Lincoln in the Bardo

Lincoln in the Bardo (George Saunders, 2017)

How I stumbled upon it: I bought it at the Amazon Bookstore in California (my first time there!) but I had been wanting to read it since it's debut.

What it's about: It’s a year into the Civil War and President Lincoln has just lost his son, Willie. The book is set in the bardo, which is “an intermediate space between life and rebirth.” (Wikipedia) The novel is extremely experimental with real history blending with made-up characters living in the bardo and the true reports of Lincoln returning to the crypt to hold his son and grieve. It was voted best novel of 2017 by multiple publications + received much critical acclaim.

What I thought: Alright. Prepare yourselves for an unpopular opinion: I really did not enjoy this book. I tried to enjoy it. I tried to put on my hip + cool + avant garde hat so that I would enjoy it more. I read more slowly. I tried, y’all. But it’s just too out there for me. I liked the historical premise, but the plethora of convoluted characters and quirky writing style were not for me. If you like a straightforward plot and serious character development, this is not the book for you.

You can get it here.