The Trauma Cleaner
October 3, 2019 6:10 PM - by Sarah Krasnostein - Subscribe
Winner of the Victorian Prize for Literature, Sarah Krasnostein’s The Trauma Cleaner: One Woman’s Extraordinary Life in the Business of Death, Decay, and Disaster is the fascinating biography of one of the people responsible for tidying up homes in the wake of natural—and unnatural—catastrophes and fatalities. Homicides and suicides, fires and floods, hoarders and addicts. When properties are damaged or neglected, it falls to Sandra Pankhurst, founder of Specialized Trauma Cleaning (STC)...
Previously: One of the most arresting works of biography you'll read in a long time. Krasnostein’s telling of Sandra Pankhurst's stories is a compelling act of imaginative empathy. Fair warning: Even though a title like "The Trauma Cleaner" is a heads-up, the book contains scenes of abuse, rape, neglect, and violence; they're narrated compassionately and graphically. Reading it in public kept my tears from falling, but barely.
Previously: One of the most arresting works of biography you'll read in a long time. Krasnostein’s telling of Sandra Pankhurst's stories is a compelling act of imaginative empathy. Fair warning: Even though a title like "The Trauma Cleaner" is a heads-up, the book contains scenes of abuse, rape, neglect, and violence; they're narrated compassionately and graphically. Reading it in public kept my tears from falling, but barely.
I LOVE THIS BOOK. Just such a fascinating life story of someone who lived far more lives than most of us have, with wildly different relationships, career paths, challenges, triumphs....just everything. Also, the respect and tenderness that Sandra gives to her clients is amazing...whether they need cleaning services for their own situations or situations that have been thrust upon them, she just gives it her all. I can't recommend this book highly enough.
posted by xingcat at 7:53 AM on October 4, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by xingcat at 7:53 AM on October 4, 2019 [1 favorite]
Ooh, this is what the newest episode of Criminal is about! I loved the podcast, I wonder if I could handle the book.
posted by arcticwoman at 9:29 PM on October 16, 2019
posted by arcticwoman at 9:29 PM on October 16, 2019
You are not logged in, either login or create an account to post comments
posted by MonkeyToes at 6:13 PM on October 3, 2019 [2 favorites]