Bodies in Motion and at Rest: On Metaphor and Mortality

I first heard about the author - Thomas Lynch - Undertaker and author about 20 years ago. I had joined our Bereavement Ministry (plan Funeral Mass) at my Catholic parish. This book "Bodies in Motion and at Rest" was suggested reading. People had mentioned how clever it is. Then I saw a recent article in 'The Atlantic Magazine' by Mr Lynch... "Death without Ceremony". And the name and title of this book caught my attention... at which point I bought the book. It is beyond amazing to read the numerous stories by Mr Lynch. It's much more than a good yarn, even though it is. It is life, death, grief, anger, love, joy, the children and a cat the ex wife... its' hard to explain. You will laugh and cry. In conclusion, I am in the process of emptying out my vast bookshelf. But this book will always be on the shelf for me to dip into every once in a while. Thank-You Thomas Lynch!

Reading Thomas Lynch is like sinking into a comfortable chair to think clearly about the meaning of life. In this, and his other book, The Undertaking, Lynch is both poet and guide for a journey of understanding mortality (morality too). It is tempting to draw a loose connection to the best (which is, by no means, all) work from Garrison Keillor--in that Lynch brings the mundane details of life to focus in ways that let us see they are really the big things in life. With humor that never detracts from solemn subjects, or fails to rise up in the description of human foibles, Lynch is insightful, delightful, grown-up and solid. Must read!

Have read many of his books as clergy and feed me as one dealing with deaths as well. Bought this one for a colleague in the funeral business as a thank you for assisting my wife and myself in doing our own necessary planning. Worth anyone's time before the final knock comes at their door.

I could not put this book down once I started reading. The funeral director I work for suggested the writings of Thomas Lynch and I m so glad he did. It is edifying and encouraging in all areas. The tender heart and kindness of Thomas Lynch is most evident. It is nice to be reminded we have sensitive and caring men and women in our business serving families in such loving ways. As soon as I completed this book I ordered another by Mr. Lynch. I hope his writings are used in colleges and universities everywhere. Well done!

Thoughtful, humorous and sometimes poignant observations of coming of age and aging of the boomer generation. I highly recommend the book.

While not his best work, it's still humorous and touching

The book by Thomas Lynch is superb....at least the first several chapters are. The introduction is wonderful with many statements that I saved in my "favorite quotation" folder. The first several essays leave you with a lot to think about, but the last couple are about the importance of poetry, and this is clearly Lynch's "hobbyhorse." On the whole, the book is powerful and well worth reading.

I've read it multiple times and gifted it twice. If you can enjoy unpretentious stories about lives and their endings, told by a voice warm and familiar as your favourite whiskey and a furry friend... then I recommend this book to you.

Fantastic. Wise and insightful.