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3.98 AVERAGE
3.98 AVERAGE
this was one of my favorite books i've read so far. it included a lot of modern references and i am always a sucker for books set in new york city. i enjoyed the premise of going into all four scenarios that could have happened between the two. he mentions this through tillie at the end, but i liked how he was showing that an event or action that one person does can have an endless effect on others, even if you don't think it does. in the life where both tillie and aaron were gone, there are gaps in people's lives that could have been filled if they were still there. i also enjoyed the idea that mental health truly is a roller coaster. there are days that are going to feel like you can't even get out of bed and others where you can do anything you set your mind to. also, not to mention, mental health is something that you can't really see from your daily interactions with people. others are often struggling with issues we have no idea about.
fave character: i absolutely loved everything about aaron. if he was a real life person i would definitely be in love with him. his sarcasm is so funny. idk what it is with me and fictional characters that start with the letter a (alexander from rwrb, aristotle from a + d, and now aaron). they all have very similar personalities.
fave part: both of them showing up at the bridge after their terrible days. they were at the lowest of lows, but both knew they needed to get there as fast as they could to save one another.
overall: 10/10. there's a reason i finished this book so quickly, even during a time when i wasn't home most of the day. this will definitely be one i re-read. i love books w modern references and jokes that actually make me laugh and are not cringeworthy.
fave character: i absolutely loved everything about aaron. if he was a real life person i would definitely be in love with him. his sarcasm is so funny. idk what it is with me and fictional characters that start with the letter a (alexander from rwrb, aristotle from a + d, and now aaron). they all have very similar personalities.
fave part: both of them showing up at the bridge after their terrible days. they were at the lowest of lows, but both knew they needed to get there as fast as they could to save one another.
overall: 10/10. there's a reason i finished this book so quickly, even during a time when i wasn't home most of the day. this will definitely be one i re-read. i love books w modern references and jokes that actually make me laugh and are not cringeworthy.
emotional
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The Bridge follows Tillie and Aaron, two teenagers who cross paths while contemplating suicide on the George Washington Bridge. It explores the various possibilities of what happens if one, both, or neither of them follow through.
While it is about a very sad topic, I feel that Konigsberg DID NOT write with the singular intent of making people cry, thus blinding them to the bigger story. He wrote about the grief, struggles, catalysts, and potential outcomes with honesty. Explored the various different types of familial and “friend” responses, and (arguably the saddest part for me), people who had never crossed paths with the MCs and who’s lives were altered because of it.
I thought it was well written and I didn’t mind the alternate versions of the story. Parts of it were repetitive but not in an annoying way. I appreciate that the various outcomes weren’t completely different and also that everyone wasn’t suddenly okay because that is definitely not true.
I’ve read Konigsberg before and really enjoyed his work and I look forward to reading more in the future.
While it is about a very sad topic, I feel that Konigsberg DID NOT write with the singular intent of making people cry, thus blinding them to the bigger story. He wrote about the grief, struggles, catalysts, and potential outcomes with honesty. Explored the various different types of familial and “friend” responses, and (arguably the saddest part for me), people who had never crossed paths with the MCs and who’s lives were altered because of it.
I thought it was well written and I didn’t mind the alternate versions of the story. Parts of it were repetitive but not in an annoying way. I appreciate that the various outcomes weren’t completely different and also that everyone wasn’t suddenly okay because that is definitely not true.
I’ve read Konigsberg before and really enjoyed his work and I look forward to reading more in the future.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Grief, Suicide attempt, Outing
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt
Moderate: Bullying, Homophobia, Abandonment
Minor: Body shaming, Death, Fatphobia
Not sure that I have enough or the right words to properly express how grateful I am to Bill Konigsberg for writing this book out on sept 1st. Two teens on the Hudson Bridge ready to jump and end their life, four stories follow after four different decisions are made. Suicide carries such an incredible stigma and we know that not talking about it makes it worse, not better. This book shows the aftermath of the decisions to end one’s life or not without preaching, and yet offers hope and insight in a powerful way. For middle school and up, this should be a book to discuss and share. #pernillerecommends
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Absolutely brilliant, completely in love with Bill Konigsberg’s writing
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
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:
Yes
6 hours 39 minutes - This is a very interesting book. I have never seen anything quite like this so definitely points for originality. So often people go about their daily lives and never stop to think about all the other paths they could have taken. This book did not only speculate, but contained four different stories of four different outcomes. And this book was heart-breaking, and you really did feel for the characters. However, the format of having four stories rolled into one led to feelings of repetition, and sometimes confusion. Did this event happen in this story or a previous one? for example. At times the characters did seem slightly exaggerated and bordering on annoying, but in a way I can see that being an intentional choice; its more realistic for characters portraying serious mental illness to not come across to the reader's in a perfectly likeable manner. I really didn't like the way the third story was told. I found it confusing and convoluted, and most of it seemed like the author info dumping ideas he had but couldn't quite work into the main plot. It would have been a more reflective choice to keep that section as short as possible. However, overall, a very good story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Fatphobia, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Grief, Suicide attempt
Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Sexual content, Medical content, Lesbophobia, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes