The Undertaking: Life Studies from the Dismal Trade by Thomas Lynch

How hard is The Undertaking: Life Studies from the Dismal Trade to read?

The Undertaking: Life Studies from the Dismal Trade scores 42 out of 100 for difficulty on ReadingRate, making it moderately challenging. The score is a weighted composite of nine measures: four of how hard the prose is to parse, five of how hard the meaning is to extract.

Vocabulary: 68 out of 100

Thomas Lynch employs a rich and precise vocabulary, frequently incorporating specialized terminology from the funeral trade (e.g., 'obsequies,' 'cremains,' 'postmortem caloricity') and medical fields ('cerebral-vascular,' 'arteriosclerosis'). He also uses sophisticated literary and philosophical terms like 'epithalamium,' 'gambit,' 'lexicons,' and 'primordial ooze,' elevating the language beyond typical contemporary fiction, similar to *2666* or *Moby-Dick* in its specific jargon.

Sentence structure: 62 out of 100

The prose features a moderate to high degree of syntactic complexity, characterized by long sentences with multiple clauses, parenthetical asides, and extensive subordination. While not reaching the extreme hypotaxis of Henry James or Faulkner, Lynch's sentences often build intricate arguments and descriptions, demanding sustained attention from the reader. This is more demanding than *The Great Gatsby* but less so than *In Search of Lost Time*.

Abstraction: 70 out of 100

The book frequently shifts from concrete personal anecdotes about undertaking to profound philosophical and theological meditations on life, death, and human nature. Lynch uses specific events, like the death of Stephanie or his father, as springboards for abstract discussions on faith, fear, choice, and societal attitudes towards mortality, placing it closer to *Brothers Karamazov* or *Gravity's Rainbow* in its blend of narrative and deep thought.

Information density: 72 out of 100

The text is dense with concepts, allusions, and interwoven narratives, requiring significant reader engagement to connect the various threads of personal experience, literary references (Yeats, Poe, Mitford), and philosophical inquiry. Lynch layers multiple ideas within paragraphs, discussing everything from crude death rates to the ethics of assisted suicide, demanding attention comparable to *2666* in its intellectual demands.

Narrative indirection: 45 out of 100

Thomas Lynch, as the narrator, explicitly shares his observations, philosophies, and experiences as an undertaker, often directly stating his 'truths' about life and death. While he uses anecdotes and reflections, the reader is rarely left to infer the core meaning, as Lynch often articulates his conclusions directly. This is significantly more explicit than works like 'Finnegans Wake' (98) or 'The Unnamable' (90), where meaning is almost entirely implied.

Symbolic density: 65 out of 100

The book is rich with symbols and metaphors, such as the 'Golfatorium' representing modern society's denial of death or the flush toilet symbolizing the removal of unpleasant realities. However, Lynch frequently explains these symbolic connections, guiding the reader through their significance rather than leaving them entirely to inference. While pervasive, the symbolism is often unpacked, making it less dense than texts like 'The Waste Land' (98) but more layered than 'To Kill a Mockingbird' (45).

Ironic distance: 75 out of 100

Lynch employs a consistent and strong ironic tone, highlighting the absurdities and hypocrisies in human behavior surrounding death and grief. His dry wit and sardonic observations, such as the undertakers' 'Midwinter Conference' or the explicit explanations of 'The Toilet Assumption,' create a clear gap between the literal events and the underlying critique. This ironic commentary is a central part of his narrative voice, similar to the critical yet sympathetic stance in 'The Great Gatsby' (70), though less structurally embedded than 'Ulysses' (88).

Resolution withholding: 35 out of 100

As a collection of essays, the book does not present a single plot to resolve, and while it grapples with universal existential questions, the narrator often offers his own philosophical conclusions or perspectives. Lynch provides intellectual closure within each piece, articulating his understanding of life, death, and grief. This approach offers more resolution than works like '2666' (92) or 'The Crying of Lot 49' (75), which actively leave narrative mysteries unsolved.

Structural complexity: 30 out of 100

The text is structured as a collection of distinct essays, each with a clear title and a largely linear or thematic progression within its boundaries. Flashbacks and shifts in focus are clearly signposted by the narrator's direct address and the essay format. There are no multiple points of view, fragmented chronologies, or experimental formal elements that would significantly increase structural complexity, making it much simpler than works like 'Ulysses' (98) or 'Flights' (88).

How The Undertaking: Life Studies from the Dismal Trade is regarded

The Undertaking: Life Studies from the Dismal Trade holds a literary regard score of 48 out of 100, weighing its place in the canon, its critical reception, its influence on other writers, and the standing of its author. Regard is measured separately from difficulty: a demanding book is not necessarily an admired one.

About the author

Thomas Lynch