Smoke Gets In Your Eyes
We are shielded from all topics of death in the UK, so much so that very few of us know the processes that go on behind the closed doors of the death industry. Even before death occurs, dying is something that we avoid talking about and thinking about as much as we can. Often it is not until we are faced with our own death or the death of a loved one that we realise we know little about the process. This is why I want to explore these topics, to have a better understanding of death and dying so when people in my life want to talk about the subject I am more familiar with what's being said, and this i why I picked up Smoke Gets In Your Eyes.
If it is the dying half of the death and dying process that you wish to better understand, then perhaps have a look at my review of 33 meditations on Death. Otherwise, let's explore the other half - what happens after that with this review of Smoke Gets In Your Eyes, written by Caitlin Doughty.
I am going to be extremely upfront, this is a book that I struggled with, and I find myself also struggling with the review. I know it is most likely because I have lived my life, like many others, shielded from the realities of death and what happens to our bodies after we die. Yet I still find myself feeling that the book, right from the get-go, is very detailed and extremely graphic in its descriptions of the process and condition of the corpses. I wouldn't say this level of graphic detail is unnecessary but if you are not expecting it, it can be a lot, I was not expecting it. I also hoped that as the book went on this would change, or at least it wouldn't feel as overwhelming as it did but almost to the very end this trend continued.
I feel that I got into Smoke Gets In Your Eyes thinking it was an educational book about processes and practices, and whilst it is a bit like that I feel it should be more viewed as a book about Caitlin Doughty’s personal journey in the death industry. It is very much written by somebody who now finds the processes and procedures normal, and this is their goal to normalise it all. Yet I still feel that the detail was a bit much at times, and often felt unnecessary, almost as if some details were included simply for the shock value.
Now I feel like I have made this book sound like a terrible read, but it's not, it just caught me off guard and I wanted any potential readers not to be caught off guard like I am.
Caitlin Doughty is a very publicly spoken advocate for death acceptance, lifting the veil of what goes on behind the scenes in the death industry, and revealing the truths about the processes. Smoke Gets In Your Eye does an amazing job of highlighting that change needs to take place, that most people are unaware, and that we need to have a better understanding of death and dying. I cannot deny the honesty and reflection that takes place in this book, and I found the read to be incredibly valuable and thought-provoking, I just wish I knew what I was getting into before began reading.
With all that being said, if you want to know more about how the death industry works then Smoke Gets In Your Eyes will allow you a peak behind the curtain, just be warned it's probably not a lunchtime read for anybody even a little squeamish.