Now she's coming out one of the nostrils, across the septum, and then she's going to reenter the mouth. There are a variety of ways of closing the mouth, he adds, and then he begins talking about something called a needle injector. I pose my own mouth to resemble the mouth of someone who is quietly horrified, and this works quite well to close Theo's mouth. The suturing proceeds in silence. Theo
The passage describes a graphic and somewhat dark scene from Mary Roach's book "Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers." It details a procedure involving the closure of a mouth, where a needle injector may be used. The narrator portrays their own horror through their expression while watching the process unfold, which emphasizes the macabre nature of handling human cadavers. The silence during the suturing adds to the tension and unease of the moment.
This excerpt highlights Roach’s exploration of death and the human body, presented in her characteristic blend of humor and fascination. By focusing on such a visceral and intricate part of cadaver handling, she invites readers to confront the realities of mortality in a direct, yet engaging manner. The mix of clinical detail and personal reaction creates a vivid impression of the scene, reflecting the broader themes of her work on the curious lives of human remains.
