Driving With Dead People by Monica Holloway w/spoilers

[Gravy]

Driving With Dead People by Monica Holloway
This is a memoir of abuse, told in an unflinching manner.
I'm placing it on my three star shelf.

The author starts by telling of a little girl killed while riding her bike, and she wishes it had been her.
Through the beginning of this book we hear of the varying degrees of abuse her and her siblings suffer at the hands of her father.
In this twisted family not even holdays are safe as he puts on his home videos of car crashes and terrible storm footage he's caught on film.
Her obsession with death is understandable.

Her obsession is only intensified when she becomes friends with the town mortician's little girl. She loves playing around in the funeral home.

From then on things are told in a very detached manner...understandably, but it became a chore to read, and would have benefited from a less clinical feel. I actually began to strongly dislike someone I should have felt sympathy for.

Another black mark against this book is the casual way the author deals with animal cruelty.
She tells of the time her Grandmother killed her own cat because she was "tired of tripping over it" with as much emotion as you might say someone took out the trash.
I can not abide this, even in fiction. I love animals and to have something so horrible be written inconsequentially...makes me sick.
I have no problem reading about it, but it should be told with respect to the life it's talking about.

Sorry for the rant...back to the book.
Up until the last hundred pages I just wanted to be done with this book. I disliked almost everything about it, but I stuck it out.
The last hundred pages redeemed it, at least as much as it could be redeemed for me.
It wrapped up the whole book, and I actually enjoyed the epilogue more than anything else in the entire book.

I wouldn't say I suggest this book, it's certainly not for everyone, but if this is your type of book...read it.

This is just me getting it out of my head.

[zeldas_lullaby]

Wow, what a horrific-sounding book. It sounds like the author is still (understandably) disconnected from her past. Who wouldn't be? Goodness gracious. That animal cruelty sounds horrific.

I admire your tenacity in reading this whole freakin' book!! You deserve a prize, so here's a beautiful smiley.

[Gravy]

Wow, what a horrific-sounding book. It sounds like the author is still (understandably) disconnected from her past. Who wouldn't be? Goodness gracious. That animal cruelty sounds horrific.

I admire your tenacity in reading this whole freakin' book!! You deserve a prize, so here's a beautiful smiley.

Thank you!
Best smiley ever! So cool

[zeldas_lullaby]

You're welcome! Rainbow umbrellas are fun!!

I sure hope the next memoir you choose is better!!

[gali]

It certainly sounds bad and I feel like the same as you about animal cruelty. The book isn't for me. Thank you for the review.

[chytach18-]

Is it non-fiction book? I wonder why so many people want to hit us, the readers, with their ill desires? Good review. I don`t think I would give this book 3 stars. You`ve been very generous, Graverobber.

[PashaRu]

Thanks for an honest review, Gravy. I don't think I'll be reading this one anytime soon. Too dark and detached, it seems.

[Gravy]

Thanks, guys