Being Dead
Info
Author
Jim Crace
Published
July 17, 2009
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It's short (just 196 pages) and I read it in one
sitting. Its quirkiness just pulled me in and held my attention for
hours. The story revolves around a couple (both are zoologists) who
return after 30 years of marriage to a beach where they once made love.
While trying to relive the moment they are both murdered by an unknown
person who arrives, does the deed, and then conveniently leaves the
story. The rest of the novel is about being dead, but not at all in the
spiritual sense. I realize that this all sounds pretty strange but take
my word for it, this is a remarkably beautiful tale. It's told through
flashbacks along with a rather intense look into the troubled life of
their estranged daughter. It also gets very involved with all the
natural things that happen to two dead bodies when left on a beach for
six days. Sounds gross, I know, but it's all done very . . .
tastefully.
