Booing Death

Pamela Sackett’s Booing Death brings you into the artist’s whirl through her own grief and loss when family relations are less than ideal. In thirty lyrical verses Pamela doesn’t just question death, her own and everyone else’s, she spars with the whole concept. Her monologues, dialogues, poems and stories take you on a ride through states that line the road to our notorious destination: tender feelings and chaos, indignation, rage, wishful fancies, blessed humor, hope, and, perhaps, acceptance. Not just, but certainly, for baby boomers. For anyone who grew up with mum’s the word about death, ready for a good out loud, rhythmic rebellion!

Booing Death is $14.94 US.
Paperback, 92 pages; first edition, July 2013.

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Reader comments

"With her characteristic sensitivity, wit, and self-revelation, Pamela takes us on a linguistic ride through this complex emotional terrain. While reading the book, I laughed, I cried, I nodded in agreement, and, most of all, I was thankful for all that Pamela Sackett gave of herself to me and every other reader."

—Judith Waldman, M.S.W., L.C.S.W.-C., author of
Stand, Flow, Shine: Caring for the Woman Within

"In Booing Death, Pamela manages to find tender humor in this subject that is too often not even spoken about. It creates an opening that I find very refreshing. As a drama therapist and teacher of emerging therapists I have utilized several essays and poems from Booing Death to help students focus on the various issues included in grief. We have found that her way of 'getting in the corners' of those issues inspires embodied activities that are central to our healing art."

—Bobbi Kidder, MA, RDT/BCT

"In reading your book, Booing Death, I am reminded of my husband’s passing over eight years ago. When he died, I received at least twenty-five books about grief. They were either delivered to me at my door or mailed. Also there were recommended readings via phone or email. All from our dear friends. Yet, not a one spoke to me. I admit I didn’t feel an urge to pick one up. I am positive that if I’d received Booing Death eight years ago, I would have been curious, drawn to open it.

I have found it necessary to consciously stop, put your writings aside, and be still. This is so I can have a moment to relish each experience you describe, each intimate poetic brilliancy you have willingly shared, with me—yes, your work is so very personal—and in part, a replica of my own story. I read your riveting awarenesses over and over, Ms. Sackett, for when I do, it appears as if I am reading a profound page all anew.

With gratitude beyond words, thank you."

—Rebecca Love, M.A.

"An uncompromising work of absolute emotional authenticity."
"It’s not a self-help book (thank goodness); it doesn’t offer solutions (what solutions are there?), but after reading it I felt neither depressed nor fearful. I felt uplifted in a quiet way; I’d been made more aware of connections to other people."
"This book is incredible, a salve and a bridge, takes me places I need to go!"

—Pre-publication reader comments

Fall semester of 2013, Christina Roux, language arts teacher at Roosevelt High School in Seattle, decided to make Booing Death her honors credit Book Seminar course selection. Nineteen students finished the course which included the purchase and reading of the book, attending one of Pamela's author events in Seattle, journaling, responding to the study guide for Booing Death and discussing the material together in the class that Pamela was invited to visit. Here are excerpts from student comments about Booing Death:

"I decided to sign up for it because it is a topic that is not very common in literature, especially when discussed so candidly and up front… and because of the death of my mom's parents. It really affected our family and I was interested to hear other points of view on death."

"…death is never really talked about in a relatable way but in Booing Death it was very understandable."

"[I chose Booing Death] because I have had a family member pass away and I was curious how other people dealt with the same pain…because I have an interest in short stories and poems. I like to write them so I figured this would be a great opportunity to learn."

"I found the cover of the book intriguing and I wanted to learn what it meant…I lost a friend last June and thought this book might give me more insight to the idea of death…so cleverly written…so relatable…this poem put all my thoughts into writing and made it easier to organize my ideas about this…the book really helped me…'Half Green' moved me quite a bit."

"I didn't really think much of this line when I first saw it but I re-read the poem…made me wonder why I didn't get that clarity in my own life."

"I found the poems 'Encore,' 'Fixed' and 'What If' really opened up my emotions and made me realize what exactly I was feeling and thinking about after a grieving loss."

"Before I thought death was a very strict and dangerous topic to talk about…I then realized because I was afraid of thinking about death is part of the reason why I feel that death is such a hard thing to overcome."

"[Where The Sun Won't Shine] was particularly significant to me because it made me think about life more than death."

"…words described exactly how I have felt before…at the time, I was at a loss of words to explain but the author surely wraps up the right words to form a very well-said sentence…the author yet again explains how I (and she) feel perfectly…summed it up for me…evocative of my own life…led me to think in a new way about death, loss, grief and emotions/feelings…gave me a more peaceful image…gave me a different perspective."

"…opened doors for me to understand grief…made me understand death on a deeper level…"

"No one in my life has died but I have experienced friends disappearing out of my life…"

"…each stanza was so different and so beautiful…" (reference to 'Almighty Cul-De-Sac')