Blog written by Sharon
This is a very unusual story which unfolds in the graveyard where President Lincoln's young son was interred, narrated by many voices. Bardo is a Tibetan term for the intermediate state between just after death and the afterlife. These voices are ghosts who don't realise that they are dead ! The audible version of this book is highly recommended as these dazzling voices are brilliantly performed by a huge cast (166) which includes Ben Stiller, Julianne Moore, Don Cheadle as well as the author George Saunders himself !
Our book group was lucky in the timing of our meeting on this novel as it was during the Sydney Writers' Festival and George Saunders was one of the featured authors. We went to listen to him discuss his writing style, his background, his teaching methods etc at City Recital Hall Angel Place and our discussion afterwards was over a lovely dinner at a nearby restaurant.
I took a chance at choosing this book, not having read it beforehand. For those of us who finished the book, most loved it. It is a very moving story of grief and a love letter from father to son. For further background on the novel, we recommend listening to the interview by Richard Fidler on ABC Conversations : http://www.abc.net.au/radio/programs/conversations/conversations-george-saunders/8535100
This novel was described by our members as a "totally original outstanding piece of work", "interesting and provocative" and George Saunders as a "brilliantly inventive compassionate genius".
We rated this book 9.5 to 10/10 with the exception of one who rated it a 6.
Our next book is Where My Heart Used to Be by Sebastian Faulks and we are meeting on Wednesday June 29th at Sally's.
Our book group dinner at Mercado
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