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A Prayer for the Dying
A Prayer for the Dying: A Novel | Stewart O'Nan
5 posts | 15 read | 6 to read
New York Times Book Review Notable Book of the Year Set in Friendship, Wisconsin, just after the Civil War, A Prayer for the Dying tells of a horrible epidemic that is suddenly and gruesomely killing the town's residents and setting off a terrifying paranoia. Jacob Hansen, Friendship's sheriff, undertaker, and pastor, is soon overwhelmed by the fear and anguish around him, and his sanity begins to fray. Dark, poetic, and chilling, A Prayer for the Dying examines the effect of madness and violence on the morality of a once-decent man.
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LibraryCin
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Panpan

It‘s a short book. Right off the bat, I wasn‘t liking the second-person narrative, so I didn‘t like the writing style. It wasn‘t easy to follow, and for a while there were a couple of people who I wasn‘t sure whether or not they were dead or still alive, after all. I appear to be in a minority, but I‘m not a fan of this one

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TaciturnWhenReading
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Pickpick

Stunning - an absolutely amazing tale. Dark, disturbing, heartbreaking and thought provoking. I could not put this slim volume down.

Jacob Hansen, constable, undertaker, preacher, has seen his share of horrors in the Civil War but somehow he holds fast to faith. But when his beloved hometown is ravaged by disease and fire, his grisly obligations overwhelm and redemption is out of reach.

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diovival
Prayer for the Dying | Stewart O'Nan
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I also got to chat with Stewart O'Nan.Cool dude. If he ends up on Litsy, you'll know who to thank. 😉😂

AmyG Oh wow! Nice! 7y
LiteraryinPA Yay! 7y
diovival @AmyG @LiteraryinLititz He was sitting right next to me! 7y
See All 11 Comments
AlaMich That‘s nifty!! 😀 7y
Kaye Wow ! Exciting ! 7y
diovival @AlaMich Sweterlisch said he wrote O'Nan a fan letter and sent him a short story. O'Nan encouraged him to write his first novel. 7y
diovival @Kaye 😄 7y
AlaMich @diovival That is a quality person right there! 7y
diovival @ButlerBorn Welcome to Litsy!! 🎉🎉 7y
ButlerBorn Thanks! Stewart is here vicariously through me! 😉 7y
diovival @ButlerBorn That's awesome! Ha! 7y
52 likes11 comments
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mattgodfrey
Pickpick

One of the greatest pieces of writing I've ever experienced. Sounds hyperbolic, but for me it was that good.