UPDATED: Ferndale Library Recommends: Meet Eli – Professional Zombie!

Eli Blake started working (at the Ferndale Public Library) as a page about one month ago and we're glad to have him. He's currently working to get his degree at (Oakland Community College), studying mental health and social work and resides in Southfield. 

Things of note about Eli:

• He was born on an Air Force base and needs more than one hand to count the different states and cities he's lived in during his life. 
• He loves to cook.
• His seasonal work includes appearing as a zombie at famed haunted house attraction Erebus. 

"Professional zombie" is something "I love and won't trade for the world," Blake said. 

Now, assuredly, Blake's quite the distinguished young gentleman, with piercings, tattoos and oddly colored hair (he styles it himself, by the way). 

"As intimidating as I may look, I try to always greet people with a smile and a friendly hello – always being courteous and polite," Blake said. "I love working at the Ferndale library because I'm able, for the most part, to be myself.  There's nothing I have to hide about myself or my lifestyle choices – and everyone I work with and have walked by has been very kind and accepting of me." 

He's actually quite normal looking in person, and, quite lively and personable.

Halloween Spooktaculars will feature that much more staff morale and participation, though, I presume.

Without further ado: 

Eli's Picks

The Oatmeal Book – 5 Very Good Reasons to Punch a Dolphin in the Mouth
Non-Fic
818.6
o
They say it’s always good to start with a joke and this book is one giant roll of ridiculous, rude, and sometimes morbid humor. Most definitely not a politically correct choice, but it does challenge your “good taste” line and will make you laugh and feel guilty about it!

Lynn Truss – Eats, Shoots & Leaves
Non-Fic
428.2 
T
A no-nonsense lesson in grammar, something that social media has had a hand in breaking down over the past decade. Grammar is a very important part of the English language and used to be an assumed skill and not an admirable or attractive bonus trait. As many young people will experience – poor spelling and grammar can and will hinder your ability to gain employment, or be taken seriously in college.

Disney’s “UP!”
DVD CHILDREN'S -D-
I don’t care how old you are, what your story is, or where you’re going – watch this movie. Even though it is dubbed and shelved as a “children’s” movie, it deals with some heavy concepts like: Love, loss, living in a broken home, animal abuse, and corporate/government abuse of power. The first 20 minutes of the movie is by far the best and most heart-breaking love-story I’ve seen in my 28 year life.

Herman Hesse – Steppenwolf
FIC H
A very dark and morose book about a very broken man. Herman Hesse beautifully and hauntingly captured a story of loneliness, addiction, soul-searching and the sometimes suicidal depression of an aging man. I do suggest though, reading this book at face value can be very depressing in itself – I suggest reading it as an affirmation of life and a reminder to seek out joy and peace, even in the hardest of times.

AMC’s The Walking Dead
DVD TV
AMC’s smash-hit series, the Walking Dead brings zombies to the small screen with serious drama and action, and with no apologies. The series focuses around a small-town sheriff near Atlanta, Georgia, thrust into a zombie-apocalypse situation where he must fight to survive, learn to trust (but be wary of) strangers, and search for his wife and son. The idea of zombies may immediately register as “horror” in most minds, but this show is definitely about drama and action. The characters are identifiable and rounded, and as the story unfolds – the suspense increases of what will happen next, who will survive, and who will fall prey to the zombie threat!

Correction: Eli Blake's last name was incorrect in a previous version of this article.