After careful study and due deliberation it is my opinion the head remains conscious for one minute and a half after decapitation. - Dr. Dassy D’Estaing, 1883By reading this book, I have answered the question "How can you go wrong reading the work of a Pulitzer Prize winner?" This book didn't work for me. The premise of the book might be a good exercise for a creative writing class, but as a novel it was only mildy engaging.
There are 61 instances of people, or in a few cases animals, which are decapitated either intentionally or accidentally. The author assumes that in the 90 seconds it takes for the brain to shut down, up to 240 words could have been formed. He then writes exactly 240 words in each instance which read like short prose poems.
The book has interesting groupings of individuals, such as several following the French Revolution. The author chooses an interesting aspect of the individual and the time period to reflect upon. While the writing has its moments with intriguing last thoughts, it remains gruesome and lacking in any over-riding theme. Still, it is a quick read and if you want to imagine what goes on in someone's mind after being decapitated, give it a try. I was surprised that the last thoughts were reflective instead of being filled with anger, pain, or shock.
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