Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders
The novel is set in a graveyard over the course of a single night and is narrated by a dazzling chorus of voices. The story is centered around the death of President Lincoln's 11-year-old son Willie, who resides in the Bardo, a transitional state between life and rebirth in Tibetan tradition. As Willie interacts with the other spirits stuck in this realm, his father visits the crypt to mourn, causing a struggle among the ghosts over the boy's soul. The narrative explores themes of grief, the impermanence of life, and the unresolved issues that keep us from moving on.
The 1022nd greatest book of all time
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- Published
- 2017
- Nationality
- American
- Length
- Medium
- Pages
- 343
- Original Language
- English
- Avg User Rating
-
(3.9)
- Alternate Titles
- - Lincoln No Bardo
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This book is on the following 21 lists:
- 5th on The 40 Best Novels of the 2010s (Paste Magazine)
- 6th on Truelit's 100 Best Books of the Quarter Century (/r/truelit)
- 8th on The 30 best fiction books of the last 30 years (Los Angeles Times)
- 13th on PEOPLE Picks the Best Books of the 2010s (PEOPLE Magazine)
- 15th on Current’s 100 Books of the 21st Century (Current)
- 16th on Readers Pick Their 100 Best Books of the 21st Century (NY Times)
- 18th on 100 Best Books of the 21st Century (NY Times)
- 94th on Australia’s Radio National top 100 books of the 21st century (ABC Radio national)
- 94th on TrueLit's Top 100 Favorite Books (2023) (/r/TrueLit)
- 240th on Our Users' Honorable Mention Favorite Books of All Time (The Greatest Books Users)
- 200 Books That Shaped 200 Years of Literature (The Center for Fiction)
- 21 books for the XXI century (Cultura/s)
- 222 Best Books of All Time That Deserve a Spot on Your Bookshelf, With Picks from Bestselling Authors and Indie Booksellers (Parade)
- 25 Books to Read Before you Die: 21st Century (Powell's Books)
- 52 Award-Winning Titles Every Book Lover Should Read (Book)
- 70 Classic Booker Prize-Nominated Novels, Recommended by our Readers (Booker Prize Library Readers)
- Bill Gate's Book Recommendations (Bill Gates)
- Booker Prize (Booker Prize)
- The 100 Best Novels Of All Time (Runners-Up) (The Guardian)
- The Golden Man Booker (Booker Prize)
- The Great American Novels (The Atlantic)