George Saunders' latest novel 'Vigil' returns to the eerie limbo between life and death, where the dead meddle with the living, seeking justice for their untimely ends. The story centers around KJ Boone, a self-absorbed oil tycoon on his deathbed, where he's visited by the ghosts of those he's wronged. Among them is Jill Blaine, a spectral death doula tasked with guiding souls to the afterlife.
However, as the narrative unfolds, it becomes apparent that Jill's primary role is not to comfort Boone but to hold him accountable for his actions. The novel probes the blurred lines between mercy and complicity in this encounter between life and death. Yet, despite Saunders' intentions, the character of KJ Boone lacks redemption – a trait reminiscent of Ebenezer Scrooge from Charles Dickens' 'A Christmas Carol'. Unlike Scrooge, who underwent a transformative change, Boone's actions are irredeemable.
Boone's demise serves as a bleak reminder that environmental damage caused by those like him is irreversible. The novel highlights the futility of seeking individual accountability in the face of systemic destruction – a point Saunders makes without truly escaping his narrative's gravitational pull around Boone's character.
Meanwhile, Jill Blaine stands out as a more intriguing figure. Her existence serves as a poignant reminder of the human cost of forgetting one's own identity and history. As her memories return, she's forced to confront the pain of being left behind – an experience that underscores the isolation inherent in both life and death.
Ultimately, 'Vigil' raises questions about the efficacy of vigilantism and the notion that eliminating a single individual can restore balance to a system. However, Saunders fails to provide concrete answers, instead opting for a nuanced exploration of moral ambiguity. As with Lincoln in the Bardo, history remains an unresolved entity – one that Saunders deftly weaves into his narrative without ultimately resolving its complexities.
The reader is left feeling trapped within a morality play staged by others – a far cry from the intimate, haunting narratives that characterized Saunders' earlier works. The specter of 'Vigil' lingers, not as a call to action but as a poignant reminder of our collective failure to confront the environmental catastrophes we've created.
However, as the narrative unfolds, it becomes apparent that Jill's primary role is not to comfort Boone but to hold him accountable for his actions. The novel probes the blurred lines between mercy and complicity in this encounter between life and death. Yet, despite Saunders' intentions, the character of KJ Boone lacks redemption – a trait reminiscent of Ebenezer Scrooge from Charles Dickens' 'A Christmas Carol'. Unlike Scrooge, who underwent a transformative change, Boone's actions are irredeemable.
Boone's demise serves as a bleak reminder that environmental damage caused by those like him is irreversible. The novel highlights the futility of seeking individual accountability in the face of systemic destruction – a point Saunders makes without truly escaping his narrative's gravitational pull around Boone's character.
Meanwhile, Jill Blaine stands out as a more intriguing figure. Her existence serves as a poignant reminder of the human cost of forgetting one's own identity and history. As her memories return, she's forced to confront the pain of being left behind – an experience that underscores the isolation inherent in both life and death.
Ultimately, 'Vigil' raises questions about the efficacy of vigilantism and the notion that eliminating a single individual can restore balance to a system. However, Saunders fails to provide concrete answers, instead opting for a nuanced exploration of moral ambiguity. As with Lincoln in the Bardo, history remains an unresolved entity – one that Saunders deftly weaves into his narrative without ultimately resolving its complexities.
The reader is left feeling trapped within a morality play staged by others – a far cry from the intimate, haunting narratives that characterized Saunders' earlier works. The specter of 'Vigil' lingers, not as a call to action but as a poignant reminder of our collective failure to confront the environmental catastrophes we've created.
... I get what he's trying to say about the environment and how we're all complicit in it, but I wish he'd explored it more deeply 
. KJ Boone feels like a pretty one-dimensional character to me - he's just this self-absorbed oil tycoon who gets what's coming to him, but I don't really feel invested in his story 
.
. But overall, I'm not convinced that Saunders' message is strong enough to carry the weight of his narrative 
. It feels like he's just setting up these big questions without really answering them, you know?
.
. I mean, I get it, we need to confront our past mistakes and take responsibility for our actions, but this book does it in such a way that feels more like a lecture than a genuine exploration of the human condition.
. Like, what's the point of even reading about someone's struggles if we're not gonna do anything about our own?
like saunders is trying to say something so deep about humanity & our impact on the planet but at the same time his main character kJ boone is literally irredeemable 
and i'm just over here thinking about how much my grandma would want me to take care of the earth after she's gone 
she's like this ghostly death doula who's all about justice & accountability but at the same time she's got her own demons 
. I mean, come on, it's his deathbed and he's still got no empathy for those he's hurt 
. It feels like George Saunders is more concerned with exploring moral ambiguity than actually making his characters grow 
. I'm all for tackling tough issues, but 'Vigil' just feels like a series of half-baked ideas strung together without any real resolution 
. Give me more nuanced characters and less moralizing, please! 
but i'm not sure if kj boone's character is just too self-centered to be redeemed 
meanwhile, jill blaine is like the real MVP 
her backstory is so hauntingly beautiful 
anyway, it feels like saunders is asking us some tough questions about morality and accountability without giving us any easy answers 
. The way Jill Blaine is portrayed though, she's super fascinating... it's like, what happens when our memories fade away and we're left with nothing but our past? It's so thought-provoking 
I mean, I love how he explores the eerie world where the dead interact with the living, but sometimes I feel like KJ Boone is just a symbol of our collective guilt over environmental damage. He doesn't get to change or grow – it's like we're still stuck in the same old pattern. 
Her storyline feels way more human and relatable. It's heartbreaking how she's forced to confront her past and the pain of being left behind. 
. Overall, though, it's still George Saunders being his masterful self – even if this one feels like a slightly different beast 
. The character of KJ Boone feels like a lazy rehash of Scrooge's redemption arc 
, leaving the reader with more questions than answers 
KJ Boone: because who needs redemption when you can just ghost your own soul? 
Jill Blaine: the ultimate detective – solving the mystery of her own forgotten identity 
2025 readers are still waiting for concrete answers to complex questions 
it's like he's stuck on one note and can't help Boone (the main character) change his ways, you know? I mean, I get that he wants to highlight the consequences of environmental damage but by making KJ Boone a total lost cause, it feels like a cop-out. And poor Jill Blaine, she's the real hero of the story 
and her character deserved more development. The ending is just so... meh 
.
But, I wish Saunders would've explored the consequences of her actions a bit more. It feels like she's just floating around, waiting for justice to be served... but what happens after that? 
... I mean, come on, you'd think someone like KJ Boone would learn from his mistakes by now, but nope. The dude's all about himself and leaves a trail of destruction wherever he goes. It's like, hello, you've got a chance to make amends before it's too late, but instead, you just keep on trucking... 
.
.
. I mean, we need someone to be shouting about this stuff, not just exploring the moral gray areas 
. Don't get me wrong, Saunders is a genius and all, but sometimes I feel like his work is more about being thought-provoking than actually inspiring change 
.
. And yeah, the environmental damage he's responsible for is just devastating 
... I'm so here for her story, it's like, she's trying to remember who she was and it's so heartbreaking 
.