The Brief History of the Dead

by Kevin Brockmeier

Hardcover, 272 pages

English language

Published Feb. 14, 2009 by Pantheon.

ISBN:: 978-0-375-42369-7

(6 reviews)

ABOUT THE BRIEF HISTORY OF THE DEAD From Kevin Brockmeier, one of this generation’s most inventive young writers, comes a striking new novel about death, life, and the mysterious place in between.

The City is inhabited by those who have departed Earth but are still remembered by the living. They will reside in this afterlife until they are completely forgotten. But the City is shrinking, and the residents clearing out. Some of the holdouts, like Luka Sims, who produces the City’s only newspaper, are wondering what exactly is going on. Others, like Coleman Kinzler, believe it is the beginning of the end. Meanwhile, Laura Byrd is trapped in an Antarctic research station, her supplies are running low, her radio finds only static, and the power is failing. With little choice, Laura sets out across the ice to look for help, but time is running out. Kevin Brockmeier alternates these two …

ABOUT THE BRIEF HISTORY OF THE DEAD From Kevin Brockmeier, one of this generation’s most inventive young writers, comes a striking new novel about death, life, and the mysterious place in between.

2 editions

macmurray225 reviewed The brief history of the dead by Kevin Brockmeier

Review of 'The brief history of the dead' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

I was really prepared to be annoyed with this book, actually. I know, I know, judging based on covers is really taboo, but the author photo on the back was so overdramatic and everything about the appearance screamed "NATIONAL BESTSELLER OMG REEEAAD", and books that scream about themselves like that are always worth approaching warily and critically.

And I almost thought my skepticism was going to be justified. Brockmeier occasionally gets caught up in an out-of-place metaphor and spends too long focusing on the lyricism of the scene, rather than having anything actually happen. That's really actually the whole book. Nothing happens. Everything is told in a kind of ethereal flashback; nothing changes, and it's all musings and speculations and metaphors knocking around at the bottom of the barrel. There is no plot. And yet.

I'm a huge sucker for poetic afterlife-y type stuff, and this book was really satisfying. After a while, the metaphors ceased being insufferable and changed to subtly beautiful--had I had my own copy, I would have underlined and highlighted several particularly poignant passages. The voice of the thing was wonderful; quiet and unassuming, and idiosyncratic and lyrical.

I liked Laura. I expected the book to be mildly,"Stephen King"ly misogynistic, but the sort-of main character was incredibly strong and believable and inspiring and felt like an actual human being. Her breasts were only mentioned once.

The Brief History of the Dead is thinly satirical, quietly speculative, and deeply human and hopeful. Recommended if you like that sort of thing.