Reviews tagging 'Sexual harassment'

Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders

6 reviews

audreybethc's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

A raunchy ghost story about American history that is also, somehow, one of the more moving things I’ve ever read. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism

Moderate: Sexual harassment

Minor: Rape

lizziaha's review against another edition

3.5

It’s hard to rate this one because some parts of it struck me so deeply, while others fell short. Lincoln’s grief was exquisitely portrayed, and though it was devastating, I almost wish I’d seen more of it. Saunders’ take on ghosts is intriguing and manifests in an interesting way. But because of this, the huge cast of characters can make the book confusing and hard to follow at times. I also felt a little uncomfortable with the portrayal of BIPOC characters (though I understand the book is set during the civil war, there were still moments that I felt could’ve been handled differently).

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, Self harm, Death, Slavery, Grief, Racial slurs, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Racism, Rape, and Child death

Moderate: War, Blood, Pedophilia, Confinement, Cursing, Infidelity, Classism, and Murder

Minor: Homophobia, Drug use, and Excrement

kananineko's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad 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

5.0

I loved this weird little book. I know it won’t work for everyone, but somehow it worked for me. I love absurd concepts like this and things that examine life and death and afterlife and the in-between and history, so of course I loved it. If you have similar interests, you may feel the same way. But you also might not, because it’s a very weird book. I love the play-like format and the parts that put together historical documents to recount a moment. I’m so glad I read this book and I’m very glad that i I own it!I loved this weird little book. I know it won’t work for everyone, but somehow it worked for me. I love absurd concepts like this and things that examine life and death and afterlife and the in-between and history, so of course I loved it. If you have similar interests, you may feel the same way. But you also might not, because it’s a very weird book. I love the play-like format and the parts that put together historical documents to recount a moment. I’m so glad I read this book and I’m very glad that I own it!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Blood, Body horror, Child death, Death, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Slavery, and Suicide

Moderate: Sexual violence, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Racial slurs, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, and War

Minor: Alcohol, Animal death, Classism, Cursing, Excrement, Abandonment, Animal cruelty, and Homophobia

benschwind's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Sexual content, and Sexual harassment

franklola's review against another edition

adventurous dark reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Grief, and Rape

Moderate: Sexual content, Suicide, Racism, Racial slurs, War, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, and Violence

Minor: Misogyny, Infidelity, Excrement, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, and Homophobia

christynhoover's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny hopeful informative reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

For starters, know what the word "BARDO" means before you begin. It clues you in to WHERE the plot unfolds: a cemetery, but one that is full of deceased characters who are resisting completing their move to the hereafter. 

The format of this book is one,-of-a-kind. Start reading it expecting the UNEXPECTED --and perhaps knowing you may want to start the book over after a few (brief) chapters now that you've got the gist of the style/format. 

That said, I also found it helpful to follow along in a print copy while simultaneously listening to the exquisitely cast audiobook version. What a treat to hear David Sedaris, Susan Sarandon, Nick Offerman, and the author himself (among dozens) read parts!

IF you persevere, the book repays you tremendously, IMO. It touches on  regrets, failings, etc that humans may have at their death and making peace with them in some way. I found it to be tremendously humane and compassionate. 

It also touches on war --specifically EARLY in the US Civil War-- and Lincoln's responsibility for 3,000 lost lives up to that point. So great a loss in comparison to the death of his son Willie.  

And it touches on Lincoln's decision to wallow in depression vs emerge reinvigorated --and to see the war through to it's conclusion.

I found Saunders description (imagined) of Lincoln holding his dead son in his arms to be deeply moving.

Reading interviews of George Saunders speaking about how he came to write the book to be informative and highly worthwhile.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Suicide, Child death, Cursing, Medical content, Rape, Sexual harassment, and Sexual content