From inside cover of book:

Small wonder that, at nine years old, Monica Holloway develops a fascination with the local funeral home. With a father who drives his Ford pickup with a Kodak movie camera sitting shotgun just in case he sees an accident, and whose home movies feature more footage of disasters than of his children, Monica is primed to become a morbid child.

Yet in spite of her father's bouts of violence and abuse, her mother's selfishness and prim denial, and her siblings' personal battles and betrayals, Monica never succumbs to despair. Instead, she forges her own way, thriving at school and becoming fast friends with Julie Kilner, whose father is the town mortician.

She and Julie prefer the casket showroom, where they take turns lying in their favorite coffins, to the parks and grassy backyards in her hometown of Elk Grove, Ohio. In time, Monica and Julie get a job driving the company hearse to pick up bodies at the airport, yet even Monica's growing independence can't protect her from her parents' irresponsibility, and from feeling that she simply does not deserve to be safe. Little does she know, as she finally strikes out on her own, that her parents' biggest betrayal has yet to be revealed.

Throughout this remarkable memoir of her dysfunctional, eccentric, and wholly unforgettable family, Monica Holloway's prose shines with humor, clear-eyed grace, and an uncommon sense of resilience. Driving with Dead People is an extraordinary real-life tale with a wonderfully observant and resourceful heroine.

It wasn't quite what I expected it to be, but I wasn't disappointed. Monica has told her story with such beautiful honesty, it's heartbreaking, and it's beautiful. It made me feel like crying, and it made me laugh. I found myself wanting to hug Monica and thank her for sharing her story.

Bookray participants, in order:

1. sunfi - OH - (prefers US/CAN shipping)
2. Bug2004 - NE (US shipping)
3. oldreader - CA (US shipping)
4. Firegirl - AZ
5. Bibliocrates - AL

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Posting to sunfi. Enjoy!

Caught this one in the mail today. I have four rings ahead of this one and I will have it on its way in the next six weeks. Thanks for mailing this to me WingedMan, the postcards you include are always so thought provoking.

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Just finished this one, the ending was a bit of a surprise to me but I did enjoy it. I think the author really found her voice towards the end of the book. This is on its way to Bug2004 now. Happy Reading!

Re'cvd today. I have a couple in front of it, but will get to it as quick as I can. Thanks for sharing! :)

I have had this way, way too long and I apologize!!! However, I did enjoy it and am glad I got the chance to read it!!!

Mailed off to oldreader today.

arrived today.Have a few chapters left in current read,then will start.

Heart wrenching story.Many parts where I did not know if I should laugh or cry.Unfortunately there are probably many more such sad tales.It must have been difficult for the author to share this.Thanks.Will send on to Firegirl as soon as I get their addy.

you have found a bookcrossing book.This is a free site that tracks the books as they travel.Please journal this when you find it and after reading.
You may remain anonymous.

on the way to bibliocrates

This book arrived here in Huntsville, Alabama yesterday. I look forward to reading it soon. Thank you for sharing!

I really enjoyed this book; it was not at all what I expected.

I am passing it on to another reader via BookMooch.

BookMooch