The Brief History of the Dead (Vintage Contemporaries)

This reminded me a lot of the Brief History of Our World Beyond the Wave, and also reminiscent of Margaret Attwood's Oryx and Crake given the background of a world decimated by a deliberately-distributed virus. Some very moving passages, and really keeps you hooked on what's happening. Has some important things to say about how we connect with people, and why. Its descriptions of Antarctica and...more

This reminded me a lot of the Brief History of Our World Beyond the Wave, and also reminiscent of Margaret Attwood's Oryx and Crake given the background of a world decimated by a deliberately-distributed virus. Some very moving passages, and really keeps you hooked on what's happening. Has some important things to say about how we connect with people, and why. Its descriptions of Antarctica and the heroine's journey across it are fantastic - I really *felt* cold reading those chapters! It doesn't leave a lasting impression though - a bit too whimsical and light of touch to stay with you for long, plus, aside from Laura, the characters don't give you much to get engaged with.   hide

This is the kind of book that grows on you. At first it just seems like a bunch of disjointed anecdotes but soon the link becomes clear and the premise that memory is what sustains life (even after death) is fascinating. Very interesting book, although I did get bogged down in some details that seemed quite irrelevant. Still, there are some laugh out loud moments and even though the book is about...more

This is the kind of book that grows on you. At first it just seems like a bunch of disjointed anecdotes but soon the link becomes clear and the premise that memory is what sustains life (even after death) is fascinating. Very interesting book, although I did get bogged down in some details that seemed quite irrelevant. Still, there are some laugh out loud moments and even though the book is about dead people, it's a fun read.   hide

cool idea

Terrible Ending. Marbles... come on. Maybe I'm just not deep enough to get it.

I love the idea, but I'm not sure about the execution. The philosophy and imagery behind everything is downright beautiful, but how it was told felt empty and forgettable. One reviewer described this novel as "light of touch," and I think that's an accurate way to put it. However, the images Brockmeier paints are so strong that, for me personally, it almost makes up for its lack...more

I love the idea, but I'm not sure about the execution. The philosophy and imagery behind everything is downright beautiful, but how it was told felt empty and forgettable. One reviewer described this novel as "light of touch," and I think that's an accurate way to put it. However, the images Brockmeier paints are so strong that, for me personally, it almost makes up for its lack of texture. The opening chapter is probably one of the best openers to a novel I've ever read.   hide

Beautiful and well-crafted.

Tough to put down -- I was nose-to-page before the story began. A quick read, very light, with an obsession for detail that made me think Carol Shields might have written a book like this if she'd been interested in fantasy. Don't expect any earth-shattering pronouncements, but the book will certainly leave you ponderously considering the strength and character of memory, and you'll certainly...more

Tough to put down -- I was nose-to-page before the story began. A quick read, very light, with an obsession for detail that made me think Carol Shields might have written a book like this if she'd been interested in fantasy. Don't expect any earth-shattering pronouncements, but the book will certainly leave you ponderously considering the strength and character of memory, and you'll certainly catch yourself taking more notice of the strangers we routinely ignore as we go about our lives.   hide

Good, if at times challenging read. There is a part near the end that seems to lose the flow, however i feel this is an intentional ploy by the author to give us insight into the main character's feelings. I feel more could have been done with certain characters, and more could have been made of certain situations, however maybe too much detail may have turned the book to 'kitch'. It...more

Good, if at times challenging read. There is a part near the end that seems to lose the flow, however i feel this is an intentional ploy by the author to give us insight into the main character's feelings. I feel more could have been done with certain characters, and more could have been made of certain situations, however maybe too much detail may have turned the book to 'kitch'. It was certainly an interesting and challenging read, but something felt somewhat unfinished at the end.   hide

Very original. I actually liked how indifferent it felt about the struggle to live. Because, in the book, death is just another place to go. Or it's no place at all.