The Undertaking: Life Studies from the Dismal Trade

Perhaps my fascination with this book says a little something of my darker side, but when it's a book this good, I don't mind letting the skeleton out of the closet for a nice jaunt. The essays are eloquent as only the words of a poet can be (yes, he is a poet as well as an undertaker!) with a sprinkling of profanity and such to keep Lynch human. The points of his poignant essays hit home with their well-made arguments and other sides of the story. I can only wish when my time comes I have someone like Lynch to help me along on my final journey.

In a highschool assessment test it was noted that Funeral Home Director would be an advised vocation for myself. Some bastard has a sense of humor. Mr. Lynch here makes me wish I had pursued that path. You may have heard of him through his poetry. He also was Alan Ball's (creator of Six Feet Under) main source for inspiration. I found Lynch's sharpest wit to be held within the chapter entitled "Uncle Eddie, Inc.". Lynch's logic shines like a beacon of light in this abysmal plain of doting degenerates. I'm sure he will piss-off many of the pro-choice, the neo-con warmongers, and those for "Kevorking". The wise will recognize what he says as simple and absolute truth, though few can recognize that these grey days. I came away from reading show more this a bit changed, as all good books will leave you. Mr. Lynch's profession--death--has left him with a unique and clear perspective on life and the living. And if you want to know, I choose an oaken casket depicting a scene of resurrection and an earthen burial. No fire, thanks. Also, I think for music I should pick Beethoven's 7th Symphony, Handel's Sarabande, Zephyrus' Surge Illuminare, and when I am being lowered into the hole, The 79ths Farewell to Gibraltor. show less

Thomas Lynch's writing--in this book and others--is fantastic. I read this many years ago, but have been thinking about it again recently, and would like to re-read it. He writes about a very delicate subject with insight, compassion, and, amazingly, humor.

Thomas Lynch is a second-generation Irish Catholic that grew up in the midwest into the family tradition of undertaking. He has quite a way with words, being a published poet, and these short biographical stories infused with lessons and ideals have a beautiful poignancy that made even a common story seem somewhat profound. However, I found that he focused a lot more on his personal life and religion rather than his career in the funeral business than I expected and since the main reason I wanted to read this book was to get a personal view of the funeral trade, I was a bit disappointed. I did like his stories about Ireland and the differences between how people view death and the dying between the two countries, but I'm not Catholic or show more at all religious so the strong religious overtones were sometimes too much for me. Overall, a very interesting read but not quite what I hoped for. show less

A collection of essays from poet and undertaker Lynch concerning life and death and the ways people handle the latter. Lynch has a gift with language—it’s obvious he’s a poet—and though I disagree with some of his later thoughts on abortion and the death penalty (I’m logical in his book since I believe in both) I cannot fault his logic. His descriptions of life in a small town, as well as life in a village in Ireland, are delicately done. The last book that rendered so well human relationships was Kathleen Finneran’s The Tender Land.

The author is a poet in addition to being an undertaker, so his prose is lovely, and his take on life and death is compassionate and thoughtful. There is a near-perfect (as I see perfection!) essay called "Words made flesh"- about love in its inception, death, and rebirth, sex, and the transformative emotional powers of poetry.

Superbly-written essays on life as seen through the eyes of a small-town funeral director. While it seems that the book would be depressing, it is, in the final analysis, life-affirming. There is a Michigan connection (author lives in Milford) as well as a PBS special on these writings.