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The Brief History of the Dead

A novel

By Kevin Brockmeier

(27)

| Hardcover | 9780375423697

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Book Description

“Remember me when I’m gone”
just took on a whole new meaning.

The City is inhabited by the recently departed, who reside there only as long as they remain in the memories of the living. Among the current residents of this afterlife are Luka Sims, who prints the only newspContinue

Critics

Living on cola

The Brief History of the Dead by Kevin Brockmeier 253pp, John Murray, £12.99 The Truth About Celia, Kevin Brockmeier's first novel for adults, was about what happens when a little girl disappears. The Brief History of the Dead is about what happens w ... (read full critics)

guardian.co.uk published on Sat, 25 Sep 2010

Welcome to Limbo

HERE is a novel with an intriguing premise: that humans are divided into three categories, comprising those who are still alive, those who have died but live on in the memories of the living, and those who are dead and forgotten. In "The Brief Histor ... (read full critics)

nytimes published on Fri, 17 Sep 2010

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7 Reviews

1 person find this helpful

My thoughts

I enjoyed this bittersweet book about memory, family, friends, life and death and how just knowing people - even from a distance - makes a difference. I also liked the alternating chapters between the events in the City and Laura Byrd's struggles in Antarctica.

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krin5292 said on Nov 8, 2007 | Add your feedback

Meh.

The book was interesting but the ending was horrible. it left too many open ends. it let me down.

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Ai Speechie said on Jun 15, 2011 | Add your feedback

I usually disagree with the axiom "Show, don't tell", but this book proves it's an important consideration.

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pktechgirl said on Jun 7, 2010 | Add your feedback

Slow start but good read...great mix between the "nether world" and the end of the world..

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Gail Paris said on Oct 7, 2008 about the Audio CD edition | Add your feedback

Unique Premise

I was surprised that this was a suspensful novel. This book wasn't at all what I expected and I really enjoyed it. A real page-turner!

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Icedream said on Sep 12, 2007 about the Paperback edition | Add your feedback