3.7 AVERAGE

Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
reflective fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

A story about the lives and deaths of 5 people who died crossing the Bridge of San Luis Rey; which broke and plunged its victims to the gorge below.

Brother Jupiter wishes to find the correlation between each victim (eventually drawing up a chart of their Goodness, Piety, and Usefulness). The book takes you through each story (Estiban’s was my personal favourite), and ends the book with a sort of run down of affairs, analysing their commonalities.

There’s a beautiful passage on page 93 which would be my answer to Brother Jupiter’s question of correlation.
And the final two sentences of the book leave you with a touching sentiment, possibly closure.
haren_k's profile picture

haren_k's review against another edition

DID NOT FINISH: 14%

Other audio book became available
mysterious reflective sad medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
challenging emotional slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Framed within a tragedy bordering on a miracle, we have the lovely chance to learn about five people who fell to their deaths. A monk who witnesses the bridge collapse takes it upon himself to discover, honor, and celebrate the five individuals who crossed the bridge that couldn't fall at the exact time it decided to shirk its legacy. These are complex folks — some riddled with mournful doubt, some with tender hope and a yearning for love, some as delighted by the richness of life as by the manipulation of others. They were travelers in life. They were travelers in death. So goes the tale of the Bridge of San Luis Rey. What a wonder it is to create people and pay tribute to them. There may be hope for God yet.
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
reflective sad fast-paced

This was just a great concept has had me thinking every since I started reading it. Very good and strongly recommended. Really helped me put into perspective what is happening right now and how the light, and even meaning, can be found on the micro level. Love truly is the connection we all share.

“There is a land of the living and a land of the dead and the bridge is love, the only survival, the only meaning.”
― Thornton Wilder

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