'Salvage the Bones' review

Title: Salvage the Bones

Author: Jesmyn Ward (narrator: Cherise Boothe)

Pages: 261
Format: Audiobook

Published: August 30, 2011

Rating: ★★★★ (out of five)

I first heard about this book and put the audiobook version on hold back in September of 2019... I finally got the notification that I'd gotten it May 10th, 2020. I have NO idea why it took the library so long - there were 50+ copies and you're not able to renew - but I'm glad to have finally got it. Cherise Boothe did a great job as narrator and it elevated the whole thing.

'I Was Told It Would Get Easier' ARC review

I'll admit, I enjoy road trip stories. Give me any scenario and throw in a road trip and I'll likely enjoy it at least somewhat.

I Was Told It Would Get Easier by Abbi Waxman, pictured by Dream Pop! an IPA collaboration between Breakside Brewery (Portland, OR) and Pinthouse Pizza (a brewpub in Austin, TX).

Title: I Was Told It Would Get Easier

Author: Abbi Waxman

Pages: 352
Format: ARC, paperback

Published: June 16, 2020

Rating: ★★★★ (out of five)

The Bookish Life of Nina Hill is Waxman's more well known book - I've had it on my TBR for a while. It seems to have good ratings and so I went into this with pretty positive expectations.

'Are You In?' Netgalley review

Received free copy on netgalley for an honest review.

screenshot from my review on Litsy

Title: Are You In? (Powerhouse #1)
Author: P.W. Steele
Page Count: 63pgs
Publish Date: April 1st 2020
Rating: ★★ (out of five)

This isn't typically my genre, but I wanted something short and sweet and figured why not? The description did draw me in, the gym setting seemed interesting. I like that Andy felt he was too small, which isn't something I've seen before. Seeing him struggle with the body dysmorphia would've been a cool addition except it seemed to go away rather quickly at the hot guys' attention.

'Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe' Unshelving Project review

A reworking of the seventh prompt for the Book Review Blog Challenge hosted by Ann over at Great New Reads (time, which I ran out of during this actual challenge). I chose a physical book that I have on hand that has sat on my TBR for the longest amount of time (2011, so says Goodreads). That book is Fried Green Tomatoes at Whistle Stop Cafe by Fannie Flag. 

a pic of Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop CafeC

The Oldest Book on my TBR review + Unshelving Challenge

This book is definitely dated. There's a lot of uncomfortable for me to read racism and ableism. Idgie and Ruth, who are very obviously a lesbian couple are never referred to as such and in fact, Idgie is more often than not just one of the guys and is very rarely thought of as a woman (unless it helps her out of tough spots).

Day 08 - Star #BookReviewBlogChallenge

Find info about this challenge here.

The eight and last prompt for the Book Review Blog Challenge hosted by Ann over at Great New Reads is star. So, I chose, for having star in the name, Number the Stars by Lois Lowry as suggested by Miss Camila on her post for the third prompt of this challenge, Golden Classics. I realized I hadn't read the book and saw the hold time for the audiobook at my local library wasn't very long... so I went ahead and got it. It only took a little over two hours to finish it on the morning of May 8th.

Day 06 - 400+ #BookReviewBlogChallenge

Find info about this challenge here. Keep up with prompts here.

Just the first second of the hundreds of chapters

The sixth prompt for the Book Review Blog Challenge hosted by Ann over at Great New Reads is any book over 400 pages. OK, so I'm going to talk to you guys about the longest book I've ever read. It's not actually a book.

Day 05 - Rebel #BookReviewBlogChallenge

Find info about this challenge here. Keep up with prompts here.

My smaller dog and 'Rogue Protocol' by Martha Wells

The fifth prompt for the Book Review Blog Challenge hosted by Ann over at Great New Reads is rebel. Across the year of 2019, I read all the novellas in the Murderbot Diaries series. The protagonist is an android made to be a sort of body guard that companies traveling around can rent as protection. But she's become self-aware, rebelling against her protocols and giving herself the personal name of 'Murderbot'.

Day 04 - Family #BookReviewBlogChallenge

Find info about this challenge here. Keep up with prompts here.

The fourth prompt for the Book Review Blog Challenge hosted by Ann over at Great New Reads is family. The book I chose for this prompt I actually recently read (ha!) the 13th to the 22nd of this month. I had An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir on my radar for a while, but a friend asking me about it as she'd just started prompted me to see if the library had it available and it did on audiobook!

This book is a lot of things and I had my issues with it (that I won't really get into here) but what little family relationships here were strong.

Laia's relationship with her brother Darin is really the catalyst of this story. They are both Scholars living with their grandparents after their parents were killed when they were little, in Serra under Martial rule. They are treated as second-class citizens. A Mask, basically the elite soldiers of this world, captures her brother and murders her grandparents, thus starting her journey to try and rescue him. She goes through literal hell for him and learns some surprising things about him that really endeared him, to me at least. Her parents leave huge shoes to fill, her constantly told she doesn't live up to her mother's name (Lioness).

There is a sort of love square here with the two characters (Laia and Elias) who alternate POVs. Laia bounces between the Mask, Elias (who's not like other Masks) and a Resistance fighter and her handler, Kenan. While Elias has his old friend Helene that he's unsure if he has feelings for and Laia, who really just throws his whole life out of wack. These emotions, I think, are a little more realistic than most love triangles/squares/whatever.

Helene and Elias have just graduated and are two of four chosen as aspirant, the winner becoming new emperor (even though the current one is still alive) and the second becoming their blood shrike (which is a pretty cool title) while the other two die. These events feel very YA and pull the plot forward for Elias as Laia is tasked by the Resistance to spy on these trials by becoming the Commandant's new slave girl.

I think the opposite side of the coin of Laia's devotion to her brother, is Elias's relationship with his mother, the Commandant (which adds a nice layer of tension). She's cruel, mercilessly so, and loathes her son, even leaving him to die in the desert just after his birth and she actively wants him dead throughout the whole book. It's a little over the top, we get a little feel as to why towards the end, but definitely nothing that spawns sympathy. She's just evil and seeing her end will likely be very satisfying. Elias's grandfather and him have a surprisingly loyal relationship though, which was refreshing.

The other two Aspirants, Marcus and his twin Zac seemed to balance each other out in a way. Marcus is a piece of work while his brother is very subdued. There was a lot going on there.

I don't know, there was just a lot going on here in general! When this first book was published, Sabaa Tahir made it sound as though it was going to be a stand-alone (which with that ending... no!) but it's actually getting it's fourth and final book sometime this year. I've started the 2nd... here's hoping I can get caught up!

'The Girl and the Stars' ARC review

I got this ARC for review from Berkley and Penguin Random House - thank you!

Picture of The Girl and the Stars by Mark Lawrence

Set in the same world as the Book of the Ancestor trilogy, The Girl and the Stars tells the story of Yaz, a girl with unique powers in a very inhospitable environment - above and below the seemingly never ending ice.

This story had an absolutely breakneck pace that took some time to get used to. Things just happened and happened without much breathing room. Yaz was an enjoyable narrator and handled all the craziness much better than I would've lol ... really, there's not a whole lot I can go into about this without there being spoilers. I in particular really liked Erris, too. Hope to see more of him in the second book, which looks like it's going to be coming out April 2021.

I gave this four out of five stars and look forward to looking to Lawrence's other books (especially Red Sister) while I wait for the rest of this trilogy.

I'm also sharing this copy with a reading group, and will have additional thoughts in 3-4 months or so. Will link everything there and here whenever that happens. Probably with an updated copy as this book travels across the country to three other people before getting back to me (hopefully - lol).

Day 03 - Golden Classic #BookReviewBlogChallenge

Find info about this challenge here. Keep up with prompts here.

The third prompt for the Book Review Blog Challenge hosted by Ann over at Great New Reads is Golden Classics, basically anything published before 1995. I don't think I consider myself a 'golden classic' but there ya go.

The book I chose is Pet Sematary by Stephen King. This was published in 1983 and I read it back in 2017. This was my first King book. I've read a few after this one, but so far none have been as good. As some of you may know, I'm planning on trying to read IT this year. Right now though, it's collecting dust on my shelf with my other chunksters. We'll see.

Pet Sematary is one of those taunt horrors where you know what's going to happen and no amount of yelling makes the characters stop, but still you just can't put it down. I gave this four out of five stars on Goodreads. I've seen the movies, too. The 1989 version I think is superior (though not better than the book) to the 2019 one, which I think relied too much on jump scares and adding in creepy things that just didn't exist in the book - the book is more psychological than anything with King's typical character study type to it. Both movies lack on that, but alas.

I'm a bit later on posting this than I wanted, but today's been cut between a very tired baby (she woke me up before I'd even planned to wake up at 4:50AM), trying to catch up with where I should be for Camp NaNoWriMo, and participating in Dewey's 24-Hr Readathon.

What's your favorite Stephen King book? Pre-1995, if you can. What's your weekend plans?

Day 02 - Travel & Vacation #BookReviewBlogChallenge

Find info about this challenge here. Keep up with prompts here.

And you can still sign up until the 25th here.

The second prompt for the Book Review Blog Challenge hosted by Ann over at Great New Reads is travel/vacation. Don't we all wish we could be traveling and on vacation? I'm dreaming of white sands and the pitter patter of rain on my tent. Hopefully, things start settling down soon so that we're able to do some camping this summer.

But anyway, the book I chose is Fugitives and Refugees: A Walk in Portland, Oregon by Chuck Palahniuk. This was the very first book I bought with my own money a good 12 or so years ago. It fueled my obsession with the Pacific Northwest. It was a fascinating look at a seedy place I didn't think I'd ever get to see. I gave it four out of five stars. The info in the book, being 17 years old at this point, is a bit dated and it's definitely leaning to the more grungy underground part of Portland, so it's not for everyone.

I grew up in Texas, spent some time in my teens living in North Carolina and then moved back to Texas. Texas has SO much to see and visit, but damn does it take some time to get there. I missed the quick trips out to the shore when we lived in North Carolina, the day trips up to DC or down to Myrtle Beach (this could be another post in of itself).

Four years ago, without any plan or net, we had the opportunity to move to Portland. It felt like some sort of bizarre dream and so, we did. There's been a lot of ups and downs, but it's been pretty amazing. I've seen quite a few things mentioned in this book (the bubblers, the U.S.S. Blueback, the amazingness that is Powell's). And from here, we've done a lot of traveling, up into Washington and all around the state.

It's a unique place and while it isn't quite how it was back in the 90s, early 2000s when I first fell in love with the dumpsterfire of a city, it still has it's charm and we may move again, but I'll always want to come back and it's crazy to me how this little book changed the course of my life.

Thanks, Chuck!

Day 01 - Dreams & Ambitions #BookReviewBlogChallenge

Find info about this challenge here. Keep up with prompts here.

And you can still sign up until the 25th here. 

My copy of Frankenstein

The first official prompt for the Book Review Blog Challenge hosted by Ann over at Great New Reads, is dreams and ambitions. I know a few people are probably going to pick self-help books or memoirs of people achieving their dreams/ambitions, but those aren't typically my jam (and I honestly couldn't think of any I actually own that would fit the bill).

So, if you couldn't tell, I'm using Frankenstein for this prompt. Victor Frankenstein had a dark dream and enough ambition to fulfill it. Didn't really work out for him in the end, and he knew it, but boy is it a trip.

I read this waaay back in high school. Gave it a four out of five stars. I loved it - it's truly a masterpiece and Mary Shelley was one of the original mothers of horror. Though, I'd argue this has more sci-fi elements than true horror, but another Ted talk, another day.

"For when I would account to myself for the birth of that passion, which afterwards ruled my destiny, I find it arise, like a mountain river, from ignoble and almost forgotten sources; but swelling as it proceeded, it became the torrent which, in its course, has swept away all my hopes and joys."

Without Victor's ambition, there is no story. He put aside health and family and happiness in his pursuit of this other, perverse form of life. It destroyed him and pretty much everyone he loved. I like how the story is relayed, being told to other people. It's a cool format that can be done poorly, but is done well here. You don't see it too often.

A fun tidbit: the whole lightening bring to life thing that most people associate with the monster... that's not how it's written in the book at all. It's pretty ambiguous actually. Some sorta science-y stuff that he's studying. The first movie in 1910 (which most people haven't actually seen - it's 13 or so minutes, watch it here) has a pretty good vague interpretation of how he pulled it off. This short film is really interesting! The practical effects on how they filmed creating the monster are really cool! The 'it's alive!' moment is more associated with the 1931 movie, which is pretty great in its own right.

This is due for a reread (I actually started reading it when I pulled it down for the picture) but man, I have too much on the docket now so it'll have to wait.

Have you read this one? What's your favorite classic?

'Twelve Nights at Rotter House' review

Twelve Nights at Rotter House by J.W. Ocker (published in October 2019) is his first adult fiction book. Mostly, he's written travelogues about horror locations and history, so not a huge surprise that the main character of this, Felix, is also a horror travelogue author. I got this for my horror book club, but didn't finish it in time for the meet, which is disappointing as I had some things to say.

The premise of this one is that Felix, not a believer of ghosts, convinces the owner of Rotter House to let him stay alone for 13 days for a book. Immediately, you know things are going to go wrong seeing as the book is twelve days, but alas. The first couple of chapters detail him exploring the abandoned, ramshackled house and have some eerie moments. Then, seemingly out of nowhere, he's joined by his friend Thomas. There's some tension between the two of them as they haven't spoken in over a year due to some falling out that isn't mentioned for some time. Both are horror junkies, though Thomas believes in ghosts/supernatural stuff, and it goes from there.

pictured is 'Twelve Nights at Rotter House' by J.W. Ocker

So, my biggest issue with this had to do (besides the ending) with pacing. It dragged so much, separated by days where much of the time nothing happens except the two men having long conversations about their history and horror stuff. It seemed to delve more into a drama than a horror/haunted house. Sometime after the halfway point it starts to pickup and dive headfirst into crazy town.

At this point, I could not put the book down as the tension between the two is revealed and some of the hauntings feel very personal. And then the ending, which threw me for a complete loop and made me angrily shut the book. I do not like endings like that.

For what it's worth, it did had some creepy parts and the horror trivia was fun, but I ultimately dropped the star rating from a four to a three after mulling on it for a couple of days. I'd suggest it for haunted house fans, but I guess be warned there's a twist ending.

'The Exorcist' review (book + movie)

I picked this up as my local bookstore was reading it for horror bookclub (it was rescheduled to April and then outright cancelled. I think they're going to try to do an online meetup, but we'll see). I heard from tons a folks that it was really scary and honestly, it wasn't.

I think it said a lot about gender and cultural norms and mental health (probably not intentionally in some cases) and overall I found it interesting. It was gross and perverse and though it had tons of scenes of research... we never got an explanation as to how Regan got possessed.

I have two theories. I haven't done any research into what people are thinking and I know there's a sequel but I haven't looked into it so no clue if it delves into it. So, first... she didn't close the ouija board. It was such a minor thing though and wasn't spoken about again once Regan started to really go off the deep end, but maybe? I mean, ouija is bullshit, but in the realm of possessions and such, it could be a possibility.

OR it's all just a visceral allegory. Regan is hitting preteen age and going through puberty. I've heard somewhere that some people think that during that time you're open to possession, but I think it's more simple than that. Just an ew, yucky thing. I mean, the possession could've been scary and apart from a few creepy moments, the entirety of it is just sexual. She asks people to fuck her, she masturbates, sometimes violently. A good chunk of her insults to taunt the priests are sexual in nature. For a seventies crowd, that is horrifying seeing a young girl talk/act that way. Overall, girls don't do that. People still feel that way now, to an extent.

Another thing I was annoyed with was Chris' atheism and how it wasn't really explored well in my opinion. She comes off as dumb and a bit of a floozy and it sort of felt like victim blaming at times - a 'where's the father, your broken home caused this' or 'well, your lack of belief brought this demon into your house' sorta thing. I would've liked the utter horror at finding very convincing evidence that there's something else, more. But she just kinda cowtails. I do appreciate that they explored every avenue of health/mental health before even suggesting such a thing, especially consider this was set/written during the time where women were basically doped up on tranquilizers to be "normal" and there was no real exploration beyond that.  Tranquilizers are used quite often in both book and movie.

I also watched the movie. It was good, the practical affects were really interest to try and figure out (and in some cases, google - looking at you cold breath). I think they were trying to lean more into Karras' crisis of faith and everything with his mother, but it didn't come through as strongly as in the book and so that final scene I think wasn't as potent. I also found the pacing to be... bad. We don't get to see Regan slowly descend, she just IS one day and there really was no build up. I think that was the probably, as a mother, the creepiest thing while reading - thinking about these little things adding up to a child who I don't recognize anymore and nobody knows how to help.

For what it was, it is a masterpiece of horror literature/film, an entire genre of horror films wouldn't exist without it and overall, I'm glad for the experience.

'Just Mercy' review

This book was a tough one. I'm not sure if I'd of picked it up had my bookclub not chose it as February's nonfic read, but after reading it I say this: Everyone needs to read this book. If you want a better understanding of how the justice system works and it's failings here in America, read this.

I had to take breaks while reading this as it was just so upsetting and a stressful read, especially when Stevenson gets into his work with incarcerated children. The just utter lack a regard to these people's lives is disgusting.

Bryan Stevenson has just dedicated his life to this and has had such a powerful impact on many people's lives and even had hand in changing laws (here, here, here) that were very much unfair. We still have long steps to go in getting the justice system to not be such a crapshoot, needlessly biased against all people of color and poor people, but the strides this man has taken so far are pretty amazing.

It's also interesting to think about how had he not volunteered with the SPDC and met Henry, who was on death row, and really got to know this man, that it might not have gotten him thinking about the injustice of it all and started him on this quest.

"I frequently had difficult conversations with clients who were struggling and despairing over their situations-over the things they'd done, or had been done to them, that had led them to painful moments. Whenever things got really bad, and they were questioning the value of their lives, I would remind them that each of us is more than the worst thing we've ever done. I told them that if someone tells a lies, that person is not just a liar. If you take something that doesn't belong to you, you are not just a thief. Even if you kill someone, you're not just a killer. I am more than broken. In fact, there is a strength, a power even, in understanding brokenness, because embracing our brokenness creates a need and desire for mercy, and perhaps a corresponding need to show mercy. When you experience mercy, you learn things that are hard to learn otherwise. You see things you can't  otherwise see; you hear things you can't otherwise hear. You begin to recognize the humanity that resides in each of us." (pg. 290)

I think the thing I find most impressive about Stevenson is really just his way with words. Both with people and on page. It definitely feels like he gets the grasp on how to talk to people right away and some of his phrases really hit home the idea that there's something wrong here. The most prominent one that was pointed out my bookclub was that instead of life sentence, he frequently said death sentence - because that's what it was... you sentence someone to 100+ years without parole, that's a death sentence. It's insane to me that it took until 2009 before this started being changed.

This overarching story follows Stevenson's quest to get Walter McMillian off of death row for a crime he couldn't possibly have commited. The facts that stacked up against the police force and DA and courts that dealt with this who only wanted to get this murder wrapped up before elections, was just mind boggling. The lack of care in the case was just... horrifying. They put this man on death row before he was even trialed. They bribed people with lesser sentences if they said they saw him places he wasn't - even though there were dozens of witnesses saying he was miles away from when the murder happened. This entire debacle ruined this man's life and while Stevenson ultimately got Walter, thankfully, freed, he was never the same and died thinking he was still on the row. It was utterly tragic and completely unnecessary that someone's life had to go out that way because of some people didn't want to admit they made a mistake.

As a far warning, there are some descriptions of people being sent to the electric chair that are pretty graphic and were upsetting to read. If you are anti-death penalty, this will be a tough one for you and it definitely gave me a lot to think about.

There is an absolute wealth of information on the Equal Justice Initiative website, which was founded by Stevenson in 1989, if you're interested in learning more, volunteering or donating. I haven't watched it yet, but have heard the documentary, True Justice: Bryan Stevenson’s Fight for Equality, was very good.

'The Wives' review *spoilers*

Originally, I had this rated a little higher, but the more I stewed on it, the more I just did not like it. And weeks later, writing this review, I'm just not happy about it, so here we go.

The premise of this - about a gal who agreed to a poly marriage where she wasn't supposed to know anything about the other wives but finds out that her husband may be abusing one of the other wives and wants to try and save her - was an interesting ideas. And if that's all it was, I think this would've been a good thriller-type (with more research into the whole poly thing needed, most def), but there was a "plot twist" that pretty much invalidated the first half of the book.

I mean, I kinda hated it. I rated it two stars on Goodreads, a pan on Litsy.

My biggest issue with the book is that it uses Thursday's mental illness as a plot point and a "convenient" way to wrap up all those loose ends and random choices she made (oh, she's mentally ill, that explain everything, right?). I realize people react to certain situations differently, but this level of psychosis just doesn't seem reasonable given the reason why. Thursday had a miscarriage sometime before the story begins, and while that's horrible and traumatic, it and her refusal to accept it (and the events after) fully are used as the catalysts to her downward spiral. I dunno, man.

Another thing I disliked about this book, other than the main character Thursday, was just... the characterization of every other female in the book. They were caricatures and stereotypes and just flat as a board. All these women were held down and hurt in some way by men and I'm just not happy reading about that. That's all they were. All their characters were there just to further demonize men. Men are manipulators and cheaters and they bribe and cajool women to stay with them (well, with the exception of Thursday who is just too crazy for her "husband," but he's a-ok leaning into that psychosis to get the food/sex whenever he wants). It's just gross. I'd also venture that this can be considered rape seeing as she, during those scenes, wasn't cognitively aware that they were no longer in a relationship and he's just taking advantage of that.

Also, that ending? When she should've been on the road to recovery and it honestly seemed like it, she just goes batshit on what's-her-face that visits? Out of left fucking field, man. Ridiculous. Of all the people she interacted with in the book, I'd say she's maybe three down the line of who she should be most angry with. In no way a realistic reaction. And maybe that was just in her head? But I fucking hate that kind of shit.

Needless to say, I'm not interested in reading any of Tarryn Fisher's other books as looking at their reviews, I see much of the same and no thanks.

'Storm Front' review

Let me just start that this will be a divisive review. People seem to love Dresden. There has to be good about the series seeing as it's up to as of now 15 main books and I personally own the first 13. Because I thought I'd love it. I mean, I dig private investigators and while urban fantasy isn't my favorite, I can read them as fun palate cleansers.

This was not a fun palate cleanser. I finished this strictly as a hate read (I desperately wanted to finish so that I could bitch at the book club).

Dresden is a sexist, arrogant shit and as of 2000, so is Jim Butcher. Because if this isn't a self-insertion story than I don't know what is. I read this and got this impression of Dresden as just the fedora-wearing, m'lady, neckbeard type. Looking up Butcher, I got a similar impression.

Don't get me wrong, I've enjoyed narratives where the character is a chauvinist, but it's different when even the tone in general is just sexist. When all the characters don't fight it, when all the characters play into it. I'm OK with arrogant characters, but rinse and repeat.

All the female characters in this use their sexuality to get ahead. The one that doesn't still ends up helpless and in need of Dresden's help, after spending a night mothering him. There's nothing wrong with this. There's something wrong with this when it's just expected. He pays extra attention to the women's makeup and clothes, while the men get very brief descriptions. In fact, all the men were just pathetic and clearly, Dresden was better (with one exception because he was 'scary' - I guess a male can be a threatening nemesis, but not a woman).

Also, my mom read this for the book club too and she didn't enjoy it either, though didn't in particular notice the sexist crap. She's from the generation where this was just commonplace, internalized misogyny and all that. This isn't necessarily her genre either. I've also spoken to some other folks who didn't like this series either, so I'm not alone.

Am I going to read further into the series? I don't know. I have the next 12 and should that just go to waste? I don't know. Maybe the rage will subside. Maybe someone will tell me Dresden has a redemption arc where he suddenly isn't a shit, but I don't see that.

And can we forget that entire fight scene where Dresden is full on naked and traps a lady with him in a protective circle after she accidentally drinks a love potion and is basically grinding on him and trying to fuck him? Don't get me started on the fucking love potion. He fought making it, but not that hard.

Note: I never went to bookclub for this one. Had nothing to do with the book, but I don't particularly want to go into why.

'Will My Cat Eat My Eyeballs?' review

This was my 100th book read in 2019!

It's funny. I wanted to read this because I follow Caitlin on YouTube. She's a funny lady, talks about all this scary death stuff in a super upbeat and informative way. I knew a book geared toward kids would be a knock out. I finally bought it because of a book club at my local bookstore and I absolutely breezed through it.

'Will My Cat Eat My Eyeballs?' by Caitlin Doughty

It's so easily digestible and answers some pretty silly questions from kids, but I've found myself discussing it (to the point of it probably being annoying) to my family and co-workers. I work in the death industry and it was really interesting to get some answers I wasn't sure of. Also, had an interesting conversation with my daughter about cannibalism (lol) which was helped answered correctly from the information in this book.

“In 1945 and 1956, two researchers analyzed the donated bodies of four adult males, and estimated that the average male offers about 125,822 calories from protein and fat. That number is far below what other red meats like beef or boar can offer. (Yes, you heard me, humans are red meat.)” 

(If you're interested, no we're not good eats unless you're starving. Would I eat someone if I were starving? I mean, maybe.)

Caitlin is a huge proponent of a more natural death and it's really opened my eyes to a lot of things I just wasn't aware of. I knew of donation - as that's what I do - but did you know you can just be wrapped in a shroud and buried like that? I think that would be cool. And you can get cremated, but with water. Interesting stuff going on in the death industry right now. Great resource for these types on things on a website Caitlin runs with some other folks.

The bookclub tonight went well! We discussed a lot of death stuff and it was fun! It's nice being able to talk with book people even though I'm so awkward. Hopefully, that gets better! Kinda disappointed that Caitlin wasn't there, but oh well 😅

Caitlin Doughty has written two other books that I'm looking forward to reading. I already own From Here to Eternity, which is a sort of death travelogue, and will eventually get Smoke Gets in Your Eyes, which is just is about her entry into the death industry by working in a crematorium.