Lincoln in the Bardo: Part 3

Welcome back to another episode of the Reader & the Writer! This week, Shari and Rhea continue their deep reading of Lincoln in the Bardo. They discuss the way this story—especially the place of the bardo—continues to open up to them in new ways, even this late in the story; same with the characters. They talk about continual development of the story’s themes as they discern them thus far, and ways they see the backdrop of the Civil War beginning to creep toward the front. Finally, they talk about how they, as readers, handle a story’s “truth” or presentation of something (like the afterlife) when it pushes uncomfortably against or outright collides with their own understanding or beliefs.

Thank you so much for joining us on this literary journey! Our next episode will be our last for Lincoln in the Bardo. Our next book is Persuasion by Jane Austen.