Lincoln in the Bardo

Has a novel ever been more jam-packed with characters and dialogue? George Saunders has written a terrific first novel; heretofore previously known for his short stories (which are also terrific and I'm not a short-story fan), he has tackled and conquered the novel form.
A fantastical setting (one setting for the entire novel), populated with hundreds of "souls" who do not realize they are dead, engaging in sometimes hysterical, sometimes heart-breaking conversations, as they await their "recovery" from whatever injury/catastrophe/illness they last recall: wow, quite the entertaining storyline.  This setting is the "Bardo" referenced in the title: a Tibetan term for just that in-between world between the living and the dead.
And "Lincoln" is indeed Abraham Lincoln who, tortured by grief over the death of his young son, Willie, visits the Bardo to grieve and seek solace by remaining close to his son's remains.  Willie Lincoln is one of those souls lost in the Bardo and much of the dialogue and story centers around a cast of eccentric souls advising and comforting Willie to the best of their abilities. In so doing, they share their life stories and it's these stories that are tremendously engaging.
As Saunders beautifully explores the concept of grief, especially at the loss of a child, he takes us inside President Lincoln's processing of this grief.  As Lincoln plumbs the depths of his grieving, he is struck by the tremendous loss of life he considers his responsibility: the thousands of Union soldiers recently killed in battle, and that heavy weight nearly does him in completely.
Such a heavy topic and yet moments of lightness and humor occur and somehow don't feel out of place; what a talented writer Saunders is to have woven all these threads together!
While I strongly recommend this outstanding novel to others, one note: the style of writing Saunders has chosen takes a little getting used to but don't give up! It's well worth the effort!

My rating: **** (4 stars)

The Vegetarian

Winner of the Man Booker International Prize, this novel by Han Kang, translated from the original Korean by Deborah Smith,  is certainly beautifully written and unique.
While short in length, it is a powerful story that will stay with you long after you finish the final, devastating page.
Starting out as the story of a "flat-lined" marriage, it is essentially told from three points of view, none  of which belong to the character referred to in the title: Yeong-hye awakens one morning and informs her husband (the narrator of Part One) that based on a very disturbing dream she has just experienced, she is henceforth a vegetarian.  As Yeong-hye begins to manifest physical symptoms of her extreme vegetarian diet, her family becomes concerned. Her brother-in-law and sister join forces with her husband and parents in attempting (through violent means) to dissuade her from her dietary path, to no avail.
While it may sound simplistic, it is anything but: Kang is addressing much larger issues than diet in her story.  It's really about personal choice versus submission to others.
As Yeong-hye begins to "disappear" into her own fantasy world, the reader feels compelled to choose sides: does Yeong-hye control her own destiny or does she "owe" it to her family to continue her life in a way she finds repellent?

My rating: **** 4 stars