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I See You‘ve Called in Dead, by John Kenney (2025)

Premise: After a drunkenly posting his own mock death notice, a New York obituary writer looks for the meaning of life and death.

Review: This is a fun, moving, and insightful book. I particularly appreciated how it held certain truths out for us without laying it on too thick; death is after all a mystery that‘s really impossible to write about well. It‘s also a really great New York book. Cont

I read three bangers in a row but The Antidote was the best book this year, absolutely incredible. I personally did not enjoy The Long Island Compromise.

This was interesting but not engaging. The characters resembled game pieces. If there was a plot, it was vague enough to escape notice. The author‘s descriptions of the dust storms were the most visceral and true of anything in the novel.

Hmm. Intensely atmospheric. I felt like I could smell the wilderness when reading.

The lack of plot here leads me to docking points. But despite this being more of a love letter to Alaska rather than a “beauty & the beast” style story, I found myself caring about all of the characters, even through their shocking mistakes.

After 43 days, I am calling it. I can‘t push myself any further. I tried the digital arc that I received, then I added the audio, then I added a print copy, in hopes that I would be able to push thru. I love this period of US History, but the slow meandering plot just did me in. Also, at this part of the book, some things were added to the story that I felt just slowed it down further and didn‘t make sense with where things were going. I read 👇🏻

It doesn‘t always work out when authors try to wrap up everything beautifully with an explanation of the deeper meaning, but she does this wonderfully! I loved the ending!

Also loved reading about Genoa, NE, my grandparents‘ old stomping grounds 🥰

What an incredible read! Although this book will not be for everyone, I personally loved it. The book explores themes of loneliness, freedom, acceptance, and love, all happening in the beautiful and often brutal natural landscape of Alaska.

The ending wasn't quite what I expected, but having reflected on it for a few days now, it really was a perfect ending for this story.

A wonderful, warm and heartfelt story about four friends in NYC, but centering on the main character Artie, a gay man who has turned sixty and doesn‘t know how to pick his life back up again after all his loved ones have passed away. In chapters alternating between the 1980‘s and the present time, written in gentle prose, we learn how he copes.

#gayliterature #gaybooks

This is rather strange…haven‘t decided if I like it yet.

After a few weeks of just “meh” reading, I‘m excited to start my week with this one. I hope it‘s as good as I want it to be.