Lincoln in the Bardo (Booker Prize Winner) by George Saunders
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER WINNER OF THE MAN BOOKER PRIZE. The devastatingly moving (People) first novel from the author of Tenth of December- a moving and original father-son story featuring none other than Abraham Lincoln, as well as an unforgettable cast of supporting characters, living and dead, historical and invented Named One of Paste's Best Novels of the Decade Named One of the Ten Best Books of the Year by The Washington Post, USA Today, and Maureen Corrigan, NPR One of Time's Ten Best Novels of the Year A New York Times Notable Book One of O- The Oprah Magazine's Best Books of the Year February 1862. The Civil War is less than one year old. The fighting has begun in earnest, and the nation has begun to realize it is in for a long, bloody struggle. Meanwhile, President Lincoln's beloved eleven-year-old son, Willie, lies upstairs in the White House, gravely ill. In a matter of days, despite predictions of a recovery, Willie dies and is laid to rest in a Georgetown cemetery. My poor boy, he was too good for this earth, the president says at the time. God has called him home.
- Suggested age range- Adult
- Format- Paperback
- Product dimensions- 5.5" W x 8.2" H x 1" D
- Genre- Fiction
- Publisher- Random House Publishing Group, Publication date- 02-06-2018
- Page count- 368
- ISBN- 9780812985405
Web ID: 5460925
A Novel Twist on Life and Death
This was one of the most interesting and quirky novels I've ever read. Saunders has invented a whole new way of weaving a powerful story, and I'm happy it was recommended to me. - Julie Saeger Nierenberg, author, editor, end-of-life educator
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
You Will Either LOVE this.....or Not
This award-winning, New York Times bestseller is NOT for everyone. It was George Saunders' first full-length novel, published in 2017 and its style is definitely experimental. LINCOLN IN THE BARDO takes place in 1862, the middle of the American Civil War, around the death of 11-year-old William "Willie" Lincoln, Abraham Lincoln's son. And, for me, the beautifully written passages featuring these two characters were my favorites--Willie trying to understand the very adult concept that he has lost his life and our former President weighed down by incomprehensible grief in the middle of a national crisis. But as the title implies, most of the "action" takes place in the bardo, with many other characters. The bardo -- a Buddhist term referring to the transitional space between death and rebirth -- is populated by many deceased people from different time periods, all having conversations, arguing, and exchanging anecdotes about their lives. These sections of the book read much like a play -- where one character in the Bardo says one thing (followed by the name of who is speaking) and then a second adds detail or opinion and so on. Together, their dialog often tells one story. Juxtaposed to these "Bardo" pieced-together stories, are quotes lifted from actual historic documents, describing events from writers of this era. What's interesting is how much the actual quotes mirror those from the Bardo, in that historical record-keepers are seldom in agreement about what happened, just as people seldom agree on what actually happened during an event they all witnessed. This is one of those books that you will either love or dislike ("hate" seems too strong). I am mostly in the latter category. I appreciated the book's novelty. I found a compelling portrait of parental grief. And it was interesting to contemplate what might exist immediately after death. But I found the style kept me at a distance and the conversations among those in the bardo were much less interesting than the story of Willie and his father. And YES, I do recommend everyone give this one a try.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
one of my favorites!!
Once you figure out how the book 'works' (e.g. all the disparate voices + switching between narrators), it becomes so enjoyable! Funny and biting at times, and at others heartbreaking. If you don't have the patience for experimental writing, you might not like this--it's not a traditional historical novel. But if you take your time, it will be worth you while! I've heard people loved listening to the audiobook instead, which may make it easier to identity who is speaking, etc. when Saunders switches narrators.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
So boring
As happens from time to time, the critics rave and I wonder why. I found this book dull. The premise, a type of way station for the dead, is depressing. We are surrounded with enough death in this world, why read about it? I wish I had not wasted money on this disgusting book.
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com