29th September, 2025 in Recommended Reads

Undertaking Life by Emma Stanley

“No matter what happened in life, good or bad, whatever religion you believed in, at least you know that death was it. Death was the end. How wonderful the neighbors must have felt when they woke up to see that it was not so. That they were able to carry on forever.” The novel, Undertaking Life, by Emma Stanley, artfully leads us into a graveyard full of mystery, as the protagonist, Daniel, interacts with its numerous residents, who guide him beyond his initial grief. As he gets to know each of his neighbors amongst this resting place, Daniel discovers volumes of knowledge obtained over generations and the painful results of past indiscretions, discrimination, and abandonment. No matter what occurs in Daniel’s life, Undertaking Life keeps us captivated within the delightful company of the graveyard and its companions.