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3.77 AVERAGE
3.77 AVERAGE
So I decided to rewrite my review because it didnt even show how much I truly love this book. There is something about these characters that spoke to me, especially Clay. I felt the love that was talked about in this book. I cried. I smiled. I fell in love. My heart was broken. I still think about this book. It's been a month. It's a story about life. It's a story about love. It's the story about truth. After finishing this book I changed. Truly. So it holds its place as my favorite book. For many reasons. The main one is that it was real.
I'm torn on this one. Should it be 5 stars or 3? There are moments where it's both. Hence, I give it a 4. You have to be in the right mind set to read this, sometimes a book won't click now, but down the road it will. "Bridge of Clay" feels very much like one of those reads. Another point to make is the genre labeling. While young adults can surely read this, there is nothing in here that they can't read, this book, in my opinion, is misclassified. It should be in adult.
Now onto the book. It started off slow. It took me a bit to get into the voice of the book. It went from past to present to another past, a different present, rendering it a little confusing at times. It was only after laying the groundwork, that it all came together and started flowing.
Until the last 125 pages or so. This is when a secondary, possibly tertiary, character was brought front and center. Zusak began exploring this characters history. The storyline could have moved along fine without it. I had already invested 400+ pages into the Dunbars, I couldn't stop now but ugh I didn't need to know this characters history, it was unnecessary to the story. Thankfully once past this side trip, it was back to the Dunbars. The book picked up.
There were moments where Zusak alluded to an event versus just coming out and saying what happened. I will spare any spoilers but perhaps he felt the details were not pertinent to the storyline, the reader would get the gist of what happened and interpret it as they saw fit. and in some ways yes, but I'm a reader that likes it in black and white.
Overall a good to great read, if you allow it, you will be swept into the world of the Dunbars, the highs and the lows. Life.
Now onto the book. It started off slow. It took me a bit to get into the voice of the book. It went from past to present to another past, a different present, rendering it a little confusing at times. It was only after laying the groundwork, that it all came together and started flowing.
Until the last 125 pages or so. This is when a secondary, possibly tertiary, character was brought front and center. Zusak began exploring this characters history. The storyline could have moved along fine without it. I had already invested 400+ pages into the Dunbars, I couldn't stop now but ugh I didn't need to know this characters history, it was unnecessary to the story. Thankfully once past this side trip, it was back to the Dunbars. The book picked up.
There were moments where Zusak alluded to an event versus just coming out and saying what happened. I will spare any spoilers but perhaps he felt the details were not pertinent to the storyline, the reader would get the gist of what happened and interpret it as they saw fit. and in some ways yes, but I'm a reader that likes it in black and white.
Overall a good to great read, if you allow it, you will be swept into the world of the Dunbars, the highs and the lows. Life.
This book is hiding a great story, but I just could not get past the stylized writing. I seriously thought about abandoning it multiple times, but forced myself to finish it. It was rough. I wish I loved this book, but I just don’t.
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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
Definitely recommend reading this book vs. listening. The time line is not linear, so made it hard to follow at times.
This is a book that is a bit of a slow burn — I can admit that for the most part, I kept putting this down and coming back to it for a while. But there’s a paramount shift in the final third. The pieces that are placed sporadically throughout what initially feels like a messy introduction of characters, a jump between eras that feels disjointed and sentiments that haven’t quite hit the reader’s heart (yet) suddenly, and intensely, align. It becomes a whirlwind of emotion. Zusak has allowed an immense and, at some points, painfully slow build up; you can tell he’s been meticulous in its creation. But by doing so my heart broke 1000 times over. This book feels human; subtle in its delivery but powerful nonetheless. Redemption, loss, death and love. It will have you smiling on one page and crying on the next.
Couldn’t get into it. It just seems too complicated a story to get into.
This felt a little bit like The Outsiders...a home of five boys, no parents, trying their best to make it in the world. There are two stories being told...one for the boys and one for their parents. It's written beautifully...full of love, joy, and tragedy. The audiobook is read by the author. <3
Not sure how to rate this.
I never could decide if the writing was beautifully poetic or pretentious.
Some of it I loved - the family, the brothers, but some of it just dragged on and on. I guessed the 'big secret' early on but kept hoping for a twist that would make all the hints and clues and evasions worth it. Unfortunately, it never came.
The whole book may have been better if the mystery had been left out.
I never could decide if the writing was beautifully poetic or pretentious.
Some of it I loved - the family, the brothers, but some of it just dragged on and on. I guessed the 'big secret' early on but kept hoping for a twist that would make all the hints and clues and evasions worth it. Unfortunately, it never came.
The whole book may have been better if the mystery had been left out.
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes