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Death: A Life
The shocking new memoir from Death--this long-awaited autobiography finally reveals the inner story of one of the most troubling, and troubled, figures in history
At last, the mysterious, feared, and misunderstood being known only as "Death" talks frankly and unforgettably about his infinitely awful existence, chronicling his abusive childhood, his near-fatal addiction to Life, his excruciating time in rehab, and the ultimate triumph of his true nature. For the first time, Death reveals his affairs with the living, his maltreatment at the hands of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, the ungodly truth behind the infamous "Jesus Incident," and the loneliness of being the End of All Things.
Intense, unpredictable, and instantly engaging, Death: A Life is not only a story of triumph against all odds, but also a tender, moving tale of unconditional love in a universe that, despite its profound flaws, gave Death the fiery determination to carve out a successful existence on his own terms.
At last, the mysterious, feared, and misunderstood being known only as "Death" talks frankly and unforgettably about his infinitely awful existence, chronicling his abusive childhood, his near-fatal addiction to Life, his excruciating time in rehab, and the ultimate triumph of his true nature. For the first time, Death reveals his affairs with the living, his maltreatment at the hands of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, the ungodly truth behind the infamous "Jesus Incident," and the loneliness of being the End of All Things.
Intense, unpredictable, and instantly engaging, Death: A Life is not only a story of triumph against all odds, but also a tender, moving tale of unconditional love in a universe that, despite its profound flaws, gave Death the fiery determination to carve out a successful existence on his own terms.
250 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2008
152 people are currently reading
9028 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 355 reviews
July 17, 2019
2.5 "Surely you don't mean Shirley!!!" stars !
Dying is a very dull, dreary affair. And my advice
to you is to have nothing whatever to do with it.
-Somerset Maughan
I work with a very surly and sour woman and let's call her Shirley. Three weeks ago I could hear her guffawing and cackling down the hall from my office. This was highly unusual. I rarely hear her laugh and when she does it is at the most importune or inappropriate times.
I had to find out what brought such mirth to her. I went with a colleague and with great trepidation asked her. She blinked three times and with a dismissive toss of her head said nothing. She later sent me a terse email with only the title and author. WTF? I thought. Is this some strange email curse to punish me for not only catching her laughing but daring to ask. But no it was this book.
I shared this story with my partner who immediately bought me the e-book and insisted I read this pronto as it may shed some light on this woman's "psychology" (if I'm in a kind mood) or just plain rudeness if I'm more honest with myself.
Well I read this book. I found the book very creative. Giving Death a soul, a personality and a history is a very interesting exercise. The book however worked way too hard on being clever to the point where I felt "Let's get on with this...". I also found it quite irreverent and although I like this in small measured doses-- the book went on and on and on turning God, Jesus, Satan and other Christian figures into buffoons that were mindless, narcissistic and self-serving. I did laugh a fair bit for the first third but the second third had me eye-rolling and by the end I was just plain irritated and bored. This was an interesting idea that was just taken too far and for too long. As my favorite auntie used to say..."It's all fun and games until somebody loses an eye."
I am ready to meet my Maker.
Whether my Maker is prepared for the great
ordeal of meeting me is another matter.
-Winston Churchill
And I will continue to work down the hall from Shirley.
Dying is a very dull, dreary affair. And my advice
to you is to have nothing whatever to do with it.
-Somerset Maughan
I work with a very surly and sour woman and let's call her Shirley. Three weeks ago I could hear her guffawing and cackling down the hall from my office. This was highly unusual. I rarely hear her laugh and when she does it is at the most importune or inappropriate times.
I had to find out what brought such mirth to her. I went with a colleague and with great trepidation asked her. She blinked three times and with a dismissive toss of her head said nothing. She later sent me a terse email with only the title and author. WTF? I thought. Is this some strange email curse to punish me for not only catching her laughing but daring to ask. But no it was this book.
I shared this story with my partner who immediately bought me the e-book and insisted I read this pronto as it may shed some light on this woman's "psychology" (if I'm in a kind mood) or just plain rudeness if I'm more honest with myself.
Well I read this book. I found the book very creative. Giving Death a soul, a personality and a history is a very interesting exercise. The book however worked way too hard on being clever to the point where I felt "Let's get on with this...". I also found it quite irreverent and although I like this in small measured doses-- the book went on and on and on turning God, Jesus, Satan and other Christian figures into buffoons that were mindless, narcissistic and self-serving. I did laugh a fair bit for the first third but the second third had me eye-rolling and by the end I was just plain irritated and bored. This was an interesting idea that was just taken too far and for too long. As my favorite auntie used to say..."It's all fun and games until somebody loses an eye."
I am ready to meet my Maker.
Whether my Maker is prepared for the great
ordeal of meeting me is another matter.
-Winston Churchill
And I will continue to work down the hall from Shirley.
Read
December 23, 2015DNF @ 9% with zero stars given
I tried to get into this book, but it just didn't grab me. The author attempts to be witty and funny, but he falls flat.
This isn't a terrible book by any means, but I found it extremely tedious. The humor is not for everyone (I'm probably not in the target audience). It is almost vital that the reader know about the various mythologies, theologies, art, and literature. Without this knowledge going in, a lot will go over the reader's head.
I might try to read this again in the future when I'm in the right frame of mind for it.
I tried to get into this book, but it just didn't grab me. The author attempts to be witty and funny, but he falls flat.
This isn't a terrible book by any means, but I found it extremely tedious. The humor is not for everyone (I'm probably not in the target audience). It is almost vital that the reader know about the various mythologies, theologies, art, and literature. Without this knowledge going in, a lot will go over the reader's head.
I might try to read this again in the future when I'm in the right frame of mind for it.
October 14, 2008
What with the intoduction; I was a little worried that this would be another lesson in how I should have paid more attention in English Lit (omg murder me proper English, 25 cent words left and right, etc) But as I've gotten into the meat of the story, I've really started to enjoy it. So far, it's hilarious, and well written. While not completely dumbed down, it has a good flow that has me pouring over its pages. I was finished with this in no time. I'd suggest this book to anyone who enjoyed "Good Omens" or "A Dirty Job: A Novel". I didn't really like the very ending, but the rest of the book definately made up for it. Overall, it is well worth the read! :)
July 3, 2022
While the concept of this novel was original and refreshing, the humor ultimately slap-sticked its way into boredom and eye-rolling about a quarter of the way through. The author is talented with a fantastic imagination but this journey through millennia felt irreverent in a forced way. Death was a steadfast, likable character while everyone else (deity, human, and animal) was portrayed as (basically) a witless buffoon. While overall disappointing, there were a few VERY funny bits that made me want to read more from Mr. Pendle in the future.
Read
June 23, 2017This is actually a fairly amusing book but I can't seem to get into it right now. I'm about a third of the way and have every intention of finishing but for now I'm going to put it away. I'll continue when I'm more in the mood for this type of story.
July 16, 2011
The concept of this book is far better than its execution (no pun intended).
It starts out quite humorous, to the point of me laughing out loud, but eventually fades as the jokes become repetitive and the story not nearly as momentous as the beginning implies it to be. By the end, it was simply tedious.
This would have been a much better short story than full novel – a short story I would excitedly tell others to read, as opposed to a novel I can not really recommend to anyone.
It starts out quite humorous, to the point of me laughing out loud, but eventually fades as the jokes become repetitive and the story not nearly as momentous as the beginning implies it to be. By the end, it was simply tedious.
This would have been a much better short story than full novel – a short story I would excitedly tell others to read, as opposed to a novel I can not really recommend to anyone.
April 11, 2010
Death: A Life by George Pendle is a satirical novel pretending to be a memoir written by Death chronicling his life and work. Really though, it’s a parody of religion and creationism. Initially, I picked up Death: A Life because the concept of a memoir written by Death struck me as hilarious, but I wasn’t expecting it to be as well written and entertaining as it was. The character of Death was so much more complex and troubled than I ever imagined he would be, and the other characters were either the complete opposite of my expectations or they were like a caricature of themselves. For example, the angels in Heaven were mimicking the fashions and attitudes of the demons in Hell, and the archangel Gabriel had a bad attitude and was nothing but rude to Death. The dialogue between Death and many other well-known heavenly figures had me chuckling constantly because it was so clever and mocking. This novel took some digs at certain aspects of religion, and I think it made its point quite effectively while still being delightfully amusing.
Death: A Life is certainly not a book I would recommend for everyone because it has the potential to offend certain people. It wholly mocks creationism, so it wouldn’t be a book for those with a strong religious background or those who might be sensitive to the subject matter. I would, however, recommend it for individuals with a good sense of humor or those with the ability not to take things too seriously.
Death: A Life is certainly not a book I would recommend for everyone because it has the potential to offend certain people. It wholly mocks creationism, so it wouldn’t be a book for those with a strong religious background or those who might be sensitive to the subject matter. I would, however, recommend it for individuals with a good sense of humor or those with the ability not to take things too seriously.
November 2, 2011
Death: A Life by George Pendle was so witty and pleasurable; I read it from start to finish in one sitting. I have lost many people this year including two six year olds (Neuroblastoma) so you may think it unusual that I picked a humor book about death after such a loss but after all the grief I needed to laugh through it. An account of Death's life, it made references that had me laugh out loud to the point that I had tears peeping out of my eyes. There is an educational opportunity in this book about world history, faith, and other fiction. Even though the book was funny it gave me a sense of peace.
5 Stars
5 Stars
December 16, 2008
If you've ever wondered how Death got to be the way It (He?) is, this is the book for you. From his dysfunctional family--he's the son of Satan and Sin--to his unconventional upbringing in Hell, from his introduction into the Garden of Eden to his time spent with the three horsemen of the Apocalypse, here is Death's own story. Not for the squeamish, not for the easily offended, but a fascinating take on the major mysteries of life.
May 29, 2025
I got mixed feelings about this book.
So much of it is just... laugh out loud hilarious. And I do mean that it caused me to chortle, snort, guffaw and even dare I say it HE HE HE HE late at night. It held my interest and kept me reading. (I about DIED of laughing when God casually mentioned that Job has a persecution complex.)
And then about three fourths of the way in it started to fall apart for me. I could overlook the heretical stuff (Jesus being a basic hippie / eternal goof) because the rest was so irreverent, but Death being in a mental institution was just "eh." Death falling in love had potential, but it never paid off the way I wanted it to. The ideas were solid, and most of the book poked good-natured fun at religious tropes in a way that told me the author is very familiar with them, but it just kinda... pizzled out. I don't know what I wanted from it, but I feel a bit spoiled by hanging out with Terry Pratchett's Death all these years. It's hard to compete with Reaper Man.
So much of it is just... laugh out loud hilarious. And I do mean that it caused me to chortle, snort, guffaw and even dare I say it HE HE HE HE late at night. It held my interest and kept me reading. (I about DIED of laughing when God casually mentioned that Job has a persecution complex.)
And then about three fourths of the way in it started to fall apart for me. I could overlook the heretical stuff (Jesus being a basic hippie / eternal goof) because the rest was so irreverent, but Death being in a mental institution was just "eh." Death falling in love had potential, but it never paid off the way I wanted it to. The ideas were solid, and most of the book poked good-natured fun at religious tropes in a way that told me the author is very familiar with them, but it just kinda... pizzled out. I don't know what I wanted from it, but I feel a bit spoiled by hanging out with Terry Pratchett's Death all these years. It's hard to compete with Reaper Man.
July 22, 2025
This dark comic novel is a memoir for one of humanity's most feared mythological creation, the Grim Reaper, Death itself. The author gives Death a voice as he reinterprets much of Biblical, ancient history, and cultural lore, including creation, the Black Death, the four Horsemen of the Apocolypse, God, Jesus Christ and the Second Coming. (Initially, the four horsemen were war, pestilence, famine, and sunburn.)
Death is a sentient being born from a union of Satan and Sin. Emotionally abused by his parents, he leaves Hell to find his way in the cosmos. He stumbles onto his eternity's profession after failing to receive guidance from either God or Satan.
Much of the humor in this book is gallows humor and satire tapping into archetypal anxieties. Death, as a narrator, is surprisingly relatable. He’s lonely, misunderstood, and deeply unsure of his place in the cosmos. His failed attempts at dating a mortal woman and his longing to be appreciated all paint a picture of an immortal being wrestling with deeply human concerns.
If you are a fan of Terry Pratchett and intellectual satire, you might pick up this book for a chuckle or two.
Death is a sentient being born from a union of Satan and Sin. Emotionally abused by his parents, he leaves Hell to find his way in the cosmos. He stumbles onto his eternity's profession after failing to receive guidance from either God or Satan.
Much of the humor in this book is gallows humor and satire tapping into archetypal anxieties. Death, as a narrator, is surprisingly relatable. He’s lonely, misunderstood, and deeply unsure of his place in the cosmos. His failed attempts at dating a mortal woman and his longing to be appreciated all paint a picture of an immortal being wrestling with deeply human concerns.
If you are a fan of Terry Pratchett and intellectual satire, you might pick up this book for a chuckle or two.
October 11, 2011
A send up of all the lurid tell-all memoirs that hit the best-seller lists, this time with Death as the teller-all.
I wanted to like this book, I did. It is October after all, the perfect month to spend a little time with the Grim Reaper. Unfortunately, this book concentrated on being a joke first and a good story far second. Somehow, with all of time, creation and mythology behind him, Death failed to have anything to say. To save folks the trouble, here's his story: "I liked my job, then I didn't, then I did agin. Also: girl, puppies, racoon." It's bloody DEATH and you're going to introduce a Manic Pixie Savior Girl into his story?!
The one amusing bit was the characterization of Jesus Christ as some halfwit rogue wrestler. That character deserves his own Saturday morning cartoon.
I wanted to like this book, I did. It is October after all, the perfect month to spend a little time with the Grim Reaper. Unfortunately, this book concentrated on being a joke first and a good story far second. Somehow, with all of time, creation and mythology behind him, Death failed to have anything to say. To save folks the trouble, here's his story: "I liked my job, then I didn't, then I did agin. Also: girl, puppies, racoon." It's bloody DEATH and you're going to introduce a Manic Pixie Savior Girl into his story?!
The one amusing bit was the characterization of Jesus Christ as some halfwit rogue wrestler. That character deserves his own Saturday morning cartoon.
April 24, 2015
A very honest autobiography. Death begins with his childhood experiences in Hell and His lost time in the void, takes you through the years of the biblical God's creation to the Greek and Roman god's and their take over, to the Egyptians and their obsession with Him, Death. He talks candidly of his love life and near ruin.
Could have been schmaltzy, but He maintains His dignity.
Really enjoyed this departure from my normal reading. (I usually read fiction!☻)
Could have been schmaltzy, but He maintains His dignity.
Really enjoyed this departure from my normal reading. (I usually read fiction!☻)
July 21, 2016
I saw this at a Barnes and Noble some time ago, and I flipped through it. it looked fun, and so I finally borrowed it from the library.
I was not disappointed. at first I struggled through a slow beginning, but the narration. picked up quickly. the humor was so familiar and it embraced me immediately, much like good British humor or Monty Python. I loved this innovative comedy about Death's life story. I loved the dive into mythology, the personification of Evil, the seven deadly sins, etc, the modernization of age old religion. I loved the incorporation of multiple creation myths. and I also liked the originality of Death's addiction to life and his love of Maud. this is what I like to read in my comedy. I look forward to checking out Pendle's other book.
I was not disappointed. at first I struggled through a slow beginning, but the narration. picked up quickly. the humor was so familiar and it embraced me immediately, much like good British humor or Monty Python. I loved this innovative comedy about Death's life story. I loved the dive into mythology, the personification of Evil, the seven deadly sins, etc, the modernization of age old religion. I loved the incorporation of multiple creation myths. and I also liked the originality of Death's addiction to life and his love of Maud. this is what I like to read in my comedy. I look forward to checking out Pendle's other book.
April 7, 2022
This is probably my all time favorite random thrift store buy. I was not expecting to love this as much as I did.
Death's memoir is a wonderfully different take on the history of the world and God/Christianity's place in it. It was refreshing.
I LOVED the illustrations and their captions that were throughout the book, I thought they added a nice touch. My overall takeaway from this one is that unicorns are dicks, Phil the raccoon is a hero, and Death will always be there for you.
Death's memoir is a wonderfully different take on the history of the world and God/Christianity's place in it. It was refreshing.
I LOVED the illustrations and their captions that were throughout the book, I thought they added a nice touch. My overall takeaway from this one is that unicorns are dicks, Phil the raccoon is a hero, and Death will always be there for you.
April 13, 2018
Death: A Life is a memoir that chronicles the existence of Death, an extremely misunderstood entity. In here, he talks about what made him who is he today.
Death was born during the Dawn of Creation as the only son of Satan and Sin. The book starts off with the beginning of Death’s existence and life in Hell, his birthplace and childhood home. As it turns out, Death didn’t exactly have the best childhood. He was neglected by his father, who was never around. However, one day, Satan returns and brings Death and Sin to God’s newest creation, Earth.
George Pendle regales readers with many stories of the Bible—but from Death’s perspective. It sounds a bit darker than it actually is, for the book is actually quite humorous.
One scene from the book features Abraham, who used to be God’s favorite until God got sick of him. Death asks the question of whether Abraham was a “devout patriarch, or serial killer?” (70). Honestly, this novel made me laugh aloud many times, but I would not recommend it for the especially religious and easily offended.
“I tried convincing Helium to get some color in her cheeks, and maybe a little odor. She simply yawned at me languorously and explained that she was a noble gas and, as with all nobility, preferred the inert life” (31).
Though there are a lot of jokes about Christianity, there are also a few jokes about science, history, and mythology. It’s really very entertaining. However, at times, this book seemed to drag. The book seemed so laden with jokes that it gradually became less and less amusing.
I’m afraid that, overall, I wouldn’t be able to describe the actual plot of the novel very well. I guess it just follows Death’s existence and builds up to Death’s addiction to Life and time in rehab. There are some larger, overarching themes to the book, too.
Mostly, however, this book was just satire. I’d compare it to reading articles from The Onion, which I happen to find very enjoyable.
The humor of Death: A Life is a bit dark, but the first few pages are more messed up than the rest of the book. The quality of humor was really great, but the sheer quantity was overwhelming. It took me a while to finish it because sometimes, I just felt like I needed a break from it. The book wasn’t very thrilling, but it was definitely enjoyable.
I’d say that the jokes in here get 5 stars, the plot gets 2, the pictures (Did I mention that there are pictures? Because they are glorious.) get 5, the concept gets 5, and the execution gets 2.5. Overall, though, I’d say that the book manages to wrangle out a solid 4 stars.
Death was born during the Dawn of Creation as the only son of Satan and Sin. The book starts off with the beginning of Death’s existence and life in Hell, his birthplace and childhood home. As it turns out, Death didn’t exactly have the best childhood. He was neglected by his father, who was never around. However, one day, Satan returns and brings Death and Sin to God’s newest creation, Earth.
George Pendle regales readers with many stories of the Bible—but from Death’s perspective. It sounds a bit darker than it actually is, for the book is actually quite humorous.
One scene from the book features Abraham, who used to be God’s favorite until God got sick of him. Death asks the question of whether Abraham was a “devout patriarch, or serial killer?” (70). Honestly, this novel made me laugh aloud many times, but I would not recommend it for the especially religious and easily offended.
“I tried convincing Helium to get some color in her cheeks, and maybe a little odor. She simply yawned at me languorously and explained that she was a noble gas and, as with all nobility, preferred the inert life” (31).
Though there are a lot of jokes about Christianity, there are also a few jokes about science, history, and mythology. It’s really very entertaining. However, at times, this book seemed to drag. The book seemed so laden with jokes that it gradually became less and less amusing.
I’m afraid that, overall, I wouldn’t be able to describe the actual plot of the novel very well. I guess it just follows Death’s existence and builds up to Death’s addiction to Life and time in rehab. There are some larger, overarching themes to the book, too.
Mostly, however, this book was just satire. I’d compare it to reading articles from The Onion, which I happen to find very enjoyable.
The humor of Death: A Life is a bit dark, but the first few pages are more messed up than the rest of the book. The quality of humor was really great, but the sheer quantity was overwhelming. It took me a while to finish it because sometimes, I just felt like I needed a break from it. The book wasn’t very thrilling, but it was definitely enjoyable.
I’d say that the jokes in here get 5 stars, the plot gets 2, the pictures (Did I mention that there are pictures? Because they are glorious.) get 5, the concept gets 5, and the execution gets 2.5. Overall, though, I’d say that the book manages to wrangle out a solid 4 stars.
December 4, 2013
The best thing about this book is that it is a biting parody of the memoir genre. How many troubled childhoods and addiction recoveries do we have to read? This book tries to skewer them all. Death had a tough life; after all, he was the son of Satan and Sin. And, when he finally grows up, he is denied his one true love and becomes addicted to life, fo all things. Can't you just see the irony here?
The humor in this book is rather reminiscent of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, though not as funny. This book tends to get caught up in its own cleverness. Yes, it does trace Death's life from the beginning of time, but the conceit tends to break down when the author tries to relate Death's experiences to different historical epochs and various ancient religions. Though there are some very interesting and entertaining historical and mythological allusions,the chronology is just a bit off. Sticklers for historical and literary accuracy may be a little miffed (i.e. your friendly neighborhood reviewer).
This is a good read, but not a great one.
The humor in this book is rather reminiscent of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, though not as funny. This book tends to get caught up in its own cleverness. Yes, it does trace Death's life from the beginning of time, but the conceit tends to break down when the author tries to relate Death's experiences to different historical epochs and various ancient religions. Though there are some very interesting and entertaining historical and mythological allusions,the chronology is just a bit off. Sticklers for historical and literary accuracy may be a little miffed (i.e. your friendly neighborhood reviewer).
This is a good read, but not a great one.
October 17, 2011
Meh. I wanted to read this because it looked interesting and funny, but, in the end, only a few parts were interesting and a good 85% of the humor was of the variety that should've been followed by rim shots and groans. Half of the remaining humor that was more to my liking was subsumed in the captions to the pictures included within the text (e.g. "The Horses of the Apocalypse: Precious, Waterbiscuit, Blackie, and Mr. Jenkins" or "Cows: Unambitious").
July 27, 2010
This is one of the funniest books I have ever read. It is Death's biography. It includes how Death found his calling, Death’s take on why unicorns died out (the answer – they were assholes), the truth behind Cain and Able (Able was an annoying nancy boy), and death’s addiction to life and his painful stint in rehab. This one is a LOLer. Besides if you read it on the bus, nobody sits next to you.
July 27, 2010
Quite possibly the funniest book I've read in a while. I laughed so hard milk came out of my nose. That's saying a lot since I haven't drank milk since 1978!
July 31, 2015
Full of puns, wisecracks and one-liners, this book skewers the Biblical story of creation. Not for the squeamish or easily offended Christian.
January 27, 2024
Give me more novels with pictures!!! Irreverent, unpredictable, and laugh out loud funny, Death: A Life is exactly what I want out of a humour novel. I love satire and memoirs, so to mix the two is a wonderful thing. There are so many hilarious nods to history, religion, and mythology throughout. I couldn’t stop turning pages to find out how the author would turn each newly introduced character into an utter fool! No one was safe from mockery, from angels to philosophers to God Himself.
I really enjoy the way this author writes. Word choices were unique without feeling pulled from a thesaurus. Descriptions were thorough without feeling dense or immersion-breaking. I particularly like that the author chose to use “boomed” every time God spoke, and “beamed” every time Jesus spoke. I didn’t notice the repetition until I was a decent way through the book, and when I did notice I couldn’t stop laughing. It’s just too perfect! Repetition is one of my favourite comedic devices, and Pendle pulls it off perfectly.
From Death discovering his purpose, to becoming addicted to life, to rehab and recovery, to impending demise, each section of the book blended seamlessly with the last. I wasn’t expecting to be hit with a romantic subplot, but I’m not mad about it. After the introduction of Maud, I was constantly waiting for her next appearance to see how their macabre romance would progress.
I cannot recommend this book enough. If you’re highly religious or easily offended you may want to skip this one, but if you’re a fan of movies like Monty Python or Bill and Ted, I feel like you’ll love Death: A Life. This was a truly memorable read.
Plus Jesus is a real winker. 😉
I really enjoy the way this author writes. Word choices were unique without feeling pulled from a thesaurus. Descriptions were thorough without feeling dense or immersion-breaking. I particularly like that the author chose to use “boomed” every time God spoke, and “beamed” every time Jesus spoke. I didn’t notice the repetition until I was a decent way through the book, and when I did notice I couldn’t stop laughing. It’s just too perfect! Repetition is one of my favourite comedic devices, and Pendle pulls it off perfectly.
From Death discovering his purpose, to becoming addicted to life, to rehab and recovery, to impending demise, each section of the book blended seamlessly with the last. I wasn’t expecting to be hit with a romantic subplot, but I’m not mad about it. After the introduction of Maud, I was constantly waiting for her next appearance to see how their macabre romance would progress.
I cannot recommend this book enough. If you’re highly religious or easily offended you may want to skip this one, but if you’re a fan of movies like Monty Python or Bill and Ted, I feel like you’ll love Death: A Life. This was a truly memorable read.
Plus Jesus is a real winker. 😉
March 17, 2018
This book was an impulse buy from the library, but I had to buy it not only due to the title but also the summary. I had low expectations going in and I must say this is a darkly humorous story. From the bits between the author and death to certain moments in death’s past, this had me anxious to learn more about the character in this story. Dynamics both real and fictional are twisted on their heads which I found enjoyable. Anyway, I do think you should give it a read.
June 8, 2024
I like British humor, but most of these jokes just didn't land for me, they felt like a kinda boring satire on British society through the character of Death. For my personal taste at least, most of the satire went on about 20 times longer than it needed to. The character development was pointless, the relationship development was pointless, in the end it was a pretty nihilistic read, which isn't really my thing. Some of the pictures and their captions were pretty funny, but that was about it for me.
April 20, 2017
I liked this one. It was a funny interpretation of Bible, religion and world history.
November 30, 2019
I had high hopes for this, but...... no.
The characters are all simple minded idiots with no depth and no reason to like them or care.
Great idea. Poor execution.
The characters are all simple minded idiots with no depth and no reason to like them or care.
Great idea. Poor execution.
November 29, 2018
Death
This is a very funny book. It lacks tension and plot, and reads more like a joke book, but it’s a very, very good joke book. It made me laugh out loud on a few occasions. Recommended if you need a laugh and a badly done history lesson.
This is a very funny book. It lacks tension and plot, and reads more like a joke book, but it’s a very, very good joke book. It made me laugh out loud on a few occasions. Recommended if you need a laugh and a badly done history lesson.
April 8, 2023
This just felt like a collection of funny one liners and random jokes. The story was weak and the characters really flat. If it weren’t for the fact it was so short, I wouldn’t have made it past the first few chapters.
January 5, 2011
I personally loved this book. I didn't know what to expect at first, seeing how it was a suggestion from a pretty strange friend of mine. However, once I started reading, I couldn't put it down. It was, in one word, hilarious. It makes a great parody on the Christian religion without actually being offensive. I'm not Christian myself, but the girl that suggested it to me is. It's simply an interesting look on what Death must have experienced in his nearly infinite existence. And there are certain parts when I actually laughed out loud. Like the first time he sees death in our world. He accidentally kills a pretty foul mouthed unicorn.
All in all, this is an enjoyable read. I found it very entertaining book. Especially if you know you're Christian mythology. I won't ruin it by talking about many of the jokes, but it is a well written book that will entertain everyone until the last page. The ending isn't the best, but I personally liked it.
Good book.
All in all, this is an enjoyable read. I found it very entertaining book. Especially if you know you're Christian mythology. I won't ruin it by talking about many of the jokes, but it is a well written book that will entertain everyone until the last page. The ending isn't the best, but I personally liked it.
Good book.
December 28, 2017
I'm baffled, how can I love this book when most of the time it leaves me with "meh"? Worth more than three stars, but not four.
Well written, though it feels like it repeats itself a bit too often. I loved to humour in this, witty, black and satirical. Existence of a certain female character didn't sit with me at all, to my opinion the thought was very good but she still lacked... something, I don't know.
Prologue was very, very numbing and at times reading felt like forced paddling. Beginning did not promise a good read. Sin was actually a very boring character and sometimes when the book tried to play with religion it felt forced. Somehow, as said, I still love this book and I can recommend this to not all, but every one who likes black humour and looks at life and the world with a flicker in their eyes.
Well written, though it feels like it repeats itself a bit too often. I loved to humour in this, witty, black and satirical. Existence of a certain female character didn't sit with me at all, to my opinion the thought was very good but she still lacked... something, I don't know.
Prologue was very, very numbing and at times reading felt like forced paddling. Beginning did not promise a good read. Sin was actually a very boring character and sometimes when the book tried to play with religion it felt forced. Somehow, as said, I still love this book and I can recommend this to not all, but every one who likes black humour and looks at life and the world with a flicker in their eyes.
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