Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.7 AVERAGE
3.7 AVERAGE
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
i think id get it better in the future, for now kinda boring tbh
challenging
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Maybe this book is better taken in via reading it, rather than listening, for it lacked a compelling reason to stay with it. While I did complete the novel, I was left wanting more, wishing it was better, wishing for the profound.
I grew up terrified of bridges. They cover bodies of water and we never know whether or not a bridge is going to collapse and plunge us deep down into a lake or the ocean. However, that did not stop me from picking up The Bridge of San Luis Rey by Thornton Wilder. The Bridge of San Luis Rey is a historical fiction novel that tells the stories of the lives taken by a rope bridge that one day snapped.
The Bridge of San Luis Rey takes place in the 18th century, around Lima, Peru. There is no one main character. The “story” wouldn’t have begun without Brother Juniper, who witnesses the accident at the bridge. He studies the lives of Marquesa De Montemayor (Dona Maria), Esteban and Manuel, and Uncle Pio. Dona Maria is a lonely and affectionate woman, who doesn’t get the love that she didn’t receive as a child. She gives all of her affection to her daughter, Dona Clara. Esteban and Manuel are brothers who are very close to each other. Esteban dies because of the bridge, but Manuel dies of sickness. Lastly, Uncle Pio is a successful and popular man who mentors Camila Perichole, a famous actress. He falls in love with Camila, but never tells her. He dies with Don Jamie, Camila’s sickly son who he was taking home with him to care for. The character’s lives are connected through minor characters throughout the book, such as Abbess, who runs the convent where Esteban and Manuel came from, as well as Pepita, the young and lonely orphan that dies with Dona Maria. Camila Perichole is loved by both Uncle Pio, as well as Manuel. There are also Dona Clara, the daughter of Dona Maria; Don Andres, who makes Camila his mistress and fathers her three children, The Archbishop of Lima, who performs the service for the five victims, and Captain Alvarado, a man known for his company and advice who lost his daughter.
When the San Luis Rey bridge collapses, killing five people, Peru is saddened and solemn. Everyone knew the bridge, including visitors not from Peru. It was a landmark. Brother Juniper witnesses the incident, and claims it to be an act of God. He studies the lives of the five victims and writes a book about them. However, he and his book are burned because the people of Peru reject the book and what it says. Luckily, a copy of the book is placed on the shelf of a university library. The first victim whose life we learn about is Dona Maria. The book reveals that Dona Maria didn’t get much love as a child, and that she didn’t go on to marry someone who would give her that love. She has a daughter, Dona Clara, but she resents her mother for being too affectionate and possessive. Dona Maria wrote many long letters to Dona Clara. She is crossing the bridge with Pepita, a lonely orphan that she takes from the convent to the shrine of Santa Maria De Cluxambuqua when it snaps and they die. Next we meet Esteban, one of two orphan twins raised by Abbess. His twin brother is named Manuel. They do not enjoy their lives at the convent, therefore becoming very close and deeply attached to each other emotionally. They work at a theatre together, and Manuel falls in love with an actress, Camila Perichole. Manuel hurts his knee, and it gets infected, therefore causing him to be bedridden and delirious. Esteban blames himself for his brother’s unhappiness. When Manuel dies, it shatters Esteban, to the point where Esteban considers Suicide. He is walking across the bridge when it snaps. The last section is about Uncle Pio. Uncle Pio is a very popular man who has had many jobs. He coaches famous actress Camila Perichole. Camila respects Uncle Pio, but Uncle Pio secretly falls in love with her. Camila has three children with a handsome and wealthy man, and then becomes a part of a higher society until she gets smallpox. Uncle Pio convinces Camila to let him take care of her sickly son, Don Jamie. Uncle Pio and Don Jamie are crossing the bridge to go home when it collapses and kills them.
I enjoyed this book. It’s easy to become invested in the character’s lives and attached and want to know more about them. I would definitely recommend this book, especially to people who appreciate historical fiction or people who can easily become attached to or invested in one or more characters. I find the story very unique because it’s a story of stories of people who don’t actually exist, but we think they do. The stories all intersect or connect in a way, whether it be through the convent, or a famous actress. The Bridge of San Luis Rey is a very good "book within a book."
The Bridge of San Luis Rey takes place in the 18th century, around Lima, Peru. There is no one main character. The “story” wouldn’t have begun without Brother Juniper, who witnesses the accident at the bridge. He studies the lives of Marquesa De Montemayor (Dona Maria), Esteban and Manuel, and Uncle Pio. Dona Maria is a lonely and affectionate woman, who doesn’t get the love that she didn’t receive as a child. She gives all of her affection to her daughter, Dona Clara. Esteban and Manuel are brothers who are very close to each other. Esteban dies because of the bridge, but Manuel dies of sickness. Lastly, Uncle Pio is a successful and popular man who mentors Camila Perichole, a famous actress. He falls in love with Camila, but never tells her. He dies with Don Jamie, Camila’s sickly son who he was taking home with him to care for. The character’s lives are connected through minor characters throughout the book, such as Abbess, who runs the convent where Esteban and Manuel came from, as well as Pepita, the young and lonely orphan that dies with Dona Maria. Camila Perichole is loved by both Uncle Pio, as well as Manuel. There are also Dona Clara, the daughter of Dona Maria; Don Andres, who makes Camila his mistress and fathers her three children, The Archbishop of Lima, who performs the service for the five victims, and Captain Alvarado, a man known for his company and advice who lost his daughter.
When the San Luis Rey bridge collapses, killing five people, Peru is saddened and solemn. Everyone knew the bridge, including visitors not from Peru. It was a landmark. Brother Juniper witnesses the incident, and claims it to be an act of God. He studies the lives of the five victims and writes a book about them. However, he and his book are burned because the people of Peru reject the book and what it says. Luckily, a copy of the book is placed on the shelf of a university library. The first victim whose life we learn about is Dona Maria. The book reveals that Dona Maria didn’t get much love as a child, and that she didn’t go on to marry someone who would give her that love. She has a daughter, Dona Clara, but she resents her mother for being too affectionate and possessive. Dona Maria wrote many long letters to Dona Clara. She is crossing the bridge with Pepita, a lonely orphan that she takes from the convent to the shrine of Santa Maria De Cluxambuqua when it snaps and they die. Next we meet Esteban, one of two orphan twins raised by Abbess. His twin brother is named Manuel. They do not enjoy their lives at the convent, therefore becoming very close and deeply attached to each other emotionally. They work at a theatre together, and Manuel falls in love with an actress, Camila Perichole. Manuel hurts his knee, and it gets infected, therefore causing him to be bedridden and delirious. Esteban blames himself for his brother’s unhappiness. When Manuel dies, it shatters Esteban, to the point where Esteban considers Suicide. He is walking across the bridge when it snaps. The last section is about Uncle Pio. Uncle Pio is a very popular man who has had many jobs. He coaches famous actress Camila Perichole. Camila respects Uncle Pio, but Uncle Pio secretly falls in love with her. Camila has three children with a handsome and wealthy man, and then becomes a part of a higher society until she gets smallpox. Uncle Pio convinces Camila to let him take care of her sickly son, Don Jamie. Uncle Pio and Don Jamie are crossing the bridge to go home when it collapses and kills them.
I enjoyed this book. It’s easy to become invested in the character’s lives and attached and want to know more about them. I would definitely recommend this book, especially to people who appreciate historical fiction or people who can easily become attached to or invested in one or more characters. I find the story very unique because it’s a story of stories of people who don’t actually exist, but we think they do. The stories all intersect or connect in a way, whether it be through the convent, or a famous actress. The Bridge of San Luis Rey is a very good "book within a book."
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No