Every time I read a book about obituaries, it makes me think about mine. I actually read The Dead Beat: Lost Souls, Lucky Stiffs and the Perverse Pleasures of Obituaries by Marilyn Johnson when it first came out in 2006. Someone on my blog mentioned it recently. (It seems like a Tracy and Glen book.) I picked it up again, and I’m going to share the library book with my sister. She and I do take a perverse pleasure in reading a good obituary. I never know what path it will take me down.
This book really only makes sense if you enjoy reading obituaries of people you never know, as well as celebrities. The book discusses the various forms obituaries take, and the newspapers that spotlight great obituaries, and the people who write them. Johnson admires the British newspapers the most, and the sardonic wit they bring to obituaries. However, some newspapers focus on ordinary people and the extraordinary features of their lives, bringing those people to life for family and friends who knew the deceased.
I agree with Johnson’s comment. “Obituaries are history as it is happening.” Take this one about obituary writing with a grain of salt. “Certiainly it contains the most creative writing in journalism.” The writing in this book is crisp and amusing. Johnson discusses two obituary writers’ conferences she attended, one in New Mexico, one in Bath, England. At those conferences, she met some of her idols, the heroes of obit writing, the people who made obits come alive (pun intended).
She also discussed the changes in obits. One came about because of 9/11 when newspapers covered so many deaths with short posts about the lives that were lost. Other worldwide disasters triggered similar coverage.
It’s a strange book to reread. I know. But, I’ve read other books by people who write obituaries. I’ve read several by Heather Lende, who wrote about her life in small-town Alaska, and her coverage of the obit beat there. Once our new library opens on Saturday, I hope to find some more current books about obituaries.
Marilyn Johnson’s website is https://www.marilynjohnson.net/
The Dead Beat: Lost Souls, Lucy Stiffs and the Perverse Pleasures of Obituaries by Marilyn Johnson. HarperCollins, 2006. 223p.
FTC Full Disclosure – Library book
Lesa, you are right. Glen read this book in early November, and when I mentioned it on What Are You Reading?, you said you thought you had read it in the past. I am glad you found a copy to reread. The books by Heather Lende also sound good. I will be interested to hear what other books you find about obituaries.
Tracy, the Columbus library system has some interesting titles, but I’m going to start with
The New York Times Book of the Dead
320 Print and 10,000 Digital Obituaries of Extraordinary People. I’m not going to use the key to go to all the digital ones, but I’m going to check out the print ones.
I do read obituaries too, and I read Heather Lende’s first book years ago. This does sound interesting, as did yesterday’s book (especially since I like the Kate Ellis series you compared it to).
I need more time!
OK, I just borrowed Heather Lende’s second book, FIND THE GOOD. And can’t we all benefit from that philosophy these days?
We certainly can benefit from that philosophy!
There is a instagram/maybe TikTok account: @tipsfromdeadpeople that is great. Mary reads obits that are sometimes hilarious but always reveal the real person with all their flaws and quirks.
Thank you, Catherine! I don’t have TikTok or Instagram, but others may here.
Jeff, That’s the only one in the series that reminds me of Ellis’ books, but you can read it as a standalone. This one about obituaries is good enough that I passed it on to my sister.
Now I got this one from the Cloud Library.
I’ve read a lot of obituaries over the years when I was researching my family tree. They can be a wealth of information.
There are some fascinating ones out there, Sandy.
I bought this book not long ago, specifically because of Tracy having mentioned it. Sounded intriguing. Not that I’ve read it yet, but it will get its turn eventually. (Whenever I finish a book and it’s time to choose a new one, I imagine all my books calling out ‘Pick me! Pick me!’, followed by hundreds of disappointed sighs when they were not the chosen one. It’s actually a bit stressful ha ha.)
That’s funny, Lindy! It is hard to choose!
Jennifer’s right. That is funny, Lindy.
I recommend listening to the latest episode of This is Love podcast. It is all about podcasts. Heather Lende is interviewed.
Thank you, Patrick!
And it is part of Kindle Unlimited!
Great! Thanks, Holly!
My favorite obituaries–not that I read so many–are on the last page of the Economist magazine. Always interesting people, sometimes famous, sometimes not, and always well-written.
I think Marilyn mentioned those, Kim.