3.47 AVERAGE

helenewallace's review against another edition

DID NOT FINISH: 45%

Too slow, while I found the PT Barnum story line interesting I wanted more about the bridge.
informative inspiring sad medium-paced

Wanted to love. Did not.
emotional inspiring reflective medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: N/A
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: No
adventurous informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

The history was fascinating but the plot and writing was eh.
funny hopeful medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated
informative inspiring medium-paced

This is a fictional work portraying the true story of Emily and Washington Roebling, the masterminds--if I may--behind the Brooklyn Bridge. The book begins before the two are married, when Emily is a young women's rights advocate and Wash is a Captain in the Civil War. Both Wash and his father are engineers and their current project is the Covington Cincinnati Bridge, which has been delayed due to the war. Following the war, their dream is to build a much larger bridge in Brooklyn but there is much planning and fundraising to be done.

Wash and Emily wed after the war and Emily is asked to help with speeches and public appearances such as dinner receptions and meetings. She is constantly conflicted about giving up her place in the women's rights movement to assist with her husband's work with the bridge. She meets challenges with police and public officials as she takes on more responsibilities following decline in Wash's health. In all this, she befriends P.T. Barnum, who takes a major role in not only funding the bridge project, but also personally helping Emily cope with practicing her speeches and being more comfortable on the public stage (he is, afterall, an expert).

I listened to the audiobook and found it to be extremely interesting. So much so that I had to look up documentaries on the building of the Brooklyn Bridge. I was especially curious about the caissons and how they worked, as I found the science and engineering explanations extremely fascinating!

smac219's review against another edition

DID NOT FINISH: 28%

The most interesting part was the end engineering research. The relationships really didn't grow on my or get me connected to the characters. 

3.5