I absolutely adore Mary Roach. Partly because her writing style is hilarious and easy to read, and partly because we share the same morbid curiosity and sense of humor. It's difficult to find those of intellectual minds who choose to spend their time investigating cannibalism and sex research.
To the deep chagrin of my friends and family, I now know more than I ever needed to know about dead bodies. Believe me, it's never really appropriate to inform your dad about the ancient uses of cadaver flesh and placentas to cure common ailments. Nevertheless, I found everything she talked about fascinating, and I deeply respect her loyalty to her areas of research. I can't imagine the awkwardness of traveling to a random city in China and trying to obtain information of two Sweeney Todd-esque brothers who chop off the bums of the dead and sold them in the form of dumplings.
I greatly admire and envy Mary Roach, and will continue to read anything she writes.