The Incarnations

[Mary Pat]

This thread is to discuss Susan Barker‘s book, The Incarnations.


***Please remember to mark spoilers.***

Participants: Kristina, Kristin, Deedee

[Mary Pat]

Suggested break down of reading so that you can check in and let us know how you're doing. The following breakdown is purely a suggestion and is therefore not set in stone.

Rather than putting dates for each section I've done it so that it takes into account that not everybody will necessarily have the book at the same time.

Week 1: 93
Week 2: 93
Week 3: 93
Week 4: 93

[Kristina]

I'm excited for this one. I plan to start it this weekend.

[Deedee]

I checked the book out of the library today. I am also planning to start this weekend.

[Kristina]

Kristin wrote: "I have read Chapters 1-6 so far. I didn't love it at first but about halfway through this or a little later I found it to be much more to my liking. I don't think these are spoilers but marking the..."

I'm finished with the first 7 chapters. (view spoiler)[It also took me a couple of chapters to get into the story, but once I realized the chapters format I was more interested. I like reading the letters from the mystery person. They seem almost aggressive in their tone regarding Wang's currently life and are condescending toward his currently relationships, but they're so interesting to read. I wonder why the letter writer chose to reveal his/herself in this way (good point that we technically don't know the gender) and how the person chooses what to include and omit in these initial letters. I also thought it was an interesting idea (if we take the letters at face-value) that there are other reincarnated souls in the world. I wonder if that will factor into the story somehow later on.

I agree that chapter 6 was great. I've read books before featuring reincarnation and souls meeting across many lifetimes, but this first-encounter story was very unique. I was expecting the the two lives to have a stronger first relationship that caused the bond over times and lives, but I don't think this story is like that. So I'm curious now two see why their bond endures over lifetimes and why the mystery person is purposely wanting Wang to remember. I thought that the reason might be a positive one because of how the letter writer is jealous of Wang's wife and speaks of him as beautiful, but after reading chapter 6 the motive is more mysterious for me and their connection seems more complex. But Kristin I think you make an interested point about the letter writing having a strong longing for connection and acceptance, and that shows in the Tang Dynasty and the present. I'm curious how the next encounter in the past will reveal more about the nature of these 2 souls. (hide spoiler)]

[Mary Pat]

Deedee - I have added you to the list of participants!

[Kristina]

Kristin wrote: "Heads up: Do NOT look at the Simon & Schuster Book Discussion Questions for this book. I was trying to find out how long the audiobook is so I can estimate my progress (I am alternating between aud..."

Oh no! That's terrible. I hope that you will still find some enjoyment of the book.

[Deedee]

Sorry guys -- I started reading this one, put it down, started it again then marked it did-not-finish. I found it too confusing to follow.

[Kristina]

Deedee wrote: "Sorry guys -- I started reading this one, put it down, started it again then marked it did-not-finish. I found it too confusing to follow."

Aw man :( I can see how it was confusing, especially earlier in the story. I finished the book earlier this week and I ended up really enjoying it.

Kristin, do you think you will finish the book, despite knowing who the letter writer is?

[Kristina]

Kristin wrote: "I started reading this again yesterday and instantly felt sorry I had set it aside. (I had some books I needed to finish to return to the library, though). I really love those past-lives stories.

..."

My favorite part of the book is the past-lives stories. I don't know if I have a favorite to be honest, because I thought they were all strong and had their own merit, but one of the later ones resonated more with me I think because it's a more recent/accessible history. (view spoiler)[That's an interesting idea about karma maybe influencing the nature of the relationship between the two characters in each life (in addition to the innate personalities of the souls). I didn't think about that as we moved through the different past-lives (hide spoiler)]

Two other books that come to mind in relation to past-lives reincarnation are The Gargoyle and The Memory Painter. I enjoyed both, though I think The Gargoyle my be the stronger book of the two.

[Kristina]

I'm glad that you were able to enjoy the book despite the spoiler.

(view spoiler)[I also wasn't expecting the letter writer to encounter Wang twice in one lifetime. I thought that was really interesting. It also made the last story about the cultural revolution more compelling for because it was the letter writer's personal story. Even though all of the stories were tragic I agree with you that that one was particularly scary because it was so close in the past.

The whole time I was reading the book, I assumed that the past lives really did happen, but after learning the letter writer's traumatic past growing up and history of mental health issues, it made me question in the end how much of the past-lives were actually real and what was a product of her mind.

I felt really bad about Zeng. He was my favorite character in the frame story. He was treated terribly. I hadn't considered that he might also be an incarnation, but maybe he would be someone who is a casualty of Wang and the letter writer's destructive relationship across their lives.

I think Wang and the letter writer will reincarnate again. Unfortunately, even though they seem bound to each other, it's a destructive bond. (hide spoiler)]