This is easily the most surprising book that I have read so far this year. First, this book is on cadavers, which is as morbid a topic as one can read on, and yet is quite interesting. Second, this was Roach’s first book and before writing this, she was a journalist — she explains the subject of this book by saying that like all journalists, she’s a voyeur. And finally, for a book on human remains, her writing is refreshingly witty.
Her opening lines hooked me in completely: “The way I see it, being dead is not terribly far off from being on a cruise ship. Most of your time is spent lying on your back. The brain has shut down. The flesh begins to soften. Nothing much new happens, and nothing is expected of you.” She continues in this vein through the book, and in her footnotes — do not miss any of them as they are completely delightful. She explains the reluctance of the churchgoing masses to donate bodies as “who’s going to open the gates of heaven to some slob with his entrails all hanging out and dripping on the carpeting?” In a description on embalming — “opening up an artery, flushing the blood out with water, and pumping in alcohol” — she is reminded of frat parties!
Her book spans a long history of cadavers and surgery — from the time when “the poor donated themselves as living practice material” to paying tuition at certain Scottish schools in corpses rather than in cash and now to cadaver donations (or willed body programs); or from the era of body snatchers to memorials for cadaver donators. She also explores a range of topics related to cadavers and their uses — from decay, embalming and disposal techniques of corpses to the usage in car safety tests and in airplane crash investigations. She alternates her experiences while researching for the book (which seem to be extensive) with factoids from history, making the book interesting reading. And I learnt new facts as well, such as the ability for a decapitated head to perform most functions for a few seconds! She also raises important questions such as the need for gross anatomy labs given the vast depository of knowledge and the availability of digital models now. Or the moral dilemma of informing families if the cadavers of their near ones are used to test bullets or explosives. Or whether the decision for donations should rest with the donor or the donor’s family (she thinks that the latter should take the call).
Parts of the book can make the reader squeamish, however, such as when she describes the process of decay or embalming with graphic details, even as tries to lighten up the atmosphere with humour. Or the time when crucifixion is described in great detail. The reader needs to be prepared for that. Also, some parts do get trying to read as well.
The book is enjoyable largely due to her irreverent writing style, even when she speaks about her mother’s cadaver. At one point during her research, she is told that one should think of severed heads as wax to cope. And I suppose that’s the approach she has taken to write this book — think of everything as wax!
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