Stack of Spines

I am dying to meet Mary Roach.  She has one of the dryest senses of humor and one I aspire to if ever I am known for my humor (riiiiight).

I read her first book, Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers, in practically one sitting.  She has an uncanny ability to unite uncommon, uncouth topics with wit and a fresh investigative perspective.

I have to say though, this book *might* have been a mistake on audio.  During the week I mostly drive to and from work, and while it’s not raunchy or crass, it probably was not the best choice for last week and I’ll just leave it at that.

She approaches the awkwardness of the topic in a frank and honest way and made me feel less strange for reading — I could only imagine her research.  I learned a few things and very much enjoyed the history lesson on previous research projects.  The book is not so much about sex as it is about sex research.  Roach, in her own way, is a pioneer simply because I don’t know anyone else that writes like her or structures books in the manner she does.

Not many books make me laugh out loud, squirm, and cringe within a span of 30 seconds.