Wednesday 12 May 2010

Book ~ "Death Becomes Them" (2009) Alix Strauss

From Amazon ~ For those who never miss the obits, this odd little compendium of true suicide stories from author Strauss may scratch a certain itch. Focusing mainly on creative types-writers, actors, musicians and artists-Strauss strikes a genial tone infused with plenty of gallows humor; Sylvia Plath's tale is amended with a breezy sidebar on the troubled poet's method of self-execution, an oven fueled by coal gas: "Cheaper than pills, easier than hanging, and less messy than the remnants from a gunshot, death by coal was quick, painless, and, most important, easily accessible." Strauss's giddy enthusiasm for the topic manifests in easy jokes and glib chapter titles ("Not the Suite Life: Ten Hotel Suicides"), as well as lists of facts that read dangerously close to DIY instruction. One can almost forgive the relentlessly upbeat tone, however, as the book proves hopelessly dreary, even for the most morbid of tabloid-readers.

Yes, this is a rather odd book to read but it was interesting.

The stories are short and provide morbid facts on the different ways to commit suicide and effectiveness, along with stats.

Probably not the best reading material for everyone but I enjoyed it.

2 comments:

Tatiana said...

I like gallows humor, so I'd probably enjoy it too.

cheeky rose said...

Sounds like a good read, not sure its for me