently reviewed her books Will My Cat Eat My Eyeballs? and From Here to Eternity and also went to hear her speak at the Mutter Museum in Philadelphia. In Smoke Gets in Your Eyes, she describes her experience working at a crematory; this, along with her time at mortuary school, gives her a very clear idea of what to do (and what not to do) to help families when they lose a loved one.

This is a fascinating book, filled with unforgettable and strange stories. From picking up the newly deceased to getting ashes on her clothes, Caitlin brings a sense of humor to the proceedings but never crosses the line into being disrespectful. What I've always loved about Caitlin is that she takes the "scary" out of death in such a matter-of-fact way and answers questions you've always wondered but have been too afraid to ask.

All of Caitlin's books (and her You Tube videos) are designed to help you face death head-on and take some of the fear out of it. I recommend any one of them wholeheartedly.

MY RATING - 4

Will My Cat Eat My Eyeballs? (Caitlin Doughty)

It wasn't planned to be Caitlin Doughty week on 1776 Books, but somehow it's turned out to be just that. On Sunday, I reviewed her earlier book, From Here to Eternity, and today, I'll talk about her very latest, Will My Cat Eat My Eyeballs?

What's great about Doughty is that she has the utmost respect for death but writes about it in such a warm, relatable way. As a mortician, her goal has always been to get families and friends involved in the funeral process instead of just handing their loved one off to a funeral director. In Will My Cat Eat My Eyeballs?, Doughty again tries to take the "scary" out of death, answering kids' questions about the topic in an honest way.

But don't let the fact that kids are asking the questions deter you -- this is a super interesting book for adults. If you've ever wondered if conjoined twins always die at the same time or if you died making a silly face, would it stay like that forever, this book is for you. I found Doughty's writing absolutely fascinating, especially when combined with Dianne Ruz's black-and-white illustrations. I can't recommend this book enough!

MY RATING - 5

From Here to Eternity: Traveling the World to Find the Good Death (Caitlin Doughty)

As a mortician and the founder of the Order of the Good Death, Caitlin Doughty has made a name for herself in the funeral industry. Some funeral directors even consider her a troublemaker because she contradicts their message. No, you do not need the $20,000 steel casket and vault to bury your loved one, and the more involved that families are in the death process itself, the more they will heal.

The latter is part of the focus of Doughty's book From Here to Eternity: Traveling the World to Find the Good Death. She argues that only in some parts of the world (mostly the USA) do people fear the dead. In other cultures, the traditions of taking care of the dead are much different. All of the traditions she talks about have something in common though: They allow people to personally take care of their dead instead of leaving it solely in the hands of funeral directors.

I've always been interested in this whole topic and learn so much from Caitlin Doughty, especially from her You Tube videos. Her blunt but warm manner in her videos and her fascinating style of writing in her books takes the "scary" out of the death industry.

MY RATING - 4