The Funny Thing About Death

by Jo Caulfield

'It's a wildly satisfying and moving read ... I loved this special book' – Graham Norton

Six years ago, Jo Caulfield was about to go on stage when she found out that her big sister Annie had cancer. Not the best way to start a nationwide comedy tour. But the tour turns out to be a welcome distraction for both sisters. As Jo reports back from various hotels and service stations, they revisit their childhood and adolescence while navigating Annie's illness, learning through trial and error how to behave when someone you love gets sick.

The Funny Thing About Death is a hilarious memoir of two unconventional girls growing up in the 1970s. They didn't fit in at the Air Force bases they were raised on or the strict convent boarding school they were sent to. The Air Force was obsessed with communists and the nuns were obsessed with the Virgin Mary, neither of which were of interest to Jo or Annie.

Annie was witty, spiky and greedy for life, rushing to be 'interesting' and experience adventures. She travelled the world and became a screenwriter and broadcaster.

Jo was equally rebellious but didn't have a plan. She just wanted to be interesting like her big sister and thought it might involve eyeliner, smoking and being in a band.

Like her stand-up, Jo Caulfield's caustic wit and razor-sharp observations make her account of life with her sister, even in the worst of times, as entertaining as it is touching and relatable.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, Comedy, Audiobook

274 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 3, 2023

Reviews

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honest and amusing book about the really sad death of the author's sister. It's really difficult to write honestly about a loved one who has died as it feels wrong to attribute any flaws to them so I think Jo Caulfield has been quite brave in giving a rounded picture of her sister in quite a gentle way.

[Snoakes · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Funny Thing About Death is comedian Jo Caulfield's memoir about her sister Annie - a successful writer who died far too young in 2016 aged just 57.

Jo charts the progress of her sister's cancer from the initial diagnosis to her untimely death. By delving into their shared past she gives us an honest and unflinching portrait of her older sister, strong-headed, funny, vibrant, inventive, vulnerable and acerbic. When Annie does the unthinkable and dies, leaving Jo behind, the depth of her grief shines a light on the genuine and joyful relationship they shared. Their mutual love of the absurd and the irreverent stories they concoct together is a delight to read.

Annie gets her say too, as short excerpts of her writing are included within this book. It's a great way to get to know her, and whets your appetite to discover more of her work.

Jo Caulfield is well known as a clever, sharp and witty comedian. But now she is an author too. In fact, I can't help but wonder if Annie might be slightly put out (if also proud) by how good a job she has made of this personal and tragic story. I'm certainly hoping that this isn't her last book.

[Traviss · Rating 5 out of 5]

I discovered Jo Caulfield at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2023, we'd really enjoyed the show, and towards the end my partner noticed she couldn't find her backback which she thought she had put under her chair, with keys, phone, purse... i.e. a potential complete disaster. We whispered a couple of words to each other and was horrified that Jo had noticed and basically stopped her show for us to have a proper look and we found it a chair over... panic over and I was duly singled out for a bit of comedic attention, but did feel awfully guilty about the fact she'd even noticed and had interrupted her and she commented that I should now get her book... to be honest, I didn't at the time but did sort out the audiobook later and have to say rather "enjoyed" it, if that's the right word for a book like this, I found a lot of connection in there, mainly I guess is that I am the age when her sister died and the age that Jo was when she wrote the book.

It's part biographic part about her sister part observation and what I liked about it was that it is warts and all, not just a glowing hagiography, there are good times, bad times, agonising over decisions, growing up, ageing, grief, joy, life and living during a time frame I could relate to exactly.

Very well narrated by Jo herself and I'll certainly start looking out for her sister's books now.

[Jay Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's engaging and funny in parts, and delves into the experience of loved ones dying for cancer, many themes are familiar to those of us who have lived that loss.
There are touching and honest passages which light it up.
Very easy reading in some respects.

It soured a little where it waded through the lovey ness of that particular radio 4 incestuous enclave of artists who are so self absorbed and slightly up themselves with how fabulous they are, the juxtaposition with the oh no weird and not middle class sounded a false note. A lack of self knowledge or acknowledgement that this was very privileged life to speak about, and hence this story got told. People who write but don't get that exposure and admitted to that world don't get their stories told the same sadly.

[Alice · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book made me laugh, and it made me cry. Jo writes about her sister who died at 57 of cancer, and about their relationship growing up and as adults.
It's a brutally honest book, and the author shows just how vulnerable and tough she is. Everything is written with that snappy humor I know and love, and I absoluteley loved this books. It's so well written and it played on all my heart strings.
Read it! You won't regret it!

[Arlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful, funny, moving book. Jo Caulfield gives an unflinching, heartfelt account of her sister's illness and death, and doesn't shy away from how inconvenient and intrusive grief is, and how difficult family relationships can be, as well as the joy of them. Part of the proceeds go to Macmillan Cancer Care so you should definitely buy it.

[Eli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful, hilarious, heartbreaking. I started reading when a close friend's mum died of MND. I am autistic and had just no idea what exactly to say or do. The Funny Thing About Death gave me ways to help navigate from the grieving person's point of view. I needed it for now, for what is happening in my life, but I think everyone needs it really.

[Shyuan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I randomly decided to pick up this book on Libby, and I did not regret it. It was very engaging and both heartbreaking and heartwarming as the author deals with her sister's cancer diagnosis and grieves her passing. The author also offers lots of helpful advice. I highly recommend listening to the audiobook, which is narrated by the author herself.

[Lydia Reid · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not sure why but I love a non fiction death type book. I'm too young to know who Jo caulfield is & I imagine it would have helped in reading this, or to have at least grown up in the 80's rather than be born by the end of it. It was lovely up until Annie died. After that I'm not sure why but it found it mumbly, full of random stories and ramblings interjected with some of Annie's on work

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny, poignant and very readable. I saw Jo at the Fringe festival in Edinburgh and she is very funny but the death of her sister has obviously had a massive impact on her. A bitter sweet story as she writes about their lives growing up until Annie's death and after.

[Josephine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bittersweet and yes, funny.
I laughed and I cried. I will definitely seek out Annie’s writing.

[Tina Francis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really heartfelt. Lots of helpful advice too.

[Maxine · Rating 3 out of 5]

5.5/10

[Odette Lattimer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely beautiful, made me laugh and made me cry. It made me think a lot, I am the eldest of 3 and have a younger brother and sister and I found this really touched me and made me think 'what if'

[Milly Potter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listened to this on Libby; read by author and it’s really well told. Despite slightly depressing theme - death of a sister - it was amusing and heartwarming.

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listened as an audiobook on Libby, sad but brilliant book! Made me laugh and cry. Jo tell the story of losing her sister to cancer and this book is a tribute to her life in a way.

[Helen West · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honest, engaging account of her life through told through a challenging period in time - easy to read and personality definitely came through

[Roxanna Kennedy · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75

[Kim Ashworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant, heartfelt tribute to Annie. Jo's honesty is refreshing - not heard grief talked about like this before.