I love walking through graveyards although creepy to some, for me, it is a very peaceful environment and i find myself wondering what happened to some of the inhabitants of the graves. I love the quiet and soothing atmosphere and all the wildlife that finds a home in the many unkempt graves and I find myself wanting to know more about the people buried there. I love that she does this in her book with knowledge about the inhabitants of graves, from drowning victims to pillars of the community to those buried in mass paupers graves. There are chapters on different aspects of graveyards such as lichen and angels. Its beautifully written and an interesting read about a topic most people wouldn't write about.

As a person for whom the cemeteries were always intriguing places to visit I was automatically drawn to this book. I enjoy getting to know the stories of people whose life is now represented only by a mostly undecipherable stone tomb, walking in the atmosphere full of nostalgia. And that is exactly how reading this book felt like - a slow walk, through for most people unimportant, details of these silent places.

I was quite impressed by the variety of topics covered in this book. The author focuses on things ranging from individual stories of people to the biological importance of certain plants that are common in graveyards. I can only imagine how difficult, yet interesting must have been to gather all the information for such a niche topic.
The book is written semi-poetically, full of atmospheric language that adds a bit of emotion to the text. The philosophical background of the author is also easy to spot.

I would recommend this book to anyone interested in cemeteries (for whatever reason) as it will open your eyes to a new perception that you will only realize the next time you will visit one.

I have long loved exploring old cemeteries and have always done it alone, with friends and family calling me ghoulish or weird. Sprackland shares my love and in her book she takes readers along on her journey of old and forgotten cemetery plots. She muses about the occupants and their final resting places, both the humble and the grand. This is a lovely book for explorers, history buffs and dreamers

It's a fascinating and enthralling book, full of story and well written.
I liked the style of writing and I think that the author is a good storyteller.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

Jean Sprackland revisits the places she has lived, and by focusing on the graveyards in those towns and cities she demonstrates how fluid the boundaries are between past and present.

Sprackland's curiosity and observations invite the reader to journey back into her past, and also serve to highlight the lives (and deaths) of specific individuals who pique her interest.

The book is a series of beautifully captured vignettes, ranging from observations on yew trees, a woman who burned to death, those denied burial due to their faith, the fragility of memorials, smugglers, graveyards as havens for nature, the power of symbolism, angels,

Sprackland's book is a wonderful amalgamation of personal memoir, exploration of changing attitudes to life and death, celebration of the natural world and history. I loved it.

I absolutely loved this. It's exactly the kind of book I like, thoughtful, interesting, full of odd tales and snippets of this and that. I am slightly obsessed by grave yards anyway, and this held my interest throughout. Beautifully written and full of life and humanity rather than melancholy and death. I loved it so much I finished it and ordered her previous book.

Like Jean Sprackland, I have also long been fascinated by graveyards. Particularly those crumbling, half forgotten ones found hidden away in the heart of towns and cities.
A sanctuary of peace, a place for reflection, a meeting place for the living and the dead and a safe haven for nature.

The first graveyard I can remember, forming part of my earliest chldhood memories, is indeed the nearest to where the author now lives. It is not surprising, that Edgar Allen Poe spent some of his formative years nearby.

Here, poet and writer Sprackland looks back on her life and the places she has stayed, revisiting the nearby graveyards.

Chance discoveries and fascinating stories are retold. Tales involving smugglers, drownings, explosions, ancient coins and secret burials are recounted.

Alongside this she examines the various forms of nature that can be found here. The more neglectful the upkeep, the more it flourishes.

This lyrically written work meditates on the relationship between the living and the dead, the past and the present.

It was one of those books, that once I picked up I could not put down and is perhaps perfect for finding a graveyard bench and losing oneself in its pages on a warm sunny day.

This was a beautifully written and fascinating insight into the world of the graveyards. From the broken tombstones, to the wildlife inhabiting the grounds late at night, I found myself totally absorbed in the journey of the author as she revisits graveyards near to where she has lived and the memories it brought back for her, alongside the history she uncovers about 'residents' and the stories and times they lived through.

I've always been fascinated by graveyards and find myself drawn to them wherever I go, and the same goes for Jean Sprackland so as she looks back over her life she decides to go on a little adventure to revisit old houses she has lived in. It gives a lovely insight into her life and as she has a wonderful way with words, it was just a pleasure to read! I found comfort in her prose, as I find comfort and peace in graveyards.

There's plenty about the wildlife and nature that is often found at these sites,the changes to the churches and the areas they are in but what was most fascinating was the names that caught her eye on some tombstones, and as she delved further into their history it was their stories coming to life that were so illuminating and made them 'real'! They weren't just names to be forgotten and covered over by moss and lychen.

She also looks at how different generations dealt with death, along with the perceptions and way funerals are held, with the prominence of cremations and now the surge in natural funerals being more eco-friendly. I learnt so much throughout this book as she has such an accessible manner and each chapter was well crafted and a delight to read.