I See You've Called in Dead

The Office meets Six Feet Under meets About a Boy in this coming-of-middle-age tale about having a second chance to write your life’s story.

Bud Stanley is an obituary writer who is afraid to live. Yes, his wife recently left him for a “far more interesting” man. Yes, he goes on a particularly awful blind date with a woman who brings her ex. And yes, he has too many glasses of Scotch one night and proceeds to pen and publish his own obituary. The newspaper wants to fire him. But now the company’s system has him listed as dead. And the company can’t fire a dead person. The ensuing fallout forces him to realize that life may be actually worth living.

As Bud awaits his fate at work, his life hangs in the balance. Given another shot by his boss and encouraged by his best friend, Tim, a worldly and wise former art dealer, Bud starts to attend the wakes and funerals of strangers to learn how to live.

Thurber Prize-winner and New York Times bestselling author John Kenney tells a funny, touching story about life and death, about the search for meaning, about finding and never letting go of the preciousness of life.

These discussion questions were provided by the publisher, Zibby Media.

Book club questions for I See You've Called in Dead by John Kenney

Use these discussion questions to guide your next book club meeting.

Life and death are intrinsically connected throughout this novel, as Bud’s confrontations with death are what drive him to begin to truly live. Do you believe this is an extreme position? Must we confront death so head-on in order to appreciate our lives?

In many ways, this novel is an ode to male friendship. Bud himself remarks on the difference between male and female friendship: “Women talked close, staring at each other, close, touched, hugged, said what they felt, said I love you out loud. We sat staring straight ahead, never touching, speaking more in the pauses, and yet still, if you listened closely, said I love you.” (47) Did you find the depictions of male friendship throughout this novel different from depictions of female friendship you have read? If so, in what ways?

Bud uses humor to get through difficult conversations/times and sometimes as a method of deflection. This novel, as a whole, also deals with difficult topics using humor. Do you believe that using humor is an effective way to deal with difficulty?

Despite being incredibly critical of himself, Bud seems to be well-liked by many of the people around him. Did Bud’s self perception make you question his trustworthiness as a narrator?

This book is, in part, about Bud’s relationships and how they function during a difficult period of his life. Was there any particular friendship/relationship you found most moving?

“Rewriting your story” is a consistent theme throughout this book. Do you believe Bud successfully rewrites his story?

Clara asks Bud if he believes in God. When he doesn’t respond, Clara lists different things in the world that make her either believe in God or make her think there is no God. What makes you believe? If not in God, then in humanity, fate, love, etc.

In the introduction to the novel, Bud poses the following question: “What would you write if you had to write your obituary? Today, right now. What comes to mind? What memories, days, moments? What people and experiences?” How would you answer this question?

I See You've Called in Dead Book Club Questions PDF

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“Razor-sharp, darkly comedic, and emotionally piercing. With the satirical bite of Richard Russo’s Straight Man, the introspection of Fredrik Backman’s A Man Called Ove, and the reinvention of Andrew Sean Greer's Less, Kenney’s vivid prose transforms the mundane into unexpected hilarity.”
―Booklist (starred review)