prompt #6 (week 12) -- readers' advisory matrix

Book: All the Living and the Dead by Hayley Campbell

1    Where is the book on the narrative continuum? A mix – Campbell's central aim with this book is to examine the lives of those who work with the dead, the people who work in various aspects of the death industry about which most of us have little awareness of or knowledge. However, this journey is not merely informative, it gets deeply personal for Campbell the more she learns and witnesses. There are often moments of dialogue, descriptions of people and settings, and her own moments of personal reflection and musing.

      What is the subject of the book? People who spend their lives working with the dead and/or dying, as well as their specific jobs, roles, and how they are able to do what they do.

          What type of book is it? Reporting via narrative essays

      Articulate appeal:

a.       What is the pacing of the book? Medium-paced. Chapters vary in length and subject but flow into one another seamlessly, making it easy to read through as quickly as possible or in little chunks over time if/when certain topics become too overwhelming.

b.       Describe the characters of the book. This book’s success hinges on the people Campbell meets, interviews, and works with. Each death worker she profiles is distinct from one another, and not just because of their specific job, but because of their personalities, mannerisms, conversational styles, and wisdom imparted, all conveyed effectively. From a crass crime scene cleanup company CEO, to an impossibly dedicated bereavement nurse, to a Red Lobster-loving executioner, all the people Campbell shadows are manifested to the reader in unforgettable ways. Campbell herself also becomes a character; she’s the Sherpa of the story, guiding us through some of the most upsetting, strange, and shocking aspects of the death industry that many of us will never be privy to. She not only relays information, but interprets and translates it in emotionally resonant yet digestible ways that easily creates a connection between writer and reader.

c.       How does the story feel? Informative, fascinating, visceral, and devastating; many chapters hit – and ache – like a sucker punch.

d.       What is the intent of the author? To explore and document the jobs – and lives – of people in the death industry. To bring into the light the death-adjacent roles most of us will never play or even be exposed to, thanks to the Western world’s norms about death, funerals, etc. To learn what it is about some people that make them capable of performing these types of jobs/roles, when most of us would be too horrified, disgusted, etc.

e.       What is the focus of the story? The various death industry jobs – and the people that do them – that go unseen and unacknowledged in daily life.

f.        Does the language matter? Yes. This book gets into the literal gory details and covers topics that are emotionally difficult, so the language must accomplish both things effectively. Also, much of the dialogue is direct quotes from the people Campbell profiles, so getting that right is imperative.

g.       Is the setting important and well described? Yes, most settings are physical locations where a death-adjacent job is performed, which makes them important. Luckily, Campbell describes these settings effectively, mixing both objective details and subjective thoughts/experiences.

h.       Are there details and, if so, of what? Lots of details: about the jobs, the people (their actions and personal histories), the physical spaces, etc.

i.         Are there sufficient charts and other graphic materials? Are they useful and clear? None.

j.         Does the book stress moments of learning, understanding, or experience? All three: learning about the jobs and the people who do them, understanding what it takes to be able to perform these difficult (emotional and physically) roles, and experiencing the duties of the jobs and the emotional toll it takes on an outsider like Campbell.

Why would a reader enjoy this book?

a.       Learning/understanding

b.       Detail

c.       Characterization