Interesting look at an industry

Finished April 10
Curtains: Adventures of an Undertaker-in-Training by Tom Jokinen
Jokinen is a journalist who has worked on a number of CBC shows. When his family relocated to Winnipeg, he decided to do a project on the business of dying. He began working with a family-owned funeral home with its own crematorium. As he learned more about the business, he also delved into literature about it, and travelled to other locations to see what trends were developing in the industry.
His account is personal yet informative, humorous yet respectful. This is an industry few of us know much about, and most of us don't think of until we have to, yet there are so many interesting aspects of it. I was fascinated by the detail and the variety of choices. While Jokinen describes the processes involved, it never seems gory or offputting. I found that I learned a lot and will be better prepared when I do have to deal with death. I recommend this to anyone with a curious mind.