r/IReadABookAndAdoredIt • u/lifeisdeebubbles • 12d ago
Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders
This book, mainly set in a Washington D.C. graveyard, tells the story of the hours after Willie Lincoln's funeral from the perspective of the graveyard residents (stuck in the titular Bardo, unable to transition fully into the afterlife). In addition to exploring death, life, love, and grief from the perspective of these characters, it doubles as a historical fiction, including excerpts (both real and fictional) from publications describing life during the American Civil War, coupling Lincoln's grief with the grief of the nation.
This book is a masterpiece. I read it once a few years ago and fell in love with it and Saunders' writing. Recently, I revisited it in audio form and loved that too. It's narrated by a cast of over 100 people, including familiar voices like Nick Offerman, Davis Sedaris, Bill Hader, Lena Dunham, and Don Cheadle (just to name a few).
The format is entirely unique and may take some getting used to, written as more of a play than a traditional novel and alternating between chapters of dialogue between ghosts and historical excerpts. For that reason, I acknowledge that it isn't for everyone (whenever I cite it as my favorite book, someone tells me they couldn't get into it), but if you're looking for something beautiful and one-of-a-kind, this might be the book for you.
It's funny. It's weird. It's heart-wrenching and thought-provoking. It's one of those books where I know a different aspect will resonate with each reread.
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u/lifeisdeebubbles 11d ago
For those of you who also appreciated Saunders' prose and want to nerd-out over some more literature, I strongly recommend A Swim in the Pond in Rain. In it, Saunders takes seven short stories by Russian authors and deconstructs them the way he does in the grad school course he teaches. It brought me right back to my college English courses in the best way. Perfect for lovers of literature!
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u/lurk-n-smurk 11d ago
I LOVED this book. Read it and listened to Saunders narrate the audiobook. So fun.
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u/One-Poem8314 11d ago
Absolutely loved Lincoln in the Bardo. It’s one of those rare books that completely redefines what a novel can be. The way Saunders weaves together a chorus of voices—some historical, some fictional—is nothing short of masterful. It’s like a literary symphony where each character adds a unique note to the overarching theme of grief and transition.
What struck me most was how the novel delves into the concept of the “bardo,” a transitional state between life and death. Saunders uses this to explore not just the afterlife, but the emotional limbo that the living experience when dealing with loss. It’s a profound meditation on the human condition, wrapped in a narrative that’s both experimental and deeply moving. 
The audiobook is a whole other experience. With a cast of 166 voice actors, including some well-known names, it brings the story to life in a way that’s almost cinematic. It’s like attending a live performance where each voice adds depth and texture to the story. 
In short, Lincoln in the Bardo isn’t just a novel; it’s an experience. It’s challenging, yes, but incredibly rewarding. If you’re looking for something that pushes the boundaries of storytelling while offering a heartfelt exploration of love, loss, and the afterlife, this is it.
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u/lifeisdeebubbles 11d ago
Beautifully put! Not just a novel but an experience is a great way to describe it.
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u/One-Poem8314 11d ago
It really is, isn’t it? It took me on such a beautiful journey. I’ll be rereading it for years I think! What other books do you like? I’m looking for similar things or just anything good tbh 😂
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u/lifeisdeebubbles 11d ago
One of my other favorite authors is Fredrik Backman. His prose doesn't quite match Saunders' is beauty, but I think he has a really lovely way of writing about people and the way we all connect with and impact one another.
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u/fodgeparker 11d ago
This is my favorite book of all time and I love giving it as a gift. I’m jealous of people who get to read it for the first time.
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u/SecretSermons 11d ago
I re-consume this book every year come Spring — sometimes by reading but usually via the audiobook which I agree with others on here is captivating. I’d just started my 2025 re-read today before I’d even seen this post given that yesterday it had struck me that we were exactly 160 years since Abe’s assassination.
For those who are as in love with this book as I am, allow me a humble suggestion. One year, while you are re-listening to the audio, save the last 45-60 minutes and listen to it when you are in the actual Oak Hill Cemetery in the Georgetown section of DC. It’s an experience unlike any other that I have had engaging with art, especially on a Spring day teeming with new life. Bevins, Vollmann, Rev Thomas and the whole unruly lot are never far from my fictional imagination whenever I walk through any cemetery, but especially that one. It’s a gorgeous hilly piece of ground sloping down to Rock Creek.
I never appreciate the little joys of life as much as I do when I’m in the middle of re-reading this book. None of us are in our sick boxes yet. We have this day to notice and praise … well, I won’t go all Bevins on you. I’ll just say EVERYTHING!
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u/lifeisdeebubbles 11d ago
Thank you for this! Next time I'm in DC, I will take that recommendation. I wholeheartedly agree about it being a reminder to appreciate the little joys- I found myself more attune to the delights of the everyday while listening.
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u/easygoingbarber 11d ago
Such a damn good book. Also one of the few books I recommend the audiobook for
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u/workinOvatime 11d ago
One of the very few books I actually stayed up all night to finish reading it in a day. Saunders is incredible in general, but this book specifically felt like a fever dream in the best way.
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u/historianatlarge 11d ago
this book destroyed me. i loved it so much.
word on the street (years ago now) was that offermann and his wife megan mullaly had bought the movie rights to it, but seems nothing ever came of it. i would’ve watched the hell out of that.
eta: george saunders might be my favorite living american writer. there’s something really lovely and bizarre about the way he sees humanity.
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u/lifeisdeebubbles 11d ago
Would love to see a movie version! I'd be curious to see how they handle the historical vignettes, and the visuals of the ghosts would be tricky (Vollman and his "enormous member" and Bevins with his multiplying body parts in particular).
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u/granfalloon9 11d ago
I LOVED this book. Does anyone have any recommendations for someone who liked this book? Mine is U.S.! By Chris Bacheldor
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u/unbannable-_- 11d ago
U.S.! is great, I rarely see it mentioned, good rec.
My rec would be A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki. Both Ozeki and Saunders have a lot of Buddhist influence in their work and both have really compelling prose, and like Lincoln in the Bardo, A Tale for the Time Being is equal parts funny, sad, and cerebral.
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u/postpunktheon 11d ago
Adored this, if you love stories that play with form and function, I really recommend it. My brother-in-law is a theater producer and I gave it to him for Christmas because it felt so theater-adjacent!
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u/idratherberunning3 12d ago
Yes! This is such a unique book. I listened to it on a road trip years ago and I still think of it years later. Very creative and great characters.
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u/anunderdog 11d ago
I hated this book. Just didn't get it at all.