Imagine a Death

A novel

De: Janice Lee

Narrado por: Marie Cinquemani

BIG OTHER Book Award for Fiction Finalist.

In the face of a slow but impending apocalypse, what binds three seemingly divergent lives (a writer, a photographer, an old man), isn’t the commonality of a perceived future death, but the layered and complex fabric of how loss, abuse, trauma, and death have shaped their pasts, and how these pasts continue to haunt their present moments, a moment in which time seems to be running out.

The writer, traumatized by the violent death of her mother when she was a child, lives alone with her dog and struggles to finish her book. The photographer, stunted by the death of his grandmother and caretaker, struggles to take a single picture and enters into a complicated relationship with the writer. The old man, facing his past in small doses, spends his time watching television and reorganizing the objects in his apartment to stay distracted from the deterioration around him.

A depiction of the cycles of abuse and trauma in a prolonged end-time, Imagine a Death examines the ways in which our pasts envelop us, the ways in which we justify horrible things in the name of survival, all of the horrible and beautiful things we are capable of when we are hurt and broken, and the animal (and plant) companions that ground us. Part of the Innovative Prose series, edited by Katie Jean Shinkle.

©2021 Janice Lee (P)2024 TRP: The University Press of SHSU

Thoughtful point of view

Imagine a Death is a complex fiction that unfolds in an unusual narrative style that is truly one-of-a-kind, though at times tedious. It features a Writer, a Photographer, and an Old Man living in an undefined post-apocalyptic city. The story is told through long sentences and the use of complex words, which may pose a challenge in following the story threads. However, Ms. Lee’s unique narrative style effectively shares the past trauma of each character, illustrating their perspective on life and the emotions they may or may not share. Each character's response to the loss of a loved one early in life is shaped by this trauma, and their thoughts and reactions to the events are like an interior monolog, mirroring the non-linear way the brain works.

The book delves deep into the emotional landscape of its characters as they navigate survival in a city where inhabitants are fleeing, and birds are falling from the sky. Each character carries the emotional baggage of heartache, remorse, dereliction, bitterness, and annoyance. The story immerses listeners in all the nuances and sensations experienced by each character to foster a deeper connection and empathy toward each character’s experiences.

Marie Cinquemani executes a consistent voice with good intonations and speed throughout the novel. The emotional moments are well-timed with an animated voice. Listeners can rest assured that there are no flaws or issues with the production of this audiobook, providing a seamless listening experience.

Fans of Women’s Literary Fiction will find this a novel that displays the world through a complicated lens where the conscious meets the subconscious. In many ways, Imagine a Death could be considered a psychological study bordering on horror within an uncertain love story.

Audible book was fascinating

I chose Audible for this book and was very pleased with the narrator's gift of storytelling that draws you into the characters' turmoil. You won't be disappointed with the author's uniquely different depiction of humans and animals dealing with their trauma and impending disaster.

The Perfect Audible Book

This innovative novel is like none I have read, or listened to, before. Each chapter feels like a carpet ride on a character's stream of consciousness. It reads like a living AND dying memory that is both ethereal and tangible at the same time, or a literary dance that moves from a floating, lyrical ballet to a ceremonial Haka. I especially love the voices of the animals, whether wild birds and bears, stray cats, or "The Dog", a companion pet, as they brought grounding and wisdom to the inexorable relationship between humans and the world. Their perspectives, mixed with the voices of nature on a seemingly failing planet, and the emotionally excruciating narratives of The Writer, The Photographer, and The Old Man, are brought to life by the wonderful Audible narrator's interpretation and expressive voice. As I listened to her read I gasped, I begged, I held my breath, until the very last word. It was the perfect Audible book!