by Yann Martel
First published 2004
A young man dying of AIDS collaborates with his friend to weave an epic tale of the Roccamatio family, tracing their lives against the backdrop of 20th century horrors and wonders. Meanwhile, a Canadian student in D.C. is transformed by a haunting musical performance amid the Vietnam War's fallout. And a warden's letters reveal the humanity in even the most final of moments. Through these intertwined stories, Martel explores how each life, no matter how brief, echoes through the ages.
Genres: fiction, literary-fiction, 20th-century, 21st-century
Vibes: intimate, lyrical, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, unreliable-narrator
228 pages · Paperback
Content warnings: death, terminal-illness