Love at First Bite

It's Valentine's Day, and many people are still searching for their SOULmate.  There are many different ways people try to find love: some will meet at church, some will look online, and some will put ads in the newspaper.  Would you respond to this ad?

TALL, DEAD, & HANDSOME

If you like taking walks in the graveyard

And falling down in the rain.

If you're not into cooking,

If you have half a brain.

If you like waking up at midnight,

horror films, and voodoo,

Then I'm the guy who you've looked for

And I'm dying to meet you!

Saturday, Cupid's Ball

Punch Bowl

I guess you figured out by now that whoever wrote this ad is not your average guy. And you've probably guessed that no one answered his ad.  That's sad because he is lonely, and he cannot help the fact that he wants to be a.......

   ZOMBIE IN LOVE!!!!

     This fictional book, by Kelly DiPucchio, tells the story of Mortimer.  Mortimer is a zombie.  He has very few teeth, tattered clothes, removable limbs, and eats brains for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. However, this zombie is not scary at all.  In fact, he is a very likable zombie.  He gives the mail carrier a shiny red heart (real and beating, of course) and the lady at the diner gets a stunning diamond ring (complete with finger still attached), but the girls are still not interested. The setting of most of the book takes place in the graveyard where Mortimer lives. His house is very much what you would expect from a zombie's house; it has a casket for a bed, the computer monitor is a tombstone, the keyboard has bones as keys, and a real mouse serves as the computer mouse!

      The plot of the book is very relevant to today's love affair with zombies.  It is recommended for ages four and up, and it is very age-appropriate. This book allows young kids to get in on the zombie craze without getting scared.  In fact, my five-year old loves this book, and I must admit that I do, too.  The story unfolds naturally, with Mortimer trying several different ways to meet girls until he finally finds his true love. He walks his dog in the park, he reads self-help books for advice on finding love, he takes ballroom dancing lessons, but he still cannot seem to meet girls! The ending is predictable, but done in a way that keeps readers interested. In fact, the happy couple rides away in a hearse marked, of course, His and Hearse, with cans of dead bull,  baked brains, and cranbrainy juice strung to the bumper.

     It is written in limited third-person with the narrator telling the reader only what Mortimer is thinking or doing.  We do not know what other characters say or feel.  The style of the book is simple with words that many young readers will know.  Lines are filled with humor and sarcasm; for example, "Suddenly it was clear that nobody was dying to meet him". There are only one or two sentences per page and vivid illustrations accompany the sentences that will give young readers visual clues if needed. The pictures are also hilarious! There are pictures of Mortimer and his girlfriend holding hands (not their own) and Mortimer going to the funeral home (to shop for a new suit)!   

 

     The conflict in this story revolves around person versus society.  Mortimer is having to battle the typical stereotypes of zombies. The theme of the book is about getting along with others: friendships and accepting differences.  You see, even though Mortimer is a zombie, he just wants to be loved for the wonderful person, er zombie, that he is!   After all, isn't love and acceptance what we are all looking for?

      Macy introduced me to this book, and I must say that I am glad she did.  This book is cute, sad, funny, and mind boggling all in one.  Not only are the pictures in the book remarkable but the story within itself, made me fall in love all over again.  Zombie in Love is a fantasy book that is filled with elements that are not considered possible in our world.  A man that is dead looking for love, a woman with half a brain, and a dog that walks around with one eye hanging out  is not something that I expect to see anytime soon in this lifetime.  The main character Mortimer is looking for love, but it seems as though all of the ladies he meets are mortified of him.  Maybe it’s because he’s tall, dead, and handsome.  I just don’t see why any ghoul wouldn’t want a guy who likes taking long walks in the graveyard.  Me personally I’m not up to taking long or short walk’s in the graveyard, but if I was then Mortimer might just be my guy.  If any ladies out heir are interested in meeting Mortimer just go to stalemate.com and he’ll be waiting that is if he hasn’t found his true love.