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A review by harry_lemon
Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
3⭐
Solid concept, not the best writing style.
This was my first time reading a George Saunders work. While I did like the concept and enjoyed this interesting take on history (not to mention that this story was largely inspired by one particular historical event), I don't think that I like how the story was written.
I think the writing style is unique, but switching between the historical accounts and references into a character POV is a little jarring. Additionally, I found the story hard to comprehend because it was hard to understand who was talking at any given point. Which character was describing the scene I was reading, what's their individual personality and how does it affect what I'm reading?
Besides my qualms about the writing, again, I think the story itself is good. I liked Saunders' ability to evoke different identities and his world building was fascinating. The story deals with important themes of death, grief, and comprehending self, but you can find these topics in other books and ones that are better written.
Solid concept, not the best writing style.
This was my first time reading a George Saunders work. While I did like the concept and enjoyed this interesting take on history (not to mention that this story was largely inspired by one particular historical event), I don't think that I like how the story was written.
I think the writing style is unique, but switching between the historical accounts and references into a character POV is a little jarring. Additionally, I found the story hard to comprehend because it was hard to understand who was talking at any given point. Which character was describing the scene I was reading, what's their individual personality and how does it affect what I'm reading?
Besides my qualms about the writing, again, I think the story itself is good. I liked Saunders' ability to evoke different identities and his world building was fascinating. The story deals with important themes of death, grief, and comprehending self, but you can find these topics in other books and ones that are better written.