Tung's review
Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers
by Mary Roach
"I only finished the book because my OCD made me finish it because I’d already started it."
That's exactly why I finished the book. By the end, I was so annoyed by the tone of the author that even the interesting bits failed to outshine my irritation.
The two of us need to send out a warning to all potential readers of this book. There are far more interesting non-fiction books to read.
Make that three. Katrina pointed me at your review during a mutual complaint-fest about the book. I read it a while ago and felt similarly but until she picked it up, I was starting to think I was the only person who didn't think it was brilliant. Obviously, I should read more reviews here.
Agreed. I rarely write reviews, but I did so for this book.
I've not read it yet, but my friend Mairi (who also disliked Stiff) recommends Christine Quigley's The Corpse: A History.
I finally decided I'm not going to finish the book. It's not a valuable use of my time. It *could* be a good read, but the author needed a good (and strong) editor to cut out her so-called humorous asides and commentary.
You are preaching to the choir.
I have had this book for quite awhile. My husband loved it. Every time I think I might read it, I pick up something else that looks more interesting. I'm glad I've read your reviews. I was only going to read it because so many people have recommended it. But I'm not really that interested.
One book I really liked was called Teasing Secrets from the Dead. It's a true account of a forensic scientist and some of the high-profile cases she has worked on, including as a team leader after the 9/11 terrorist attacksShe includes just enough goryness (such as the rate at which cadavers rot) to give you chills, while at the same time she's truly sensitive to her subjects.
Well, Kim, you've convinced me. I'll look for it. I think it could be an interesting topic, if it was written sensitively enough and well enough.
Part of what made this book such a great read was that Roach kept things in perspective. She took a subject that could and would have been very depressing and she was able to handle it with levels of respect and humor that it needed. As a writer, I appreciated the balance she kept and I loved the insights into her own thoughts and feelings. It brought a very human element to a book about what happens to us when the human bit has taken off. So I have to politely disagree with you all and I highly recommend this book to all those who want a refreshing and honest look at the journey our bodies take without us.
Tung's review
Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach
Tung's review
rating:
bookshelves:
non-fiction
In my nonfiction phase during the year, I grabbed this one and after finishing it, regretted its purchase. The book is about medical use of corpses and the human body, present-day and in the past. The subject matter is extremely interesting, and some of the methods, tests, and history behind human body experiments is worth the read. The book makes you want to be an organ donor, or want to donate your body to medical science. The problem is that the author is one of the WORST writers I have ever read to the extent that every time I picked up the book I got angry. I only finished the book because my OCD made me finish it because I’d already started it. The two irritating aspects of the book are: 1) Roach would spend a few pages describing something fascinating and then ruin it all by throwing in the snarkiest comment imaginable. For example, she’d discuss how feet are used by scientists, and then throw in a comment about her stinky socks. It made me literally want to stab her ...more
"I only finished the book because my OCD made me finish it because I’d already started it."That's exactly why I finished the book. By the end, I was so annoyed by the tone of the author that even the interesting bits failed to outshine my irritation.
The two of us need to send out a warning to all potential readers of this book. There are far more interesting non-fiction books to read.
Make that three. Katrina pointed me at your review during a mutual complaint-fest about the book. I read it a while ago and felt similarly but until she picked it up, I was starting to think I was the only person who didn't think it was brilliant. Obviously, I should read more reviews here.
Agreed. I rarely write reviews, but I did so for this book.I've not read it yet, but my friend Mairi (who also disliked Stiff) recommends Christine Quigley's The Corpse: A History.
I finally decided I'm not going to finish the book. It's not a valuable use of my time. It *could* be a good read, but the author needed a good (and strong) editor to cut out her so-called humorous asides and commentary.
You are preaching to the choir.
I have had this book for quite awhile. My husband loved it. Every time I think I might read it, I pick up something else that looks more interesting. I'm glad I've read your reviews. I was only going to read it because so many people have recommended it. But I'm not really that interested.
One book I really liked was called Teasing Secrets from the Dead. It's a true account of a forensic scientist and some of the high-profile cases she has worked on, including as a team leader after the 9/11 terrorist attacksShe includes just enough goryness (such as the rate at which cadavers rot) to give you chills, while at the same time she's truly sensitive to her subjects.
Well, Kim, you've convinced me. I'll look for it. I think it could be an interesting topic, if it was written sensitively enough and well enough.
Part of what made this book such a great read was that Roach kept things in perspective. She took a subject that could and would have been very depressing and she was able to handle it with levels of respect and humor that it needed. As a writer, I appreciated the balance she kept and I loved the insights into her own thoughts and feelings. It brought a very human element to a book about what happens to us when the human bit has taken off. So I have to politely disagree with you all and I highly recommend this book to all those who want a refreshing and honest look at the journey our bodies take without us.