Reviews

Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders

jameshousworth's review against another edition

dark funny mysterious reflective sad slow-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

janeleng's review against another edition

5.0

Melancholic, ethereal, lyrical. I was choked up many times in appreciation of life and love and in fear of death.

jalb's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.75

ssunier's review against another edition

emotional 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? No

4.5

vermarktbar's review against another edition

dark emotional fast-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? N/A

4.0

itsdeenlee's review against another edition

dark reflective sad slow-paced

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

3.75

soderick's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective 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? No

2.0

teresa's review against another edition

sad

The odd structure, almost like a play with an enormous number of cast members, makes it hard to follow the story and distinguish the settings and characters interacting in each scene. It doesn’t help that having so many characters makes it hard to tell them apart and recall their backstories meaning you’re don’t end up connecting to the story. I thought the excerpts from fictional accounts of the events a pretty cunning idea. It goes to show that everyone has very different perspectives even when witnessing the same event simultaneously. 

andrewspink's review against another edition

mysterious reflective slow-paced

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

2.0

I understand why this book won prizes, but nevertheless, this was not a book for me. I was bored and had to push myself to get to the end. The style of writing with all those little quotes irritated me. The book had little in the way of a plot, more of a setting, and the characters didn't seem well developed. 

qhaberman's review against another edition

emotional lighthearted mysterious 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? Yes

5.0