Lincoln in the Bardo

Review

The first 100 pages of this book really put me through the blender, but after having to struggle to keep myself reading for a while, I slowly found myself more and more absorbed and interested. At first, I shook my head at the ridiculousness of the constantly shifting narrators, tones, and themes, but soon I caught myself turning pages hoping for glimpses of my favorite characters and their lives. I thought the Bardo of Saunders's conception was a beautiful way of getting at the big questions about how we look back on our lives and those of others in retrospect. The Lincoln sections were heavy with grief, but also with energy and life. Lots to say about this one.