Religion | Book Chatter

Lincoln in the Bardo
By George Saunders
Random House, 9780812995343, February 2017, 368pp.

The Short of It:

A unique and touching story about the loss of a child and what happens next.

The Rest of It:

Young Willie Lincoln dies at a very young age, leaving his father, President Lincoln and his mother Mary, to grieve over his loss.

But…

Willie’s spirit will not leave the cemetery in which he was interred, accompanied by others who have chosen to do the same. For one reason or another, they can’t seem to move out of this “bardo” into the next life yet they all vow to help young Willie because the thought of an innocent child spending eternity in such a grim place, is too much for these characters to bear.

Lincoln in the Bardo includes some very interesting, and sometimes even playful characters and almost reads like a play except that characters express the thoughts and feelings of other characters instead of themselves which takes a little getting used to. But after that, I found myself completely wrapped-up in the story of this young boy trying to find his way.

Things you should know:

You won’t learn much about President Lincoln from this novel.
Many of the works cited are fictional.
There are a lot of characters (160+)
Even though the afterlife is discussed, no one religion is emphasized.
You will be Googling for Civil War facts while reading, but I suggest you read first and Google later.
It helps to have a basic understanding of the Bardo and what it is.

Lincoln in the Bardo is beautifully written. I highlighted many sentences and I don’t often do that. The subject matter is somewhat somber but it’s lightened-up by the playfulness of the characters. It’s tragic in that these characters can never correct their mistakes and as a result live forever in regret but it has stayed with me long after finishing it and the image of these spirits spending eternity in the cemetery is haunting. Check out this virtual reality experience to get a feel for what I am talking about:

Go to this page and scroll down to the bottom to view. Once there, click around to explore.

I know some readers are divided over the book but I loved it and my book club had plenty to discuss when we met. I plan to buy a copy as soon as the paperback comes out in February.

Source: Borrowed
Disclosure: This post contains Indiebound affiliate links.

Summer Dance
By Nan Rossiter
Kensington Publishing Corporation, Paperback, 9781496705051, May 30, 2017, 352pp.

The Short of It:

Rossiter revisits the much-loved characters of Nantucket and goes a bit deeper into the family’s history, giving us the long-awaited love story between Coop and Sally.

The Rest of It:

Nantucket is the perfect setting for new beginnings so when Sally ends up there, she’s hopeful that a new job and change of scenery is just what she needs to recover from an abusive marriage. One evening at a dance with her friends, she sees Coop across the room and after just one dance, she begins to think that happiness is not far off. Summer Dance is the story of Coop and Sally and how their love for one another challenged them in ways they never thought possible.

I am a huge Nan Rossiter fan. She writes such beautiful stories with great settings (Nantucket, Cape Code, etc.) and all of her stories center around characters who are flawed, but genuine and typically good, family minded individuals. I shy away from the typical “summer” read because usually there isn’t enough for me to sink my teeth into.

In Summer Dance, there is plenty for you to sink your teeth into. Sally was raised in the Catholic Church and this greatly affects her relationship with Coop. Her childhood friend Lizzy, also Catholic becomes Jewish in order to marry and so Sally is left wondering what religion means to her.

Can you be a good person even though you may not be perfect in the eyes of the church?

Sally is torn between doing what is right and doing what feels right and whether religion is a part of your life or not, I think most people can relate to this dilemma which is why this book would be great to discuss with a group.

I really enjoyed Summer Dance. It’s a great book to kickoff these hot summer months. I suggest you grab some wine, grill some scallops, find yourself a shady spot and dig in.

GIVEAWAY INFORMATION

This giveaway is for one copy of Summer Dance and is open to the US and Canada. A winner will be chosen randomly by me. The book will come directly from the publisher/author. Only one entry per person. Giveaway closes on June 9, 2017 (pacific). I will contact the winner for his/her mailing address.