I listened to Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders back in January of this year. It’s been nearly six months since I’ve finished it, and I still can’t stop thinking about it. I’ve posted about it here and here, but it was such an incredible masterpiece that I believe it deserves it’s own post. Especially since I’m still talking about it as if I read it recently, and still trying to convince my husband to read (errm, listen) to it.
I Can’t Stop Thinking About Lincoln in the Bardo
President Abraham Lincoln’s third son, Willie Lincoln died at age 11 in 1862 of typhoid fever. Willie was temporarily help in a crypt until his burial. According to newspapers, a grief stricken President Lincoln would enter the crypt, on several occasions, to hold his beloved boys body.
George Saunders learned about President Lincoln’s crypt visits to hold Willie, during a trip to Washington, DC Saunders took ages ago. He then began crafting an idea for a novel… though it took him years before he worked up the courage to pursue such a project. It truly is a unique novel for so many reasons.
George Saunders creativity and bold novel paid off. He won the 2017 Man Booker Prize and Time magazine listed Lincoln in the Bardo as one of it’s top 10 novels.
WHY AUDIOBOOK VS. PHYSICAL COPY?
With a cast of 166 characters, this was a huge project to undertake to produce for an audiobook. However, within a few months, a majority of the characters were cast by celebrities and the ball got rolling on an audiobook production.
I did listen to this book on Audible, rather than reading a physical copy. And honestly, I’m glad I listened to it. I don’t think I would have enjoyed it nearly as much had I read it, as it reads like a play. If you’re not comfortable or confident with that format, audiobook is the way to go. Plus, many, many of the voices you’ll recognize immediately. As the cast contains celebrities such as: Nick Offerman, David Sedaris, Carrie Brownstein, Lena Dunham, Ben Stiller, Julianne Moore, Susan Sarandon, Bill Hader, Megan Mullally, Rainn Wilson, Kat Dennings, Jeffrey Tambor, Keegan-Michael Key, Don Cheadle, and Patrick Wilson. Plus about 100+ others…
While listening, you will not understand what the heck is going on for basically the first hour. That’s a given. But you eventually start to recognize voices and characters, and start piecing it together. Once it begins coming to life, and you understand what in the world is going on, it becomes this beautiful masterpiece that you won’t want to end.
WHAT IS A BARDO?
Bardo is a Tibetan term for the Buddhist state between death and reincarnation, when the soul is not connected to the body. In George Saunders version, the “ghosts” that live in the bardo are marred by the desires they failed to act upon while alive, they are also threatened by permanent entrapment unless they are willing to pass on. The cast of ghosts are not aware they have died, they refer to their space as their hospital yard, and to their coffins as sick-boxes.
And that’s my pitch. You should totally download it today, and you can thank me later.