The Celebrants by Steven Rowley Summary, Characters and Themes
The Celebrants is the fourth novel by Steven Rowley, delving into the enduring power of friendship and how it weathers the storms of life, mortality, and the secrets we keep from one another.
Set against the backdrop of life’s most challenging moments, the story follows a group of college friends who reunite over the years to honor a unique pact they made decades earlier—a pact to hold “living funerals” for one another, celebrating life before it’s too late. Through laughter, grief, and the complexities of long-held secrets, Rowley crafts a poignant tale of love, loss, and the ties that bind us.
Summary
After years of separation, five old college friends—Jordan Vargas, Jordan Tosic (Jordy), Naomi Ito, Craig Scheffler, and Marielle Holland—find themselves reuniting at Naomi’s family home in Big Sur, California. Their bond was forged at Berkeley, where they became close as transfer students.
The suicide—or possible accidental overdose—of their friend Alec, who had been diagnosed with AIDS just weeks before their graduation in 1995, left them grappling with guilt and unresolved grief.
This tragedy inspired the group to form a pact: they would hold “living funerals” for each other, ensuring that they each felt appreciated and celebrated before it was too late.
Their gathering at Naomi’s house, fittingly named Sur la Vie, is tinged with a mix of nostalgia and tension. Jordan, who has called them all together, is hiding a heartbreaking secret: he has been diagnosed with terminal cancer.
The mood shifts as the friends catch up, bicker, and joke, but the underlying reason for their reunion looms large.
Flashback to 1995: After Alec’s funeral, the group decides to solidify their bond with the living funeral pact. At this time, Jordy and Jordan’s budding romance intensifies, and a drunken encounter between Craig and Marielle leads to the conception of Marielle’s daughter, Mia. This moment is complicated by Marielle’s fragile state, still mourning Alec, who had been her partner.
Fast forward to 2013, where the friends gather again, this time for Marielle’s living funeral.
Triggered by her divorce and Mia’s impending departure for college, Marielle’s funeral becomes a journey of self-discovery. An eerie attempt to contact Alec through a Ouija board adds an unsettling twist, but ultimately, Marielle finds closure, moves to Oregon, and begins a new chapter working at an animal rescue.
In 2016, the group reunites following the sudden death of Naomi’s parents in a plane crash. Unable to confront the memories in her childhood home, they opt for a destination funeral in Puerto Vallarta.
A dramatic skydiving incident, where Naomi nearly has a breakdown and is the only one who doesn’t jump, underscores the fragility of life and control. Jordan’s brush with disaster during the jump reinforces the randomness of fate, and Naomi, delivering her own eulogy, bids farewell to the person she could never quite become for her parents.
Their next gathering in 2018 sees the group supporting Craig, who faces prison time for art fraud. Discontent with his funeral setting in New York, Craig tries to derail the event by exposing a long-hidden truth: Jordy had known about Alec’s AIDS diagnosis and kept it secret.
This revelation causes a rift, particularly with Marielle, who storms out and unexpectedly runs into Mia. Despite the drama, Craig eventually triggers his own funeral, leading to a psychedelic boat tour where he scatters the ashes of an old painting, symbolizing his rebirth as an artist.
The story culminates in 2023 when Jordan, now terminally ill, uses the pact to bring the group together one last time. They attend a swim race—Escape from Alcatraz—where Jordy reclaims his identity.
The novel closes with a poignant farewell, as the group honors Jordan’s life and the indelible impact he had on each of them.
Characters
Jordan Vargas
Jordan Vargas serves as a central figure in The Celebrants, embodying themes of mortality, secrecy, and the burden of guilt. As one of the initiators of the pact, his actions are deeply influenced by the group’s shared history, particularly the tragic loss of their friend Alec.
Jordan’s character is marked by his dual role as both a caretaker and a secret-bearer, navigating the fine line between protecting his friends and withholding painful truths. His terminal cancer diagnosis, which he keeps hidden until the gathering at Big Sur, reveals his struggle with vulnerability and the desire to control how he is remembered.
Throughout the novel, Jordan’s interactions with his friends reflect his deep sense of responsibility toward them. His decision to trigger the pact on behalf of his husband underscores his enduring love and commitment, as well as his acceptance of his own mortality.
Jordan Tosic (Jordy)
Jordy, often seen as the lighter, more carefree counterpart to Jordan Vargas, also carries his own burdens, particularly the guilt of knowing about Alec’s AIDS diagnosis and not sharing it with the group. His relationship with Jordan Vargas adds a complex layer to his character, blending love with unspoken tensions and secrets.
Jordy’s participation in the swim race, Escape from Alcatraz, at the novel’s conclusion serves as a symbolic act of reclaiming his identity and confronting the deep-seated fears and guilt he has harbored for years. His character embodies resilience as he navigates the challenges of his relationship with Jordan, the group’s dynamics, and his personal struggles with guilt and identity.
Naomi Ito
Naomi Ito is portrayed as a strong, independent woman who, despite her achievements, grapples with feelings of inadequacy, particularly in relation to her parents. Her journey throughout the novel is one of self-discovery and self-acceptance, catalyzed by the tragic loss of her parents in a plane crash.
The decision to hold her funeral in Puerto Vallarta reflects her desire to escape the expectations that have weighed heavily on her throughout her life. The skydiving incident, where she ultimately decides not to jump, serves as a metaphor for her reluctance to let go of control and fully embrace change.
Naomi’s eulogy, where she bids farewell to the version of herself that never measured up, marks a pivotal moment in her character development. This moment symbolizes her acceptance of her true self and the beginning of a new chapter in her life.
Craig Scheffler
Craig Scheffler is a character defined by his contradictions—a successful artist who falls from grace due to his involvement in art fraud. His story arc is one of redemption and reinvention, as he grapples with the consequences of his actions and their impact on his identity.
Craig’s reaction to Marielle triggering the pact for him reveals his deep-seated insecurity and fear of being judged by his friends. The revelation that Mia is his daughter brings a new dimension to his character, forcing him to confront the past and take responsibility for his actions.
Craig’s decision to scatter the ashes of an old painting symbolizes his desire to shed his former self and embrace a new artistic identity, one that is more honest and true to his values.
Marielle Holland
Marielle Holland’s character is intricately tied to themes of loss, trauma, and motherhood. Her relationship with Alec and the subsequent birth of her daughter, Mia, are central to her narrative arc.
Marielle’s emotional journey is marked by her struggle to reclaim her identity following her divorce and the departure of her daughter for college. The triggering of her own funeral serves as a turning point, allowing her to process her grief and move forward with her life.
Her anger at Jordy for withholding Alec’s diagnosis, coupled with the revelation that Craig is Mia’s father, adds layers of complexity to her character. This highlights her resilience and capacity for forgiveness.
By the novel’s end, Marielle emerges as a character who has faced her past and found a sense of peace and purpose, particularly through her work in animal rescue.
Alec (Posthumous Influence)
Although Alec is not physically present in the novel, his influence permeates the narrative and shapes the lives of the other characters. His tragic death, shrouded in mystery and ambiguity, serves as the catalyst for the group’s pact and the living funerals that follow.
Alec’s diagnosis with AIDS and the subsequent guilt felt by the group members over their perceived failure to help him underscore the novel’s exploration of mortality, friendship, and the impact of unspoken truths. Alec’s presence is felt most strongly during the Ouija board scene, where the group attempts to contact him, symbolizing their ongoing struggle to come to terms with his death and the unresolved emotions it left behind.
Themes
The Power of Friendship
One of the central themes in The Celebrants is the profound impact of long-term friendships. The novel explores how deep connections, formed during the friends’ time at Berkeley, continue to shape and support their lives decades later.
These friendships provide emotional sustenance as the characters navigate the various crises that life throws at them. Their pact to hold living funerals—a way to celebrate and reflect on their lives while still alive—becomes a ritual that solidifies their bond, even as they face the inevitability of loss and change.
The friends’ shared history gives them a unique understanding of each other, enabling them to provide the support and love that is crucial for survival in the face of life’s most challenging moments.
Mortality and the Ritual of Living Funerals
Mortality looms large over the novel, not just as an abstract concept but as a tangible reality that the characters must confront. The idea of living funerals, where the friends gather to celebrate one another before death, serves as a way for them to deal with their fears and regrets.
The death of their friend Alec in 1995, and the uncertainty surrounding whether it was an accident or suicide, initiates this practice. Alec’s death represents the unspoken fears and guilt they all carry—what if they had been able to save him by acknowledging his struggles?
This guilt propels them to create a pact where they ensure that no one among them dies without knowing how much they mean to the others. The funerals are both a coping mechanism and a means of preemptive grief, allowing them to confront mortality head-on while still holding on to life.
Guilt and Redemption
The theme of guilt is intricately woven into the characters’ lives, particularly concerning Alec’s death. The uncertainty of whether Alec’s death was accidental or intentional haunts the group, particularly as they learn of his AIDS diagnosis.
This lingering guilt over what could have been done differently fuels the narrative and the characters’ actions throughout the novel. Each living funeral becomes an opportunity for the characters to seek redemption, to confess their secrets, and to reconcile with their past actions.
The narrative reveals how guilt can be a powerful force in shaping behavior, but also how it can be a catalyst for change and growth when faced honestly.
Identity and Self-Discovery
The Celebrants also delves deeply into the theme of identity. Each character undergoes a journey of self-discovery, often triggered by the events surrounding their living funerals.
Marielle, for instance, uses her funeral as a means to reclaim her identity after the dissolution of her marriage and the departure of her daughter for college. The funeral serves as a symbolic rebirth, allowing her to redefine herself outside the roles of wife and mother.
Similarly, Naomi’s funeral allows her to confront and let go of the parts of her identity that were shaped by her parents’ expectations. The novel suggests that identity is fluid and that major life events, such as the death of loved ones, divorce, or even a terminal diagnosis, can serve as catalysts for profound personal transformation.
The Complexities of Love and Relationships
The novel also explores the complexities inherent in love and relationships, both romantic and platonic. The interactions between the characters reveal the layers of affection, tension, and unresolved issues that often characterize long-standing relationships.
For example, the relationship between Jordy and Jordan is tested by the secrets they keep and the eventual revelation of Jordan’s terminal illness. Marielle’s complicated feelings toward Craig, especially after the revelation that he is the father of her daughter, highlight the intricate web of emotions that often accompany long-term relationships.
The novel portrays love as something that is not always straightforward but is instead complicated by time, circumstances, and unspoken truths.
The Search for Meaning in the Face of Mortality
Finally, The Celebrants engages with the existential search for meaning in the face of mortality. The characters’ participation in living funerals is their way of making sense of life’s fleeting nature.
By celebrating their lives while still alive, they attempt to find meaning and purpose even as they confront their inevitable deaths. Jordan’s terminal diagnosis brings this search for meaning into sharp relief, as he uses his final months to create lasting memories and to leave a legacy of love and connection.
The novel suggests that while death is certain, the meaning we derive from life comes from the relationships we build and the love we give and receive.