Vigil by George Saunders

This book was a fun read. The story itself was entertaining – made me chuckle at least a few times – and I enjoyed the clipped way that the narrator talked. The whole idea of how we feel about our lives at the end of them is interesting to think about, too.

I’m not sure what to make of the whole determinism idea (“elevation” in the book). I couldn’t figure out if Saunders was pushing it as something he agrees with or trying to poke fun at it or if it was just part of the story. I dislike determinism, but I think there’s definitely some truth in the related ideas that we shouldn’t judge others and that typically the best course of action is to offer compassion to others. And I admit that it’s interesting to contemplate what the effects of our actions really are and how much they matter.