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emotional
funny
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:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Grief
Moderate: Racism, Rape, Slavery
Minor: Homophobia, Suicide, War
adventurous
dark
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Rape, Grief
Moderate: Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, Violence, War
Minor: Homophobia, Infidelity, Misogyny, Excrement, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape, Suicide
challenging
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Grief
Moderate: Cursing, Self harm, Slavery, Suicide, Violence, War
Minor: Physical abuse, Rape, Excrement
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Cursing, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexual content, Suicide, Medical content, Sexual harassment
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Child death, Death, Racial slurs, Racism, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual content, Slavery, Suicide, Xenophobia, Grief, War
Moderate: Sexual assault, Classism
Minor: Excrement
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
characters - ⭐️
plot -
engaging to read - ⭐️
would recommend -
would read again -
the style of this novel is very unique but it didn’t have a lot else going for it. it left me with a lot of unanswered questions at the end, which is probably intentional, but this element was not enjoyable for me. the main characters were fun to read, but one of the most interesting ones (willie lincoln) got barely any dialogue. the side characters felt like caricatures and often had too much time on the page.
the style of this novel is very unique but it didn’t have a lot else going for it. it left me with a lot of unanswered questions at the end, which is probably intentional, but this element was not enjoyable for me. the main characters were fun to read, but one of the most interesting ones (willie lincoln) got barely any dialogue. the side characters felt like caricatures and often had too much time on the page.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Racism, Suicide
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Racism
Moderate: Suicide
challenging
dark
funny
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The premise was interesting, and it had some moments of beauty, but overall it was was slow and arduous to read. Just not my kind of book. Plus the few moments in which women and especially enslaved people were represented were uncomfortable to read. The author did not seem to think critically about the language he (as a non-Black writer) was using.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Slavery, Suicide, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Medical content, Grief
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
5 stars because it just feels right. I can't explain it. The format of the book takes a bit of getting used to but the flow of the story is wonderful. I think I liked this so much simply because it was written in a way I haven't experienced any where else. And the reason for the book, the story told - a roughly two day period - is one I had not thought I'd ever care to read but it was a joy to explore.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Suicide
Minor: Death, Pedophilia, Racism, Rape, Car accident