Hey everyone,
I’m looking for some assistance. I’m part of a men’s book club and this month’s selection is mine, Lincoln in the Bardo. Everyone in the book club has read it and our meeting is on this coming Friday. How it usually works during the meeting is that someone presents and ‘opening salvo,’ which could be a poem, article, music, quote, or something related to the novel and then presents a question to get the conversation going. I have questions ready that I think will stir a lot of conversation, but I’m stuck on what an opening salvo could be in regards to Lincoln in the Bardo. Has anyone here read it? Anyone willing to help me out in regards to something related to the story that might stir interest or be thoughtprovoking? I’ve never been good at presentations, even in school, but want to somewhat impress the people in the bookclub since I’m a relatively new member.
Any thoughts are appreciated.
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by Scherzoh
2 Comments
If there are any history buffs in your group, it may be worth presenting something representative of the year Lincoln’s son died (I think 1862?) in reference to the Civil War. When reading the book, I found myself wondering how Lincoln was capable of living in two worlds of grief — one for his son and family and the other for his country. The stress must have been immense. Maybe if you can find a poem, letter or first-person piece of something that is representative of that time, it will spark interesting conversation amongst your group.
Here’s the lyrics from Tomorrow Never Knows, a song by the Beatles/John Lennon that is supposed to be quoting the Tibetan Book of the Dead.
Verse 1]
Turn off your mind, relax and float downstream
It is not dying, it is not dying
[Verse 2]
Lay down all thoughts, surrender to the void
It is shining, it is shining
[Verse 3]
That you may see the meaning of within
It is being, it is being
[Solo]
[Verse 4]
That love is all and love is everyone
It is knowing, it is knowing
[Verse 5]
That ignorance and hate may mourn the dead
It is believing, it is believing
[Verse 6]
But listen to the colour of your dreams
It is not living, it is not living
[Verse 7]
Or play the game “Existence” to the end
Of the beginning, of the beginning
[Outro]
Of the beginning, of the beginning
Of the beginning, of the beginning
Of the beginning
AND, here’s a quote from the TV Series Lost, although it’s a HUGE spoiler from the finale:
JACK: They’re all…they’re all dead?
CHRISTIAN: Everyone dies sometime, kiddo. Some of them before you, some…long after you.
JACK: But why are they all here now?
CHRISTIAN: Well there is no “now” here.
Good Luck.