Lincoln in the Bardo

Content Warning: This section of the guide contains discussion of death, child death, graphic violence, and racism.

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1.  How familiar were you with President Abraham Lincoln prior to reading this novel? Were you aware that he lost a child? Do you enjoy reading historical fiction featuring well-known individuals, or do you prefer when authors create a fictional protagonist living in a different era?

2. To what extent can the novel be considered a ghost story? How does it challenge or subvert the norms of this genre? Compare and contrast the novel with another famous ghost story or novel featuring characters who have died (consider A Christmas Carol, The Canterville Ghost, or The Lovely Bones).

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. The notion of the bardo comes from Tibetan Buddhist beliefs about the afterlife. What do you think happens to someone after they die? How has your perspective been shaped (or not) by cultural and spiritual traditions?