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3.7 AVERAGE
3.7 AVERAGE
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This pulitzer winner is a nugget of realism. We meet a disparate group of souls who had the mischance of being on a bridge when it failed. In the aftermath, a priest takes it upon himself to investigate the inherent worthiness of each of the unlucky victims.
"There is a land of the living and a land of the dead and thuebridge is love, the only survival, the only meaning."
"There is a land of the living and a land of the dead and thuebridge is love, the only survival, the only meaning."
reflective
medium-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 was a little ahead of its time. All I’m saying is that to read 100 pages full of difficult words just to come to the conclusion that “love is the reason we’re alive”.. I could have watched a Disney movie for that one.
I still think the little intertwined stories were good, if not expanded upon enough, but eh. Sorry, high school English teacher from 4 years ago, not as good as I thought it was gonna be.
I still think the little intertwined stories were good, if not expanded upon enough, but eh. Sorry, high school English teacher from 4 years ago, not as good as I thought it was gonna be.
reflective
fast-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
I loved this! The writing was weightless and I loved the theme of accident v. intention. I saw the play "Our Town" when I was in high school and it stuck with me for years after--I think I need to read more of Thornton Wilder's work.
I've never read anything this boring.
Conceptually, this felt brilliant. When I think about the crafting of the reader experience... it feels so obviously done by a playwright. Compelling and nuanced and suspenseful in spite of knowing the big reveal from the very first pages... he has all those awards for a reason. I had to keep reminding myself that it is nearly 100 years old - that feels astounding. I rarely re-read anything, but even while I was still listening to this I was thinking about the re-read. And another Pulitzer checked off my list!
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-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
Outstanding. I love this book. It is short, only 117 pages, but they are a powerful and rich 117 pages. Wilder crafted incredible meaning in every page and every sentence. I am already looking forward to reading it again.
I had no idea how popular this book was at the time of publishing, I read Thornton Wilder because I love how he writes people so I wasn’t trying to find deeper meaning just enjoying the read. The foreword and afterword did explain the things that are there, but for me it was all about the characters and how their lives touched others. I do not believe in predestination so I kind of dismissed some of the conclusions in the story, but the way consequences work and not through our own choices seems to me still very contemporary.
It’s just a joy to read with interesting characters, sometimes had to remind myself it is set in 1714 because it feels set in the more recent past, it just shows that people don’t really change including the good and the bad.
It’s just a joy to read with interesting characters, sometimes had to remind myself it is set in 1714 because it feels set in the more recent past, it just shows that people don’t really change including the good and the bad.