The American resting place : four hundred years of history through our cemeteries and burial grounds

 by Marilyn Yalom. Cemeteries, graveyards, burial grounds, memorial parks: whatever we call them, these honored places for the dead can bring out emotions in all of us. After an initial exploration of the impact of ethnicity, class, gender, race, and historical events on burial practices, Marilyn Yalom (A History of the Wife) looks at cemeteries across the country as a means of surveying and understanding our past. While geographically based chapters can lead to some cemeteries being covered simply because they are near others, the results generally provide fascinating insights via such topics as the repatriation of Native American remains, New Orleans cemeteries in the aftermath of Katrina, slave burials, and the changing face of immigration. Over 60 stunning black-and-white photographs by Reid S. Yalom (Colonial Noir: Photographs from Mexico) enhance the work. Chapters on military cemeteries and new trends in funerals, including pet cemeteries, green burials, and cremation, round out the volume. Although the subjects, and the author's ideas, have received fuller treatment elsewhere, she has assembled a book that touches upon all of the topics in a manner appropriate for casual readers. --Library Journal (Check Catalog)