Lincoln in the Bardo is a singular, unconventional read. I enjoyed it immensely. I had never heard the term bardo before, a word that in this novel refers to the time after one's death, but before...whatever comes next. Some characters in this story linger longer than others.

Saunders mixes poignant short stories, historical accounts, and intriguing dialog to create this unusual novel. There is sadness and humor, social commentary, and historical fact. The author tells the reader nothing, directly.

President Lincoln had to cope with many crises at the time of his son Willie's death, and this novel paints the picture of an introspective, philosophical man trying to make peace with one of the crushing events of his personal life, with the national tragedy taking place all around him. Everything, with and without, is so unstable.

The way this novel is presented takes some getting used to, in the beginning. Actually, it's downright confusing, but not for long. I would recommend this book to anyone.

I've never read anything by George Saunders before, but I will certainly seek out his stories in the future.