Putting Makeup on Dead People
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.
Jen Violi's heartfelt and funny debut novel is a story of transformation-how one girl learns to grieve and say goodbye, turn loss into a gift, and let herself be exceptional...at loving, applying lipstick to corpses, and finding life in the wake of death. ~~ synopsis from Goodreads
About the author
Born and raised in Pittsburgh, PA, Jen Violi has since made her home in such places as Dayton, OH, Goodyear, AZ, New Orleans, LA, and Takoma Park, MD. Jen has currently staked her claim in Portland, Oregon, where the greenery is plentiful, the creative spirit palpable, and the fresh coffee available every few feet -- just how she likes it. At the University of Dayton, Jen completed both a BA in English and Theatre and an MA in Theological Studies and worked for seven years in campus ministry, ultimately as Director of Retreats and Faith Development.
During her time at UD, she wrote and directed over fourteen spiritual dramas and facilitated numerous retreat experiences on campus and elsewhere. In 2004, she journeyed to the University of New Orleans, where she gained an MFA in Creative Writing, an appetite for spicy food, and a love for Earth religions. Via Portland, Jen continues to serve as adjunct faculty for the Applied Healing Arts master's degree program at Tai Sophia Institute in Laurel, MD.
Currently, she's also launching her own business, offering services such as creative writing coaching; workshop, retreat, and ritual facilitating; and officiating wedding ceremonies. Jen's fiction has been published in The Baltimore Review, and she's hard at work on her second novel. Through her being and doing, she seeks to honor the sacred in all of its forms and the profound healing power of stories.
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This book sounds like a great read...I like the idea of using grief for positive transformation. Thank you for bringing this title and giveaway to my attention!
ReplyDeleteBeth :-)
This intriguing and unique book would be wonderful. Sounds like a book which I would benefit from and enjoy. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteLOVE books that completely different! What a great way of showing her recovery, to work with the dead and their families.
ReplyDeleteThank you very much:))
interesting title
ReplyDeleteThis is the first time I see a book that is related to such a strange job
ReplyDeleteThis looks sooooo unique and i will definitely try it
great post
Your reader,
Soma
http://insomnia-of-books.blogspot.com/
I have a friend in this profession!!
ReplyDeletejmluker at vhtmail dot net
Very different and very interesting. Thanks for the introduction.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a good read. I really like the cover. Thanks for having the giveaway.
ReplyDeleteYou know I used to want to be a mortician haha! I even got to assist in a few autopsies once. The guy I was dating at the time was totally creeped out by it. LOL
ReplyDelete