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Memento Mortale
Mildred Mortale, aged 13 1/2, is the youngest of three siblings and decidedly the most average - until her parents transform their home into a funeral parlor in the midst of a Yellow Fever outbreak, and she discovers she can communicate with the restless spirits of their deceased patrons.
Not to mention, the ghost of her cat won't leave, and her estranged aunt on an extended visit is boarding in her bedroom.
Part ghost story, part comedy, and part coming-of-age, "Memento Mortale" is a fevered glimpse into a summer in the life of a girl whose world has been turned upside down and six feet under.
Not to mention, the ghost of her cat won't leave, and her estranged aunt on an extended visit is boarding in her bedroom.
Part ghost story, part comedy, and part coming-of-age, "Memento Mortale" is a fevered glimpse into a summer in the life of a girl whose world has been turned upside down and six feet under.
229 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 20, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
January 2, 2020
I won this book in a Goodreads Giveaway several weeks ago. It had gotten some good reviews and it sounded kind of cute and macabre. Since it had been released already, I delved into it right away. However, after only reading some of the first chapter, I didn't get a sense that I would be in for a really good read. I put it aside. Today I received an email from Goodreads reminding me that I had won the book, and this prompted me to give it another chance.
The premise of this book is a family named Mortale that lives in a neglected but stately home, having some financial difficulties which led to them letting go of all their servants and even having to sell off some of their belongings. The father ran a store which sold kerosene lamps and candles, but with the advent of electric lighting it had gone out of business. The character of the father turned me off as he barely spoke and constantly retreated to his office in the house, not behaving as a head of household should and being non-communicative. As the book begins the family cat who was only a year old faced an untimely death for some unknown reason, and had been recently buried in the garden. However, the youngest daughter Mildred (who is the main character of the story) finds the fresh grave suddenly empty. Her brother Marley has a morbid passion for mysterious experimentation in the basement involving animals and does not seem surprised that the grave is empty. I'm still confused as to how the cat died, but even more so how it materialized, seemingly once again alive...but not; a cat who can still purr but not have a heartbeat anymore.
The Yellow Fever epidemic has hit the area and Mildred's beautiful young cousin Lucia has become one of its victims. Because the Mortale's living room has a beautiful large window, Lucia's mother suggests that the funeral could be held there. This went so successfully that matriarch Maria Mortale decides to turn their home into a funeral business. She enlists all the children, daughters Mildred and Morgan and son Marley to help her with serving food, cleaning the house and making funeral brochures. Eventually, there are supernatural occurrences in the house due to an injustice made by one of the family members.
Strangely enough, it only took me part of a day to finish this (unheard of for me). It did clock in at just a bit over 200 pages, so I guess it wasn't that hard of a feat to achieve. This is what I would call "light reading" and perhaps would be more receptive to a younger audience. Another reviewer likened it to Harry Potter, but I strongly disagree. An adult can read Harry Potter and find a richly written, fine crafted story somehow equally digestible to both children and adults alike. This is nowhere near the literary masterpiece that is Harry Potter. This isn't even as artfully written as the "Twilight" series, which I very much enjoyed.
Thank you to Goodreads Giveaway for awarding me this book.
The premise of this book is a family named Mortale that lives in a neglected but stately home, having some financial difficulties which led to them letting go of all their servants and even having to sell off some of their belongings. The father ran a store which sold kerosene lamps and candles, but with the advent of electric lighting it had gone out of business. The character of the father turned me off as he barely spoke and constantly retreated to his office in the house, not behaving as a head of household should and being non-communicative. As the book begins the family cat who was only a year old faced an untimely death for some unknown reason, and had been recently buried in the garden. However, the youngest daughter Mildred (who is the main character of the story) finds the fresh grave suddenly empty. Her brother Marley has a morbid passion for mysterious experimentation in the basement involving animals and does not seem surprised that the grave is empty. I'm still confused as to how the cat died, but even more so how it materialized, seemingly once again alive...but not; a cat who can still purr but not have a heartbeat anymore.
The Yellow Fever epidemic has hit the area and Mildred's beautiful young cousin Lucia has become one of its victims. Because the Mortale's living room has a beautiful large window, Lucia's mother suggests that the funeral could be held there. This went so successfully that matriarch Maria Mortale decides to turn their home into a funeral business. She enlists all the children, daughters Mildred and Morgan and son Marley to help her with serving food, cleaning the house and making funeral brochures. Eventually, there are supernatural occurrences in the house due to an injustice made by one of the family members.
Strangely enough, it only took me part of a day to finish this (unheard of for me). It did clock in at just a bit over 200 pages, so I guess it wasn't that hard of a feat to achieve. This is what I would call "light reading" and perhaps would be more receptive to a younger audience. Another reviewer likened it to Harry Potter, but I strongly disagree. An adult can read Harry Potter and find a richly written, fine crafted story somehow equally digestible to both children and adults alike. This is nowhere near the literary masterpiece that is Harry Potter. This isn't even as artfully written as the "Twilight" series, which I very much enjoyed.
Thank you to Goodreads Giveaway for awarding me this book.
January 14, 2020
Had I read this as a child, I would have loved it.
Having read it as an adult, I did love it.
Morbidly, humorously fun!
Would love to read more by Angeline Walsh.
Having read it as an adult, I did love it.
Morbidly, humorously fun!
Would love to read more by Angeline Walsh.
March 12, 2020
Okay...so I have thoughts.
To start with, this was not a bad first attempt at a book. You can tell that the author put a lot of time and thought into her story, and this was clearly a labor of love. The plot was interesting, there were a few genuine twists, and it generally kept my attention.
That being said, I did have some issues with it. First, adverbs. Adverbs are great. They can really enhance a story. But, too many adverbs is like having too much pepper in a dish. A little is perfect for seasoning, but too much makes you choke. I think the author used a bit too many in her work, and it was starting to become distracting.
The next point that bothered me was the speech tags. Sometimes, these are great to avoid using adverbs. Instead of "she said, sadly", you could used "she sobbed" or "she moaned" and get a similar effect. But, you have to be careful when using them, since sometimes authors can make them a bit too flowery. When in doubt, read the dialogue out loud using the tags. Did it say that someone "snarled"? Try reading the passage with a snarl. Unless that character is some sort of hungry animal, they are probably not snarling.
Actions. So many scenes felt the need to say what EVERYONE was doing. I don't need to know the actions of every person in a room--unless that's pertinent to the plot. So, Father is napping and Marley is sketching and Mother is sewing and Morgan is writing and Millie is thinking? That's a lot going on. What do we actually need to know? Don't overburden your reader with too much detail. And speaking of detail, I felt like we knew exactly what every character was thinking at any given time, and it was very distracting. Again, a little detail goes a long way. Let us fill in the blanks.
For all my criticism, I didn't hate the book. But, as a very visual person and a writer myself, I found a lot of points distracting. See, if the author says "After about a minute...in which Marley rolled his eyes too many times to count" (218), I see an image of Marley rolling his eyes constantly--until he's dizzy--and he looks like a buffoon. I'm sure that's not what Walsh was going for, but it creates a weird visual. These are things I would suggest avoiding in the future.
My apologies to Ms. Walsh. It was a fun book, and you clearly have a lot of potential as an author. But, I do think there are things that you could work on for the next book.
To start with, this was not a bad first attempt at a book. You can tell that the author put a lot of time and thought into her story, and this was clearly a labor of love. The plot was interesting, there were a few genuine twists, and it generally kept my attention.
That being said, I did have some issues with it. First, adverbs. Adverbs are great. They can really enhance a story. But, too many adverbs is like having too much pepper in a dish. A little is perfect for seasoning, but too much makes you choke. I think the author used a bit too many in her work, and it was starting to become distracting.
The next point that bothered me was the speech tags. Sometimes, these are great to avoid using adverbs. Instead of "she said, sadly", you could used "she sobbed" or "she moaned" and get a similar effect. But, you have to be careful when using them, since sometimes authors can make them a bit too flowery. When in doubt, read the dialogue out loud using the tags. Did it say that someone "snarled"? Try reading the passage with a snarl. Unless that character is some sort of hungry animal, they are probably not snarling.
Actions. So many scenes felt the need to say what EVERYONE was doing. I don't need to know the actions of every person in a room--unless that's pertinent to the plot. So, Father is napping and Marley is sketching and Mother is sewing and Morgan is writing and Millie is thinking? That's a lot going on. What do we actually need to know? Don't overburden your reader with too much detail. And speaking of detail, I felt like we knew exactly what every character was thinking at any given time, and it was very distracting. Again, a little detail goes a long way. Let us fill in the blanks.
For all my criticism, I didn't hate the book. But, as a very visual person and a writer myself, I found a lot of points distracting. See, if the author says "After about a minute...in which Marley rolled his eyes too many times to count" (218), I see an image of Marley rolling his eyes constantly--until he's dizzy--and he looks like a buffoon. I'm sure that's not what Walsh was going for, but it creates a weird visual. These are things I would suggest avoiding in the future.
My apologies to Ms. Walsh. It was a fun book, and you clearly have a lot of potential as an author. But, I do think there are things that you could work on for the next book.
June 3, 2020
TInteresting story
An interesting ghost story set in a funeral home. The story was good and entertaining. I really liked the cheekiness of the brother. I did kind of wish the mother would have gotten more of a punishment though.
I won this book thru a goodreads.com giveaway.
An interesting ghost story set in a funeral home. The story was good and entertaining. I really liked the cheekiness of the brother. I did kind of wish the mother would have gotten more of a punishment though.
I won this book thru a goodreads.com giveaway.
September 19, 2019
This was a cute, quick read. It kept my interest throughout and was a unique story I hadn't read a lot before.
***Received as a giveaway**
***Received as a giveaway**
January 1, 2022
Don't know who the target audience was for this book but if it was for midgrade readers then it was okay. The book seemed very amateurish. There were numerous errors that attributed dialogue and actions to the wrong character, sentences that stretched out to fill entire lines with no evidence of needed emphasis. There was one entire page that had only one line on it. All of these could have been corrected with simple proofreading. The main idea that was used to pull readers in was that a 13-year-old girl could speak with dead people. Well both her siblings could see ghosts and so could her aunt. So it wasn't unique. And it was secondary to the main story that a down and out family took advantage of a yellow fever outbreak in their town to turn their home into a funeral parlor. The author also added two plot twists that came out of the blue to seemingly make the book 30 pages longer. Sorry, but this was the poorest book I have read from Goodreads in the past year.
March 19, 2020
This is a dark and strange little book that I believe is intended for the teen audience. However, I found it rather amusing and read it all the way through in a long night's read. There is a nice little ghost story, bits of humor and some of the strangest characters that all come together somehow. The ending was somewhat abrupt and flat but perhaps there is more to come.
On another note, the yellow fever plague that is occurring during this story seems so relevant to what is happening today that it seems almost eerie.
I won a copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway for this honest review.
On another note, the yellow fever plague that is occurring during this story seems so relevant to what is happening today that it seems almost eerie.
I won a copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway for this honest review.
July 27, 2019
I won this book on a Goodreads giveaway. Fun, easy, quick read. I hope there is a follow-up book. The characters were just starting to get developed and would have more of their own stories.
August 9, 2019
*4.5
This was such a delightfully morbid little MG story. I had a blast. Full review to be posted soon!
This was such a delightfully morbid little MG story. I had a blast. Full review to be posted soon!
September 11, 2019
This was a quick fun read about a girl, her cat, and her family who after going broke turned their home into a funeral parlor during the Yellow Fever epidemic.
This was a Goodreads Giveaway with a few fun extras! Thanks!
This was a Goodreads Giveaway with a few fun extras! Thanks!
April 7, 2020
Humorous
Lighthearted story. The characters are rightly quirky. I imagined a darker setting, but indeed the description is far more colorful. The duel scene is very funny. Not sure if the ending is satisfying, but better than wrapped up too neatly.
Lighthearted story. The characters are rightly quirky. I imagined a darker setting, but indeed the description is far more colorful. The duel scene is very funny. Not sure if the ending is satisfying, but better than wrapped up too neatly.
July 13, 2019
Love this story! Dark humor and unforgettable characters. Delightfully creepy.
December 15, 2019
loved this book, plan on rereading it next year :)
April 5, 2020
A wonderful well written book. I highly recommend.
July 12, 2019
Excellent book!!!
March 11, 2020
I won this in a Goodreads giveaway. The opinions in this review are my own.
I wasn't sure if this was a juvenile fiction but it does not matter. Anyone can read this historical fiction about how the yellow fever affected a family and how the found success and discovered abilities among them, and find it enjoyable.
I wasn't sure if this was a juvenile fiction but it does not matter. Anyone can read this historical fiction about how the yellow fever affected a family and how the found success and discovered abilities among them, and find it enjoyable.
April 24, 2020
This was a dark, morbid, and comedic YA tale set during a yellow fever epidemic at a dark time in history. It is the story of Mildred Mortale and her family.
November 27, 2021
Very quick and interesting read. I have never read anything like it! The book was dark and quirky and kept me interested throughout the entire book!
*received as a Goodreads giveaway*
*received as a Goodreads giveaway*
December 11, 2021
Fun read! Sassy narrator! Loved the dynamics between the family members. Thank you for this copy!
April 14, 2022
This is a fun, fast read that was funny with just the right amount of the macabre. I loved it as an adult and know I would’ve been thrilled with it when I was young. Recommended for this with a creepy, quirky child inside.
This unbiased review is based on a copy won through Goodreads giveaways.
This unbiased review is based on a copy won through Goodreads giveaways.
September 20, 2020
(Won this book on Goodreads). A cute story of a 13 year old girl and how she comes to terms with being able to see the dead. Her two older siblings are trying to understand what she knows and how her Mother and Father have grown their Funeral Home business. A Cutesy fun read for people of all ages.
June 20, 2020
Due to the yellow fever outbreak, Mildred Mortale is spending a boring summer indoors. The growing popularity of electric lights has made their kerosene lamp and candle company obsolete, and with the family business in bankruptcy, their house has become little more than shadows and lonely echoes. When they’re asked to host a family member’s funeral, Mildred’s mother hatches a plan to turn their home into a full-time funeral parlor. That’s when Mildred learns she can communicate with the dead. When a necklace of a deceased woman is found in her mother’s possession, Mildred comes to a startling realization as to the true reason so many restless spirits linger in the home. But what can she do as a 13-and-a-half-year-old girl no one listens to?
Walsh’s storyline beautifully explores the power of one’s voice. At the start, many characters are stuck in their own troubles. Mildred’s relationship with her siblings develops in heartfelt ways as the trio begin talking to each other while trying to make sense of their family’s difficult and changing circumstances. Despite being the youngest in the house, Mildred is the catalyst for the book’s development. I enjoyed seeing her find confidence and stand up for herself. Despite the setting being contained mostly to one house, Mildred’s world is rich with otherworldly mayhem. All the characters are eccentric in the best possible ways. Meanwhile, Walsh’s delightful sense of humor helps to lighten what could otherwise be a gloomy tale. Memento Mortale is an enjoyable novel that’s a little spooky, a lot of quirky, and altogether charming.
Review originally posted via the Historical Novel Society at: https://historicalnovelsociety.org/re...
Walsh’s storyline beautifully explores the power of one’s voice. At the start, many characters are stuck in their own troubles. Mildred’s relationship with her siblings develops in heartfelt ways as the trio begin talking to each other while trying to make sense of their family’s difficult and changing circumstances. Despite being the youngest in the house, Mildred is the catalyst for the book’s development. I enjoyed seeing her find confidence and stand up for herself. Despite the setting being contained mostly to one house, Mildred’s world is rich with otherworldly mayhem. All the characters are eccentric in the best possible ways. Meanwhile, Walsh’s delightful sense of humor helps to lighten what could otherwise be a gloomy tale. Memento Mortale is an enjoyable novel that’s a little spooky, a lot of quirky, and altogether charming.
Review originally posted via the Historical Novel Society at: https://historicalnovelsociety.org/re...
October 29, 2021
This was such a fun, quirky book that was perfect to read right before Halloween! I thoroughly enjoyed every moment until the end which was somewhat of a disappointment and left me wanting more. Perhaps there will be a sequel? I wait in anticipation...
*I received a free copy of this book & a few extra goodies from a Goodreads Giveaway in exchange for my honest opinion.
*I received a free copy of this book & a few extra goodies from a Goodreads Giveaway in exchange for my honest opinion.
September 29, 2020
I received this edition as part of #GoodreadsGiveaway but that in no way influences my review. I can shred with the best of them. But this book was an all-nighter for me. I couldn't put it down. As odd as it sounds, this was a really fun read. My parents owned a funeral home in a relatively small town, so I'm always a bit skeptical about 'dark' humor. This, however, was a beautifully-crafted story and is something I could recommend to any age. Think stocking-stuffer. Walsh digs a bit deeper than you'd expect into aspects of death and dying for a kids' book without making it uncomfortable or depressing. It reminded me of JK Rowling's first Potter book. I had been tracking this book prior to release on Amazon and was set to purchase it prior to winning a copy. It is worth adding to the personal library and sharing with family and friends. The book could use some more editing, as there are quite a few fragmented sentences and subject-verb agreement was missing enough to irritate (hence 4 stars). But given this is an early addition, I suspect these will have been taken care of. Will now be following the author to see how she develops.
kindle
January 1, 2020Won this as a goodreads giveaway. Can't wait!
September 20, 2019
I received this as a giveaway. It is a fun read at a middle school level. Set in the early 1900's it an historical ghost story involving a family that turns it's home into a mortuary during a smallpox epidemic. It has a lot of sub themes including a distant, uninvolved father, a bully, a nerd, and a dishonest mother. Add ghosts, including a cat, and you have lots of Gothic hijinks.
March 12, 2024
Love the ghost cat 🐈⬛
The relationship between the siblings strikes true.
I would want to live in a house like that.
Cute, creepy, creative!
The relationship between the siblings strikes true.
I would want to live in a house like that.
Cute, creepy, creative!
March 19, 2020
This was weird.
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