Audiobook, Contemporary Fiction

The Celebrants by Steven Rowley @mrstevenrowley @PRHAudio #ReadWithJenna

Jonetta | Blue Mood Café


the setup…
College besties Marielle Holland, Naomi Ito, Craig Scheffler, Jordan Vargas and Jordan Tusic were on the brink of graduating from UC at Berkeley when Alec, the sixth person in their group died from an overdose. They’d been one unit since their first days at school and were now devastated. The idea of a “living” funeral was born and they made a pact that any of them could call for one at anytime. All would assemble to celebrate the person, reminding them of why their lives were meaningful. Now, it’s Jordan Vargas who’s called for the reunion, but this one will be far different from the others.

the heart of the story…
The story description compared this to a modern day version of The Big Chill and I found that to be dead on. Like most of us, these five friends went their separate ways after graduation even though they’d promised to stay connected, excepting the two Jordans who finally admitted their sexuality and married, one becoming Jordy. Each time these reunions were invoked because of the pact, the person of focus was facing a major life event…divorce, death in the family, etc…and needed the honesty of these friendships that stood up despite the separations over the years. I loved how unique these celebrations were, reflecting the spirit and nature of the one being “funeralized,” the honesty bared by everyone.

the narration…
The story is narrated by the author who is a great storyteller, delivering his intended tones and emphasis, which always makes a big difference. I would have preferred using multiple performers, though, to help distinguish the voices, specifically the Jordans who I kept confusing.

the bottom line…
As unconventional as a living funeral sounds, it makes a lot of sense when you consider the opportunity of intentionally celebrating a loved one while she or he is still alive. I wondered if these reunions would become routine and, believe me, that notion was dispelled after the first one. Every character, including the dead Alec, was so full designed I felt like I knew these people, despite the secrets that sometimes were revealed. I loved how the relationships stood the time test, a reflection of what they’d truly created for themselves. I was constantly in self reflection throughout the story, a notion I hadn’t considered when starting. It lives up to the hype with the most lovely ending.

Book Info

  • Release Date: May 30, 2023
  • Narrator: Steven Rowley
  • Audio Length: 9 hours, 43 minutes
  • Publisher: Penguin Audio

 

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Published by Jonetta | Blue Mood Café

24 thoughts on “The Celebrants by Steven Rowley @mrstevenrowley @PRHAudio #ReadWithJenna”

  1. I love The Big Chill comparison. I can see how this story would be totally relatable. And I think the living funeral is a great idea. I’d much rather do that than the traditional way. Excellent review!

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