Putting Makeup On Dead people Review

Putting Makeup On Dead People

by: Jen Violi

Publisher: Hyperion

Available: 2001

Synopsis: Since her father’s death four years ago, Donna has gone through the motions of living: her friendships are empty, she’s clueless about what to do after high school graduation, and her grief keeps her isolated, cut off even from the one parent she has left. That is until she’s standing in front of the dead body of a classmate at Brighton Brothers’ Funeral Home. At that moment, Donna realizes what might just give her life purpose is comforting others in death.

My Review: Q:What do you do when what everyone wants you to do with your life is not what you want to do?

A: You become a mortician!

After attending a fellow classmates funeral Donna makes a drastic change to her future education. During a brief conversation with an employee at the local funeral parlor she applies to mortuary college.

So full of excitement Donna tells her new friend Liz about her choice to work with the dearly departed, having the support of her friend Donna works up the courage to tell her mom about the course study she has decided upon, unfortunately this does not go so well. Donna's mom is against her daughter’s choice and insists that she attend the university that her brother attends. Being dead set on becoming a mortician Donna begins doing small things to prepare her for school as well as life. She stands in as JB works his magic on a deceased woman, participates in a rituals class with several friends even accepts a job as an intern at Brighton Brothers. Although things seem to be looking up for this future mortuary student life on the home front is spinning out of control. D and her mom are constantly arguing, so much so that Donna eventually moves out of the home and into a room at work. Once classes begin at CCMS a class assignment will give new meaning to letting go which Donna ultimately does.

Although this was written as a fiction book you can easily grasp the reality. As you read you almost feel as though you as a reader are part of the story. I enjoyed this book for several reasons, one the author captures your attention and holds it through the last word and second I have always had a fascination with the dead, I even wanted to work in a funeral home.