Review: Putting Makeup on Dead People

May •  31 •  2011

Title: Putting Makeup on Dead People
Series: No
 Genre: Young Adult- Contemporary
Author: Jen Violi
Publisher: Hyperion Books
Release Date: May 24, 2011
Book: Netgalley

“In the spring of her senior year, Donna Parisi finds new life in an unexpected place: a coffin.
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. That maybe who she really wants to be is a mortician. 
This discovery sets in motion a life Donna never imagined was possible. She befriends a charismatic new student, Liz, notices a boy, Charlie, and realizes that maybe he’s been noticing her, too, and finds herself trying things she hadn’t dreamed of trying before. By taking risks, Donna comes into her own, diving into her mortuary studies with a passion and skill she didn’t know she had in her. And she finally understands that moving forward doesn’t mean forgetting someone you love.”
What I like most about this book was her self discovery. Donna has been through so much with losing her father at a young age. She tried to relate or feel in the moment.She took lots of risk, some I don’t even approve of or liked, but in the end, she found who she needed to be, herself.
Now with I don’t approve of. I know that when a  teenager rebels, they rebel. And granted the whole situation was not her fault but what I didn’t like was the fact that she liked it.
Donna is a great character, whom learn a great life lesson. She found the one she was truly meant to be with and held on to it. She learn to forgive and let things go, so she could move on with her life. She also learn who she was and stuck with what she love. I loved walking along with Donna to see her become someone new.
I would not recommend this book for a young teen. There is a lot of cursing and while there is no sex, there is still some pretty heavy messing around*
I give it 3 BITES!
Happy Reading!

7 Comments

  1. Thanks for the great review! Sounds interesting, but I’m not sure if it’s my kinda book!

  2. Midnyte Reader
    May 31, 2011

    I do want to read this one. Not on my TBR pile yet, but it’s on my radar.

  3. Savannah
    May 31, 2011

    @Leanna, I think its just one of those books that you either like or don’t like. But for me, its just wasn’t doing it.

  4. Savannah
    May 31, 2011

    @Pam, you may like it. I think my main problem with this book was the character. I really didn’t like her choices.

  5. noiashui
    May 31, 2011

    Great review, I just can’t help but feel what a weird job to write a book about :p Could be an interesting read though, no doubt!

    ~iben
    http://www.boroughofbooks.com

  6. Savannah
    May 31, 2011

    @Noiashui, At first I thought it was weird too, but the way the author help it connect with her life, connected really good. It help explains a lot of things Donna was going through. Plus, I learn a lot about funeral homes. LOL

  7. I don’t actually pull against books with odd titles, but I did with this one. I may need to rethink this one. I may have to yell at the character… but oh well, wouldn’t be the first book I did that! lol