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lindapatin's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
debbiecollectsbooks's review against another edition
3.0
This book started out as a good enjoyable story, but by the time I got to the ending, I found myself wanting to know more of the story of Laura. The concept of the story was interesting.
laynercomplainer's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
booksamongstfriends's review against another edition
3.0
so, if Coco, Contagion, and Man Vs. Wild had a baby… that would be A Brief History of the Dead. Brockmeier really had such a fun concept with this one. It was beautifully written and really makes you think about the magic of our relationships and the impact we leave on people even after death. How memories can keep you alive, if even just for a little while longer.
Although told in two perspectives, I did feel this book could’ve been even shorter. But I enjoyed it all the same, and thought it came together perfectly in the end. This was another read of mine from my #colorcoverchallenge (grey week) that I think superbly executed themes of inevitability.
Because wouldn’t we all love to know there’s a City after death. A place where we’re remembered. Kept alive by loved ones and playing out our dreams. Brief History of the Dead asks (and answers) the question, what happens when there’s no one around to remember any of us….
or is there…
Although told in two perspectives, I did feel this book could’ve been even shorter. But I enjoyed it all the same, and thought it came together perfectly in the end. This was another read of mine from my #colorcoverchallenge (grey week) that I think superbly executed themes of inevitability.
Because wouldn’t we all love to know there’s a City after death. A place where we’re remembered. Kept alive by loved ones and playing out our dreams. Brief History of the Dead asks (and answers) the question, what happens when there’s no one around to remember any of us….
or is there…
badseedgirl's review against another edition
2.0
Ok, I leant out my copy of this novel to the slowest reader in the history of the world and have not gotten it back yet, so bear with me on this review. When I get the novel back I promise to come back here and put a little more “meat on the bones” of this review, but since I requested this novel be added to the site I feel obligated to give the reader something. Don’t you hate it when a novel is given a low star review, but there is no reason given as to why it got so few stars? I do, and so here goes.
What if when a person dies they go to another version of the world and continue their existence as long as someone still living remembers them? This is the premise behind The Brief History of The Dead by Kevin Brockmeir.
The first chapter of this novel was a revelation. It is so beautifully written, it almost drove me to tears. I later found out that this chapter was originally a short story that Mr. Brockmeir turned into a full length novel. I really really, really wish I had only read that first chapter because than my opinion of the story would be so much more positive. The problem with this novel is that as you expand the story, more and more questions started to arise in my mind and what I originally read as a blissful dream became an ever expanding nightmare.
The concept is that as long as a living person remembers you, that after death you continue to exist in another reality of Earth. When the last person who remembers you dies, you cease to exist on this other realm also. But the further I got into the novel the worse and worse that sounded. The dead still have to work so they can earn money to “live” in this other realm. WTF? When I die I sure do not want to continue to work. I expect to “lay down my burdens” and sit at the right hand of Jesus at the table. I do not expect Jesus to hand me a check at the end of the meal!
What if when a person dies they go to another version of the world and continue their existence as long as someone still living remembers them? This is the premise behind The Brief History of The Dead by Kevin Brockmeir.
The first chapter of this novel was a revelation. It is so beautifully written, it almost drove me to tears. I later found out that this chapter was originally a short story that Mr. Brockmeir turned into a full length novel. I really really, really wish I had only read that first chapter because than my opinion of the story would be so much more positive. The problem with this novel is that as you expand the story, more and more questions started to arise in my mind and what I originally read as a blissful dream became an ever expanding nightmare.
The concept is that as long as a living person remembers you, that after death you continue to exist in another reality of Earth. When the last person who remembers you dies, you cease to exist on this other realm also. But the further I got into the novel the worse and worse that sounded. The dead still have to work so they can earn money to “live” in this other realm. WTF? When I die I sure do not want to continue to work. I expect to “lay down my burdens” and sit at the right hand of Jesus at the table. I do not expect Jesus to hand me a check at the end of the meal!
cherese's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Kevin Brockmeier weaves together two distinct yet intertwined narratives - that of the living and that of the dead. What emerges is an beautiful exploration of the symbiotic relationship between the two realms, where the deceased rely on the memories of the living to endure, while the living find solace in holding onto those they've lost.
But the true mastery lies in the way Brockmeier renders the memories that comprise the bulk of the narrative. For his characters, it's not the grand, earth-shattering events that define them, but rather the small, overlooked details of their daily lives. The mundane suddenly takes on profound significance as these recently departed souls cling to the recollections that tether them to the world of the living - a bittersweet longing for connection across the veil between life and death. It's a profoundly moving exploration of the ties that bind us, even beyond the grave.
quiss's review against another edition
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
aholeistodig's review against another edition
4.0
Borgesian afterlife story plus Antarctic survival story! Dozens of characters! It's so crazy, it actually works!
happycat14's review against another edition
5.0
I cannot put into words exactly how much I loved this book.
It's bit slow paced, but that makes the melancholy atmosphere more intense. I love the concept, the characters, the settings... it is so different from anything I have read all year and stands out beautifully.
Normally I don't enjoy books with many perspectives as it tends to muddle the story. Brockmeier has managed to actually make each character impactful, even when you only read their perspective for one chapter and I find their individual musings on death fascinating as they live out their days in the afterlife. And Laura! She's great. Certainly not the whiny angsty teenager that I was expecting. Honestly, we need more strong female leads older than 25.
This is not a book to rush through, if anyone likes that type of thing. It is a book that makes you think and reminds us all how precious human life is.
And because of that, I am happy to give it five stars.
It's bit slow paced, but that makes the melancholy atmosphere more intense. I love the concept, the characters, the settings... it is so different from anything I have read all year and stands out beautifully.
Normally I don't enjoy books with many perspectives as it tends to muddle the story. Brockmeier has managed to actually make each character impactful, even when you only read their perspective for one chapter and I find their individual musings on death fascinating as they live out their days in the afterlife. And Laura! She's great. Certainly not the whiny angsty teenager that I was expecting. Honestly, we need more strong female leads older than 25.
This is not a book to rush through, if anyone likes that type of thing. It is a book that makes you think and reminds us all how precious human life is.
And because of that, I am happy to give it five stars.
jessnellreyn's review against another edition
4.0
Offering a perspective of what might happen when we die and leave this earth, The Brief History of the Dead tells you two stories in one that are tied together in ways revealed throughout the novel. Definitely worth reading.