The Celebrants
The Celebrants - Steven Rowley
my review : ✮✮✮✮
This book left me emotionally drained in the best way! So many highs and lows, but ain't that life!?
Our story is about a group of friends who met in college at Berkley. When one of their best friends suddenly died their senior year, they all make a pact to have a "living funeral" for each other to ensure nothing is left unsaid when they die. When one of the members of this group gets a terminal diagnosis, their pact becomes more meaningful than ever. This book alternates between two timelines, one being each of the funerals held for the different members of the group over the years, and the other is the present day as one of the group members grapples with his mortality.
Given the heavy nature of this read, I cannot overstate my surprise at how much I laughed at this book. Like, sometimes you're reading, and you do a quick little "hah" out loud, and that's impressive in of itself, but this book made me stop and laugh my ass off (if you've read it, I specifically mean the Mexican skydiving scene!! OMG this was so funny to me). Such a great writer to have me laughing that hard and then pages later have me introspective and contemplating life.
There are some books that you pick up and can't put down. This is one where you pick up, and you need all the conditions to be perfect to fully enjoy it! Cozy chair, quiet room, a glass of wine no more than an arm's distance away. I feel like calling it slow has negative connotations, but I don't want it to! It's slow in a good way, similar to how you should sip a martini slowly.
If you come to this page to find books that are a true escape, I would potentially skip this one. The crux of this story is a terminal illness, and that might not be the light and fluffy fare you are going for!
This is best paired with a drink the Jordans will be sipping for eternity in my brain, a martini. Made however you take them, I prefer mine with gin, very dirty, shaken, straight up. I have never made one at home and will attempt to do so on stories. No martini recipe because you should make it however your heart prefers.
you’ll love this book if you love:
The Guncle by this author (if you haven’t read it yet, then do it!!!!)
Pondering what it all means (i.e., life/ friendship/love/etc.)
my favorite quote:
“It’s all going to kill you, you might as well do something fun.”
