{"product_id":"i-see-youve-called-in-dead-1st-ed","title":"I See You've Called in Dead (1ST ed.)","description":"\n\u003ctable align=\"center\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"2\" cellspacing=\"0\" width=\"100%\"\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"productDetailSmallElements\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBiographical Note\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eJohn Kenney\u003c\/b\u003e is the \n\u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling author of \n\u003ci\u003eLove Poems for Married People \u003c\/i\u003eand the novels \n\u003ci\u003eTalk to Me \u003c\/i\u003eand \n\u003ci\u003eTruth in Advertising\u003c\/i\u003e, which won the Thurber Prize for American Humor. He is a longtime contributor to \n\u003ci\u003eThe New Yorker \u003c\/i\u003eand lives in Larchmont, New York.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReview Quotes\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"Razor-sharp, darkly comedic, and emotionally piercing. With the satirical bite of Richard Russo's \u003ci\u003eStraight Man\u003c\/i\u003e, the introspection of Fredrik Backman's \u003ci\u003eA Man Called Ove\u003c\/i\u003e, and the reinvention of Andrew Sean Greer's \u003ci\u003eLess\u003c\/i\u003e, Kenney's vivid prose transforms the mundane into unexpected hilarity. \u003ci\u003eI See You've Called in Dead\u003c\/i\u003e is a witty and heartwarming reminder of the bottomless despair, limitless absurdity, and undeniable joy of the human experience.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e--\u003ci\u003eBooklist\u003c\/i\u003e (starred review)\u003c\/b\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\"There are writers I turn to when I need a guaranteed laugh, and John Kenney is certainly among them. But John is also on a shorter, more rarified list of writers who can evoke a laugh and make you feel alive. That's no small feat given the title of his breathtaking new novel is \n\u003ci\u003eI See You've Called in Dead\u003c\/i\u003e. But that's John. And you will love him.\" \n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e--Steven Rowley, author of\u003ci\u003e The Celebrants\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\" \n\u003ci\u003eI See You've Called in Dead\u003c\/i\u003e is a riotously funny, poignantly introspective novel that dives headfirst into the absurdity of existence. Bud Stanley is an obituary writer who gets everything wrong--including accidentally publishing his own death notice. From botched blind dates to philosophical musings about life and death, Bud grapples with love, legacy, and the existential (and satirical) weight of being alive. But seriously . . . read this, it is laugh out loud funny. Perfect for fans of dark, heartfelt comedy.\" \n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e--Weike Wang, author of \u003ci\u003eRental House\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\"I loved this beautiful book so much I couldn't put it down. Funny, charming, and so incredibly moving. I even cried. Ugh. John Kenney, what have you done to me?\" \n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e--Gary Janetti, author of \u003ci\u003eDo You Mind If I Cancel?: (Things That Still Annoy Me)\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\"John Kenney's \n\u003ci\u003eI See You've Called in Dead\u003c\/i\u003e will be relatable to anyone who took the Talking Heads to heart and woke up thinking 'How did I get here?' His novel manages both heartbreaking loss and hilarious observational humor, while giving us a glimpse at the human condition, its unpredictable fleeting ecstasies, warts and all.\" \n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e--Annabelle Gurwitch, author of \u003ci\u003eThe End of My Life Is Killing Me: The Unexpected Joys of a Cancer Slacker\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\"Wise, wry, and heartfelt, \n\u003ci\u003eI See You Called in Dead\u003c\/i\u003e is the most life-affirming novel about death you'll ever read--and possibly the funniest. Kenney takes his hero, a middle-aged obituary writer in a rut, on a bumpy odyssey toward understanding that grief and joy are inextricably linked, and to try to separate them is to miss out on truly living. I adored this book!\" \n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e--Jane Roper, author of \u003ci\u003eThe Society of Shame\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\"John Kenney has the remarkable ability to write characters that are at once hilariously absurd, charming, deeply flawed, cringe-worthy, loveable and just so . . . human. \n\u003ci\u003eI See You've Called in Dead\u003c\/i\u003e is all of those things . . . All this is to say, I woke my whole family up laughing--dogs included.\" \n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e--Liz Astrof, author of \u003ci\u003eStay-at-Work Mom: Marriage, Kids, and Other Disasters\u003c\/i\u003e and producer of \u003ci\u003eThe King of Queens\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\"I absolutely adored this book! Kenney's quick-witted, deadpan dialogue, paired with the inherent humor in the novel's conceit and the protagonist's unusual hobby of sitting in on strangers' funerals, had me laughing out loud. Yet, just as often, I found myself in tears. This story delivers a fresh and poignant take on the midlife crisis narrative, one that brings to mind big-hearted questions not only about life, but about what it truly means to live.\" \n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e--Angela Brown, author of \u003ci\u003eOlivia Strauss Is Running Out of Time\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\"Kenney's touching, provocative novel . . . alludes to the idea that life's richness comes from spending time with people you love, and that those relationships are built on mutual respect, truth, and love. A touching ode to the people who ma \n\u003ci\u003eke life worth living.\"\u003c\/i\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e--Kirkus Reviews\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\"Readers get the beauty of Thurber Award winner Kenney's writing, with descriptions of the everyday that feel like poetry. Book clubs will find much to discuss.\" \n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e--\u003ci\u003eLibrary Journal\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\" \n\u003ci\u003eI See You've Called in Dead\u003c\/i\u003e is a charmer.\" \n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e--\u003ci\u003eShelf Awareness\u003c\/i\u003e (starred review)\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\"If this doesn't bring a grin to your face or tears to your eyes, check your pulse.\" \n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e--\u003ci\u003eBooklist Audio\u003c\/i\u003e (starred review)\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\"A wake up call to embrace and celebrate life, I See You've Called in Dead is replete with essential elements that make a work of fiction great: heart, humor, intelligence and emotional depth.\" \n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e--BookTrib\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\"John Kenney's latest novel successfully walks a tightrope between dark humor and genuine warmth, and Sean Patrick Hopkins's narration provides the necessary balance.\" \n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e--\u003ci\u003eAudioFile\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\"Like Matthew Klam, Jonathan Tropper, and Nick Hornby, Kenney has perfected the comedy of the lonely middle-aged guy.\" \n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e--\u003ci\u003eThe Washington Post\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\"Heartbreaking and affirming, this tender story reveals the sharp beauty of life.\" \n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e--\u003ci\u003eLibrary Journal Audio\u003c\/i\u003e (starred review)\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublisher Marketing\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eINSTANT NATIONAL BESTSELLER - One of NPR's Book We Love 2025 - A Gotham Book Prize Finalist - An Indie Next \u0026amp; LibraryReads Pick - \u003ci\u003eAudioFiles\u003c\/i\u003e Earphones Award Winner - \u003ci\u003eLibrary Journal\u003c\/i\u003e Audio \"Editor's Picks of the Year\" - 2026 Lariat Adult Fiction Reading List Pick\u003c\/b\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e\"Razor-sharp, darkly comedic, and emotionally piercing. With the satirical bite of Richard Russo's \u003ci\u003eStraight Man\u003c\/i\u003e, the introspection of Fredrik Backman's \u003ci\u003eA Man Called Ove\u003c\/i\u003e, and the reinvention of Andrew Sean Greer's \u003ci\u003eLess\u003c\/i\u003e, Kenney's vivid prose transforms the mundane into unexpected hilarity.\"\u003cbr\u003e--\u003ci\u003eBooklist\u003c\/i\u003e (starred review)\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eObituary writer Bud Stanley isn't really living his best life. He's fallen into a funk after a divorce. (She left him for another man, who, in fairness, was far more interesting.) He's not doing his job well. He's given up on dating. And he's about to be fired for accidentally publishing his own obituary one mildly drunken night (though technically the company can't legally fire a dead person). \n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eAs Bud awaits his fate at work, he does the only logical thing: He goes to the wakes and funerals of total strangers to learn how to live again. \n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReview Citations:\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"italic\"\u003eLibrary Journal\u003c\/span\u003e 03\/14\/2025 pg. 1 (EAN 9798989923014, Hardcover)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"italic\"\u003eBooklist\u003c\/span\u003e 04\/01\/2025 pg. 34 (EAN 9798989923014, Hardcover) - *Starred Review\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"italic\"\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/span\u003e 04\/15\/2025 (EAN 9798989923014, Hardcover)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"italic\"\u003eShelf Awareness\u003c\/span\u003e 04\/19\/2025 (EAN 9798989923014, Hardcover)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eContributor Bio:\u003c\/strong\u003eKenney, John\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eJohn Kenney\u003c\/b\u003e is the bestselling author of two novels and four books of poetry, including \n\u003ci\u003eTalk to Me\u003c\/i\u003e, \n\u003ci\u003eLove Poems for Married People\u003c\/i\u003e, \n\u003ci\u003eLove Poems for People with Children\u003c\/i\u003e, and \n\u003ci\u003eLove Poems for Anxious People\u003c\/i\u003e. His first novel, \n\u003ci\u003eTruth In Advertising\u003c\/i\u003e, won the Thurber Prize for American Humor. He is a longtime contributor to \n\u003ci\u003eThe New Yorker\u003c\/i\u003e magazine's Shouts \u0026amp; Murmurs column. He lives in Larchmont, New York, with his wife, Lissa, a therapist, and two children, whose names currently escape him.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n","brand":"Zibby Publishing","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51496031813910,"sku":"9798989923014","price":33.59,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0857\/9910\/8886\/files\/9798989923014.jpg?v=1783051152","url":"https:\/\/lusper.myshopify.com\/products\/i-see-youve-called-in-dead-1st-ed","provider":"Lusperbooks","version":"1.0","type":"link"}