Michelle Williams (1) (1974–)

Down Among the Dead Men: A Year in the Life of a Mortuary Technician
by Michelle Williams
I found this book very interesting and informative. She doesn't talk over the reader's head at all. She goes into the job with no medical knowledge and as she learns, she lets the reader learn. We learn the tools, procedures, the layout, steps, the various cases, the families, the issues that come up, and many unusual instances that happen.

If it was just dealing with a dead body then that wouldn't be so bad but not all bodies come in one piece, or the day or week they died, or old and ready to die. Some cases made me cry, some were very depressing because of the situation, others were very gross and sad. All were heartbreaking because it was someone's life.

I found it fascinating how she adapted quickly to the job. Told her experiences and kept the respect of the deceased and the families intact, and I sure wish I had followed that route instead of nursing. Dead people don't fight back! Not all patients are sweet and pleasant in the ICU!… (meer)

I may have been a little bit stupid when I chose to read this book. I had anticipated it would have been about working in a mortuary. Some of it was and it was interesting, but I neglected to realise the title 'A Year in the Life' also meant being treated to chapters on taking the dogs for a walk, hanging out with friends at the pub, going to mum's for x-mas dinner and new year, having a break for a fortnight with a friend in another city, heading down the local curry house, going shopping with mum on the boyfriend's credit card, the weather... I found myself skimming vast swathes of the book that I found completely boring. I was sort of hoping for little more science and a little less Coronation Street… (meer)