Opening with the disclaimer, 'Spoiler alert: We will all die in the end', poet Salena Godden's debut novel packs quite the punch. It fascinated me how she noted in the early pages that 'any book with the word Death in the title must be light enough to carry in your hand luggage'. Reflecting back, I think of Grief is the Thing with Feathers and The Language of Dying - both books burned into my brain - and remember that they too sit slight on my shelf. Death is a topic that we cannot bear to sit down beside for too long. We can hardly bear to look at it. Indeed, we walk past with our eyes averted. And so Godden explains that 'the greatest trick man played was making you believe I was a man'. In this book, Death is not the Grim Reaper in a black hood with a scythe. Instead, she appears as a series of black women, whether homeless beggar, kindly black lady or shimmering Nina Simone figure, but all because 'there is no human more invisible, more easily talked over, ignored, betrayed and easy to walk past' than a black woman. Shape-shifting across history through the unseen and the unsung, Mrs Death is finally ready to tell her story.

Chosen to be Mrs Death's scribe is Wolf Willeford who escaped an early encounter in a tower block fire which caused their mother's death. Sometimes Mrs Death misses. Told in a stream of consciousness, Mrs Death looks back on the various deaths within history while also reflecting on the current climate which makes being Death even more stressful than ever before. One minute she looks back on Jack the Ripper (a woman according to Mrs Death) or the tragic death of Inga Maria Hauser in the forest at Ballypatrick, then there are references to the war in Syria, the fire at Grenfell Tower right up to the COVID-19 pandemic where she scolds us for celebrating the wrong heroes, 'Your heroes are working overtime in the crumbling NHS A&E departments [...] Our heroes are your doctors and nurses, your teachers and volunteers, people taking phone calls at the Samaritans and talking people down from the edge'.

The mythology nerd was fascinated by the creation myth going on in the background to Mrs Death's monologues, where Life and Death are sisters and Time is Death's lover. But what I loved most about Mrs Death was how she lives up to the dedication on the frontispiece, 'Mourn the death but fight like hell for the living'. For every awful passage about injustice, Mrs Death also exhorts us to take enthusiastic hold of our lives. 'Take today and blow its mind; take this today and suck it dry. Take today and fill it with the best of you.' These words have reverberated through me in the few weeks since I have read them. As Mrs Death points out, we none of us know when our expiry dates are incoming. If we did, we would likely plan differently.

Mrs Death also considers how we do our mourning. That strange phrase 'good innings'. What does it even mean? The way in which people outpour their grief on social media and for what? What does posting 'RIP on social media' accomplish? How have we become so detached and euphemistic about the sufferings of others? On the one hand, this is a kaleidoscope of morbid musings - Mrs Death's desk is her link to Wolf but the desk would have preferred to be a piano - but on the other, Godden captures so many of our modern anxieties. We have to function in this strange world which hides behind a screen and denies us the truth - chlorinated chicken will not be so bad, there is nothing tragic about the escalating use of food banks, pretend you cannot see the homeless person - and yet we should all be crying on buses about the devastation of it all.

Mrs Death is a book to experience, a headrest of emotion and feeling. Despite its dark subject matter, this is an exhilarating read. Mrs Death whirls us around in her own danse macabre and then sets us down, out of breath. Even at the close, she leaves us with much to think about. Godden's parting words exhort us to remember, 'write the name that came to mind as you read this story …. Please add your loved one's name on one of these blank pages, maybe add a date, a memory or a prayer. In this one act of remembrance we will be united. From now on every single person who reads this book will know their copy contains their own dead. As time passes, if this book is borrowed or passed along, the names will live on …… One day they may read your own name. One day they may read mine. In this we are connected. We share these names of our loved ones in the whisper of the last page turning, over the years to come.' Musical, memory and each fragment unforgettable, Mrs Death Misses Death takes up a dirge and somehow sets its beat to a battle song.

Lyrical book about life, how transient it is and how precious. It could have devolved into trite affirmations, but Godden's writing makes it more poignant than glib. The book's ostensibly about a tired Mrs.Death, wanting to share her burden with someone, and communicating with a young writer, Wolf Willeford, through a writing desk. Through a combination of poetry and prose, which has the potential for pretentiousness but Godden approaches her subject with the clearness it needs. It's a difficult book to review because there's no real plot, it's a series of vignettes through which she explores the members of society we consider invisible, racism , depression and misogyny, and it's refreshingly non-didactic. Very moving and thoughtful.

A moving book featuring a stream of consciousness. Some really beautiful writing. Enjoyed the exploration of grief without it delving into hopelessness and despair. An interesting look on the philosophical musings of life and death.

This story was one I was very much looking forward to. The characters are interesting and the flow of the writing is fast paced. I would have liked to see just a little more background but overall a good read.

A fantastically imaginative story about life, death and everything in between - a potent reminder that life is short and every second should be cherished..

Thank you to Cannongate and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

So. Well. I debated what to give this, because I truly appreciated the things Ms Godden said here. I even agree with the politics of it. Intersectional feminism, discussions of poverty, misogyny, racism, sexism--all necessary things to discuss, all things about which we must do something.

My problem was the way the very minimal--for all intents and purposes, non-existent--story handled everything. I was very excited to receive an ARC. Death is in my wheelhouse. And whilst Death has been portrayed as a woman before (Sandman, of course), she has never been an overtly Black woman, or an overtly homeless person. So that is potentially cool. As is the general concept of a young person finding her desk and buying it, and then becoming a sort of friend to her.

But the concept is all this book has. It has no story. We have background on Wolf, one of our narrators, aforementioned desk-buyer and Death-friend, and his tragic childhood: First, he loses his mother in a fire and incidentally meets Death; after which, he ends up at the home of his abusive grandfather and his trampled grandm0ther. He also is in therapy? There was a strange moment when he's in therapy and realizing his personal relationship with Death will end soon. So, was she in his mind? Some sort of coping mechanism?

That's about as much plot as a reader will get. The rest is vague ruminations on Death and politics and the mess of the world around us. One nonsensical passage implies Jack the Ripper was a woman dressed as a man? Was this supposed to be as transphobic as it felt?

This book has mishmash of prose, poetry, lyrics, and it can be pretty incoherent at times. There are some lovely sentences; then, there are repetitive ramblings that read like mediocre poetry and filled with circular wording. It becomes tedious and also seems to lose all sense of meaning.

If you're looking for a novel, avoid this. This isn't a novel. A novel doesn't have to have a traditional plot, but it should at least have some dynamism, some change, some conclusion. Rather, this book should be advertised as a collection of loosely connected poems about Death and the darkness of the world around us in the here and now. But calling this a novel does a disservice to readers and the book itself, because the book will be set up to fail because of our expectations.

Also, don't really expect to connect with anyone. This isn't that type of work. This is more a poet's attempt at working through the tragedy around us. Which is understandable, sympathetic, and artistic. But, perhaps because of my expectations, this book left me cold; it was tedious, repetitive, as I've said, and tried to hard to have clever wording that just fell apart. There is merit here; however, I just don't think it's as effective as the author might have wished.

This book has a fascinating concept behind it, but I didn't love it. Mrs. Death Misses Death is an exploration of death in prose and poetry. Among other reviewers I would contradict the idea that Death is always viewed as being a man. Different religions and cultures picture Death as a figure differently and there are many varied interpretations of Death. This book was written in an experimental fashion, that at times works, but at other times came off as disjointed. I wanted to love this book with its concepts of the character Wolf collecting and putting together Death's memoirs. Unfortunately, it felt like this book was trying to say something, but it came across as bland and hollow at times.

I would like to thank Canongate Books for providing me with an ARC.

I would honestly describe this book as being in the "marmite category". While I found there to be some really thought-provoking and insightful observances on life, death and grief, I don't think that this is a writing style that will suit every reader.

If you like stream of consciousness writing I would recommend this, as there's very little dialogue and, for me at least, felt too fluid at times. To the point where I couldn't really tell where we were from one step to the next.

The poetry interspersed throughout this novel wasn't really to my taste stylistically. Which is ok, of course, it's a very personal thing. For me I found I enjoyed the poetic language influences in the prose more than the sections of poetry. Where a lot of the word choice was just too repetitive for me to enjoy overly much.

However, I did really like the premise of this book. A biography of Mrs Death with themes of exploring what grief is in its many different forms. The ugliness, rawness and untidiness of it.
As much as death is mentioned in this story I still think life and hope are huge aspects of it to take away as well.

If you're looking for something with a unique concept and perhaps a little bit different, I'd recommend giving Mrs Death Misses Death a read.

Mrs Death Misses Death was such a beautiful read and I enjoyed every moment of it.
I highly recommend this book especially if you are looking for something unique to read.
I could definitely see why it may not be for everyone but I do think if you like the sound of the story you should at least give it a go.
Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

An imaginative story about life, death and everything in between – a potent reminder that life is short and every second should be cherished. The story flowed effortlessly from chapter to chapter with a wonderfully descriptive vocabulary, bringing the reader into each character’s personality and surrounding imagery in such a colourful way.

Poetic and performative.
I had a digital arc of this from Netgalley but when I found the audiobook read by the author on BorrowBox app I decided to give it a go, and I’m so glad I did.
I instantly found myself audience to a show, the author’s performance poet status immediately obvious, as the book comes to life in a dynamic way.
I don’t know how to do my usual synopsis of this novel as it is so unique, so I’ll give you this quote from the publisher :
…………………………………………………………
Mrs Death tells her intoxicating story in this life-affirming fire-starter of a novel.
Mrs Death has had enough. She is exhausted by her job and now seeks someone to unburden her conscience to.
She meets Wolf, a troubled young writer, who – enthralled by her stories – begins to write Mrs Death’s memoirs. As the two reflect on the losses they have experienced (or facilitated), their friendship flourishes. All the while, despite her world-weariness, Death must continue to hold humans’ fates in her hands, appearing in our lives when we least expect her…
…………………………………………………………
Wolf Willeford and Mrs Death will take you on a journey where you’re never sure what’s real and what’s imagined, what’s Wolf’s voice or Mrs Death’s, whether the two are even separate or one and the same. And in the end, does it matter?
This book was mesmerising, haunting, regrettably brief but lingering and memorable.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the arc copy of this stunning novel.

Godden's "Mrs Death Misses Death" absolutely did live up to my expectations; imaginative, unique, witty and dark, both the prose and the plot manage to explore and depict the state of the world and the human condition through a sort of stream of consciousness lamentation.

Good for people who like: poetic fiction, emotional reads, short and impactful books.

Mrs Death Misses Death is a genre defying, compassionate and powerful debut by performance poet and activist Salena Godden. It was shortlisted for the 2021 Gordon Burn Prize, which <i>recognises literature that is forward-thinking and fearless in its ambition and execution</i>.

Wolf Willeford is writing a book unlike any other. Death has chosen Wolf to narrate her story, and with the help of Death’s old writing desk, Wolf begins. The book alternates between Wolf’s life and Death’s narration. Chapters are sometimes poems, sometimes stories of dead people Death knows, sometimes reflections on how tired she is of all the violence in the world, and the dead she meets as a result. Slowly, the reader learns more of Wolf, and the ways in which Death has already woven her way through their life.

This is a difficult read at times, which is to be expected with the book’s premise. It’s clear from the outset that death in all its forms will form a significant part of the novel. There’s reference to historic deaths and also recent tragedies including Grenfell Tower, refugees drowning at sea and dying in the Essex container lorry, climate change, school shootings in the USA, and murders both solved and unsolved.

Chapters are fragmentary and a bit surreal in places (at one point the desk narrates), and also contain coarse language (at one point it gets very swear-y). These things work with the poetic style and intensity of the book, but won’t be to everyone’s tastes. The book is dreamlike and abstract. Through much of it, Wolf is detached from the world, and with the close first person point of view, it’s a long time before you know much about them. Even so, Wolf is every bit as captivating a character as Death, and both drew me in from the very beginning.

One more unique feature of this book - the final six places are left blank, which is a beautiful idea for those who’d like to mark their copy:

<i>Please add your loved one’s name on one of these blank pages, maybe add a date, a memory or a prayer. In this one act of remembrance we will be united. From now on every single person who reads this book will know their copy contains their own dead. As time passes, if this book is borrowed or passed along, the names will live on… One day they may read your own name. One day they may read mine. In this we are connected. We share these names of our loved ones in the whisper of the last page turning, over the years to come.</i>

This short and intense book, which deals with the timeless and universal nature of death, pulls all the threads it touches together into a stunning and memorable novel. A novel I couldn’t put down, that had me in tears, and is not like anything else I’ve read. It deals with the most difficult subjects of mental health, trauma, death (and living), with a striking voice. This book is both compassionate and innovative. It’s a call to think about others and their hidden struggles. The heavy topic is handled in a poetic and lively way, which somehow manages to be hopeful.

<i>I thought it was a good idea
to live in a tower
with spiders and shadows
and write about Death
but the more I write this book
the more I see the chinks
of light and humour
Death is not
locked up in a tower
she is dancing
on the beach
salt and sea spray
in the bluebells and woods
the yellow moss-covered rocks
the patches of blue
above the green
open sea</i>

This book was reviewed by Cathy.

With thanks to Canongate Books and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. All opinions in this review are my own.

Shelves: General Fiction (Adult); Literary Fiction; Poetry; January 2022

Mrs Death has shadowed her sister Miss Abundance from the start of Earth. Weary she has chosen a young poet to share her story. Wolfie is no stranger to death - father, mother, grandparents - yet through death discovers more about the ancestors as well. Death appears in many guises but is always a black woman and the stories are sad.
I found this a very disturbing book to read. It is magnificent in its strangeness! Interweaving black history, crime and mental illness, it take the reader on a wild journey where prose and poetry interweave. An odd review but the book defies categorisation, all I will say is that I am glad I've read it.

A strange, beautiful, meandering beast of a novel. A beautiful, emotionally written stream of consciousness book, that stayed with me for days after

A well written and extremely thoughtful treatise on grief and death. It did make me confront some thoughts and feelings that I may not have done otherwise, and overall reading it was a cathartic experience. The narrative itself is creative and does not overly romanticise or glamourise death. Wolf’s story will be something many people can relate to, a seemingly close yet just out of reach relationship with death.

You can love or hate this book but you cannot be indifferent to what you read.
I don't want to write a very long review as this was a sort of metaphysical travel, a reflection on death and violence.
There's not a classic plot, some parts are prose and other poetry, there are characters and there's violence.
It was a fascinating reading experience and I strongly recommend it.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

e-Arc provided by Canongate Books, Canongate from NetGalley, in exchange for review.

Plot
A book about the relationship between the personification of Death, and a person affected by Death. Mrs Death is getting tired of their job after centuries of work.

Thoughts
I want to write a proper review of this book, but I just don't understand it at all. I listened to the audiobook via my library, and the writing was beautiful but I just don't really know what happened in this book.

If you are looking for lyrical writing, with verse mixed in I would recommend. However, I cannot tell you if the plot was good...

Experimental and interestingly constructed, with meditations on death and the purpose of life. It was well-written but really not a great fit for me: just a little too fantastical and poetic I found my mind wandering.

Mrs Death Misses Death wasn’t quite what I was expecting!

From reading the blurb I was really interested in the premise of death as a black woman and really wish this had been explored more. However on reading it became clear that this book isn’t story driven but focused more on the style. Godden incorporates poetry, diary entries, medical transcripts and more, I loved each individual element but together as a book it felt a bit disjointed.

At times this book can be incredibly bleak, and while it’s quite short it took me a while to get through because of this. However, there’s also a lot of optimism and strength that can be drawn from it. I found some of the parts on grief particularly relatable and what I liked most about this book is how it opens the conversation on death, something that isn’t spoken about enough.

This is a really unique and interesting book which leaves you with a lot to think about..

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.