The Kari AnnAlysis

Funeral homes all remind us of that one special person we have lost and that memory, of the dreadful day is normally pretty vivid in our imagination and time we ever have to go back to a funeral home. For Donna, that person was her dad.

When she returns to the funeral home for the death of a classmate, she feels a pull toward the home and a passion that she hasn’t felt since her father died. And the decision is easy. Instead of going to the University of Dayton, where she’s been accepted, she’s changing her life plan and going to school to be a mortician.

But that’s not the only major change in Donna’s life. She has a new, adventurous best friend, a college boyfriend, her mom has a new boyfriend (on the sly) and her brother is getting married. Oy vey! That’s a lot for someone who does go on the planned path.

But Donna is bound and determined to follow her heart and ends up happily ever after and the drama just makes her stronger.

As weird as this may be to say, I am starting to be drawn to books that are primarily set in funeral homes. It started last year with Nancy Mehl’s Missing Mabel that I found on NetGalley. Then when the sequel came out, I had to read it. I don’t ever think working in a funeral home is a job I could do. I think it would be peaceful and I would like that, but I don’t think I could be part of the preps or be an anchor for those in mourning. I think I am drawn to these books because I respect the people that work in this field.

I love books where I can relate with the character. I was able to do that with Donna. I remember making the decision about what I wanted to do with my life after college. I remember waiting on the letter to let me know I made it. I remember the first college boy I dated. I remember my first time I walked onto my college campus. I remember the first man my mom dated after her divorce. These were all thinks I could relate to with Donna because I knew those feelings.

The characters were all likable, in their own way and all played such great supporting roles.

I give Putting Makeup on Dead People 4 bookmarks.

ISBN:  978-1423134817
Published: May 24, 2011
Kari got this book on NetGalley