TML Book Club: Ten Titles For Exploring Your Mortality

Perhaps you’re curious to join our first Virtual Silent Book Club of Death, but not sure what to read? In no particular order, here’s ten fiction and non-fiction titles worth adding to your ‘to be read’ pile:

1 | Becoming Matriarch by Helen Knott

Knott traces her journey through loss, lineage, and the responsibilities that come with stepping into a position of cultural leadership. As she navigates grief, she also reconnects with the stories and strengths of the women who came before her. The memoir blends personal reflection with broader conversations about Indigenous identity and healing. It’s a portrait of resilience, reclamation and the power of intergenerational memory.

2 | 10 Minutes 38 Seconds in This Strange World by Elif Shafak

The novel unfolds in the brief window of consciousness that lingers after a woman’s death, as her mind replays vivid fragments of her life. Each memory opens a door to the friends who loved her and the dangers that shadowed her past. Through these moments, Shafak paints a layered portrait of Istanbul’s hidden corners and its overlooked citizens. The story is both tender and unflinching, exploring connection in the face of cruelty.

3 | Dear Mothman by Robin Gow

Told through letters and imaginative quests, the story follows Noah, a trans kid searching for comfort and meaning after the loss of a close friend. Fixated on the cryptid Mothman, Noah channels grief into a mission to prove the creature’s existence. Along the way, he discovers community, self-understanding, and the courage to speak aloud truths he’s held inside. It’s a gentle, hopeful novel about identity, mourning and the power of belief.

4 | No Ordinary Deaths by Molly Conisbee

Conisbee investigates the environmental, social, and political factors that influence how people die in the modern world. By examining case studies and historical shifts, she reveals the patterns that link seemingly isolated tragedies. The book encourages readers to confront uncomfortable truths about inequality and our collective responsibility for each other. It’s both an inquiry and a call to action, urging systemic change.

5 | With the End in Mind by Dr. Kathryn Mannix

Dr. Mannix draws on decades of palliative care experience to demystify the process of dying. Through compassionate storytelling, she shows what a peaceful death can look like and how families can navigate it with clarity rather than fear. Her reflections highlight the importance of honest conversations and thoughtful choices near life’s end. The book is both practical and deeply humanizing, an honest look at the reality of the dying experience.

6 | Briefly Perfectly Human by Alua Arthur

Alua Arthur explores what it means to live intentionally while embracing mortality as a constant companion. Through personal stories and observations from her work as a death doula, she challenges cultural avoidance of death and invites readers into a more grounded relationship with it. Her writing blends vulnerability with philosophy, encouraging presence and curiosity over fear. It’s a reminder that acknowledging death can reshape the way we inhabit our lives.

7 | The Heart Goes Last by Margaret Atwood

Set in a near-future recession, the novel follows a couple who join a seemingly utopian programme promising security in exchange for alternating months in a prison-like facility. What begins as a lifeline quickly devolves into manipulation, surveillance, and ethical collapse. Atwood uses dark humor and sharp satire to dissect desire, control, and the fragility of societal norms. The story spirals into a world where even love becomes a commodity.

8 | Death Nesting by Anne-Marie Keppel

Keppel offers a holistic, heart-centred guide to caring for the dying and supporting the transition from life to death. Drawing from earth-based traditions, mindfulness practices, and her experience as a death doula, she outlines rituals that bring presence and comfort. The book emphasizes practical support while honoring the spiritual and emotional layers of deathwork. It is both a handbook and an invitation to slow down and witness sacred passage.

9 | From Here to Eternity by Caitlin Doughty

Doughty travels the world to explore the mortuary practices of different cultures, from open-air pyres to community-supported cremations. With curiosity and humor, she questions Western norms around death care and highlights alternatives that bring families closer to the process. Her encounters reveal how ritual can transform fear into understanding. The result is a vivid, respectful journey into humanity’s most universal experience.

10 | The List of Suspicious Things by Jennie Godfrey

Set in a small Yorkshire town during the late 1970s, the novel follows a young girl who creates a list of potential suspects after fear grips her community. As she investigates, she uncovers secrets that reveal far more about her neighbours, and even her own family, than she expected. The story blends innocence with unease, showing how children interpret adult anxieties. It’s both a coming-of-age tale and a portrait of a community learning how to grieve.

Sourcing Books Ethically

If you’re also striving to be more ethical in your purchasing decisions, here are a few suggestions to consider:

• I like to check Abe Books UK which source new and used from independent book sellers across the UK.

• The Oxfam Shop is also an excellent resource for used books.

• Consider checking at your local library if owning the book isn’t a priority for you and to save money.