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Lincoln in the Bardo Reading Guide & Discussion Questions

Summary |  Excerpt |  Reading Guide |  Discuss |  Reviews |  Beyond the Book |  Read-Alikes |  Genres & Themes |  Author Bio

Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders

Lincoln in the Bardo

by George Saunders
  • BookBrowse Review:
  • Critics' Consensus (5):
  • Readers' Rating (29):
  • First Published:
  • Feb 14, 2017, 368 pages
  • Paperback:
  • Feb 2018, 368 pages
  • Reviewed by BookBrowse Book Reviewed by:
    Kim Kovacs
  • Genres & Themes
  • Publication Information
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About this Book

Book Club Discussion Questions

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For supplemental discussion material see our Beyond the Book article, The Bardo and our BookBrowse Review of Lincoln in the Bardo.


Please be aware that this discussion guide will contain spoilers!

  1. The presence of a child in the bardo is rare, but what other things about Willie make him different from the other ghosts?
  2. Which of the ghosts' stories resonated with you the most?
  3. How did the style and form of the book enhance or detract from your experience of the story? What did you think of the author's decision to include snippets of real, historical sources among the fictional narration?
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  1. How does the author develop themes of identity and belonging throughout the narrative?
  2. What role does the setting play in shaping the characters' decisions and relationships?
  3. Discuss how the ending reframes the events of the story. Were you surprised?


Unless otherwise stated, this discussion guide is reprinted with the permission of Random House. Any page references refer to a USA edition of the book, usually the trade paperback version, and may vary in other editions.

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Beyond the Book:
  The Bardo

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