The Brief History of the Dead

By: Kevin Brockmeier

Narrated by: Richard Poe

Length: 8 hrs and 33 mins

Publisher's summary

Award-winning author Kevin Brockmeier delivers a spellbinding, supernatural tale of love, memories, and human connection. All residents of the City have recently died, and they will remain in the City only as long as someone still living on Earth remembers them. On Earth, however, the population has been devastated by a terrible pandemic. Laura Byrd, isolated at an Antarctic research station, may be the only person to have survived the pandemic. But she's running out of time and supplies, and her memories are fading.

Brilliant in concept and execution, The Brief History of the Dead is a spectacular achievement that lingers in the mind long after the final word.

©2006 Kevin Brockmeier (P)2006 Recorded Books, LLC

Critic reviews

"Beautiful, delicate." (Publishers Weekly)

Odd and interesting

I loved this book, but I guess it isn't for everyone. We've probably all wondered about the "afterlife", as has Kevin Brockmeier, but he has apparently listened to some points of view that are really out there. It's a book I always felt that I was outside of -- actually a reader and not part of the story -- so my own beliefs were never threatened. I enjoyed it a lot.

One of my favorite Novels, so unique

I loved this novel so much when I first read it 15 years ago. I looked forward to reading it again but this time I read the Audible version. The narrator was so mismatched that he managed to almost completely take out all the beauty and thoughtfulness from the story. Such a disservice to a unique voice in literature! I could barely stand to finish it and wouldn’t if I still had the book itself to read. If you only read this novel in this Audible version I’m not surprised that you wouldn’t care much for it. I would highly encourage anyone to take a little time and then read it yourself. I would also recommend his other novel, The Illumination. I haven’t listened to the Audible version of this one, but it has a different narrator so I’m hoping for better. Often a gifted narrator can not only do justice to the story but occasionally bring out the very best in it. (See The Book Thief, Big Little Lies, or What Alice Forgot for three good examples of brilliant writers paired with gifted narrators). Audible and others. Please stop giving bad or mismatch narrators to good writing!

Deserved a better ending

This book was intriguing and had me thoroughly absorbed in it right up until the very unsatisfying ending. If it could even be said to have one. Still worth the read, as long as you are not waiting with baited breath to see how it all ends.

Beautifully written

This book won't answer any questions about the afterlife - in fact, I walked away with more ideas to ponder, which I appreciate. This is a beautiful showcase of characters and emotions, with a novel concept as a backdrop. I would liked to have seen this concept fleshed out some more, but didn't need it to enjoy the book. Also, I was very pleased with the narrator, who was able to convey the message and emotions without overstepping his role.

Fascinating Premise

This was a reread for me. The premise of the book is so intriguing: a story split between a city of the "living dead" who only remain in the city as long as someone on Earth holds that person in their memory and a wildlife researcher in the Antarctica who may be the only person on Earth who has not yet succumbed to a manmade virus. On my second reading, I did a better job of tracking all the myriad connections between the many living dead and the still-alive wildlife researcher - however tangential those connections might be. What did not happen, however, is a change in my ultimate opinion for the book. I was definitely satisfied but nothing more.

Great listen

I really enjoyed this book from beginning to end. It makes you stop to think about all the people you cross paths with daily without really noticing- yet remember. Enjoy!

Such an amazing book.

I've lost count of the number of times that I have listened to this audiobook. every time I listen I identify with a different character and all of them have so much life that they all feel real to me.

Very engaging at first

It was great in the beginning and the middle was decent too. I don't mind well explained detailed and background but by the end it was too much and seemed so pointless. It also felt like the ending was rushed and slow at the same time and there was an absence of closure but maybe that's what death really is.

It definitely makes you think and I do appreciate it for that.

fascinating and frustrating

I kept waiting for things to be made more clear. The details got to be too much, so much minutiae that could have been spent storybuilding. To be fair I could not stop listening. But ended up deflated and annoyed.

Interesting idea, but no plot closure

This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

The emotional development of the characters was well done, but I felt frustrated with the lack of explanation and retribution in the narrative.