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laurelinwonder's review against another edition
3.0
Not my favorite Cather novel, but a good one none-the-less. Her characters are always so real, torn, confused, acting without thought (you know, like real humans).
jenmillie's review against another edition
i'm glad she wrote so much, it'll keep me busy for awhile.
k_lee_reads_it's review against another edition
4.0
Bartley Alexander is a force. He moves always. He doesn't sit quietly and reflect. His personality is felt by everyone he knows.
He is a civil engineer and he is building big awe inspiring bridges at a time when the really large suspension bridges are just being created.
He also has a wife. A very respectable and financially secure wife. His life is picture perfect. Until he decides he isn't happy.
Apparently mid-life crisis occurred 100 years ago too.
This is Willa Cather's first published book, although it is actually more of a novella. Unlike many of her other works, she set it in Boston, London, and Canada. Probably she could have made it stronger, but it is quite good. And quick to read.
One Cather book down. Twelve to go.
He is a civil engineer and he is building big awe inspiring bridges at a time when the really large suspension bridges are just being created.
He also has a wife. A very respectable and financially secure wife. His life is picture perfect. Until he decides he isn't happy.
Apparently mid-life crisis occurred 100 years ago too.
This is Willa Cather's first published book, although it is actually more of a novella. Unlike many of her other works, she set it in Boston, London, and Canada. Probably she could have made it stronger, but it is quite good. And quick to read.
One Cather book down. Twelve to go.
julshakespeare's review against another edition
3.0
3.6/5 stars, full review to come! I really enjoyed the three main characters but the problem with a novella is I don’t get to spend as much time getting to know them as I’d prefer. Cather’s writing was very introspective and I’d love to try one of her longer works.
Plot: 4/5
Characters: 3/5
Pacing: 3/5
Writing: 4/5
Enjoyment: 4/5
Plot: 4/5
Characters: 3/5
Pacing: 3/5
Writing: 4/5
Enjoyment: 4/5
axl_oswaldo's review against another edition
4.0
Being an engineer, I don't really know how that feels since I am a beginner—I didn't even get my first job in my field—and I don't have much experience; nonetheless, the protagonist of this story knows that feeling, and he seems to be a good engineer, you can tell.
I must confess that I just came across Willa Cather's first novel, Alexander's Bridge, since I was looking for another Edith Wharton's novel to read, however, reading this one was the best decision ever, and I'm really happy for that. First of all, because I truly enjoy reading Cather's narrative quite a bit (it is that kind of story at which nothing is happening, and so what it really matters is the prose), and secondly, because once I knew her main character in this novel was an engineer, I was sure this story would be absolutely for me, and I was not wrong.
Bartley Alexander, a married man and a civil engineer who is constantly traveling for work, has to go from Boston to London for a short period of time. There, he meets by chance his former lover, Hilda Burgoyne, whose encounter will make him feel something new inside him. Perhaps you are wondering whether or not engineering has something to do with the plot, well, once you finish the story, you will see.
All in all, the prose is quite good (again, there is no a real plot, the story just 'flows'), the main character's thoughts throughout the novel are superb, especially in the last two thirds of the book, and the ending is heartbreaking, at least for me it was as though a bucket of cold water was thrown over me. I'd definitely recommend this book.
Just for the record, I am an oil engineer, and while I was reading the final part I couldn't help but think of how engineers are transported to an oil rig, and how dangerous it might be. This device is named offshore personnel basket, but in Spanish, and especially in my country (Mexico), we call it "viuda" (widow), and watching the next video you can tell why: Offshore Personnel Basket
Favorite quotes:
"Remembering Hilda as she used to be, was doubtless more satisfactory than seeing her as she must be now—and, after all, Alexander asked himself, what was it but his own young years that he was remembering?"
"They stood close together, looking out into the wan, watery sky, breathing always more quickly and lightly, and it seemed as if all the clocks in the world had stopped."
"Two people, when they love each other, grow alike in their tastes and habits and pride, but their moral natures (whatever we may mean by that canting expression) are never welded."
"Sometimes I get used to being dead inside, but lately it has been as if a window beside me had suddenly opened, and as if all the smells of spring blew in to me."
I must confess that I just came across Willa Cather's first novel, Alexander's Bridge, since I was looking for another Edith Wharton's novel to read, however, reading this one was the best decision ever, and I'm really happy for that. First of all, because I truly enjoy reading Cather's narrative quite a bit (it is that kind of story at which nothing is happening, and so what it really matters is the prose), and secondly, because once I knew her main character in this novel was an engineer, I was sure this story would be absolutely for me, and I was not wrong.
Bartley Alexander, a married man and a civil engineer who is constantly traveling for work, has to go from Boston to London for a short period of time. There, he meets by chance his former lover, Hilda Burgoyne, whose encounter will make him feel something new inside him. Perhaps you are wondering whether or not engineering has something to do with the plot, well, once you finish the story, you will see.
All in all, the prose is quite good (again, there is no a real plot, the story just 'flows'), the main character's thoughts throughout the novel are superb, especially in the last two thirds of the book, and the ending is heartbreaking, at least for me it was as though a bucket of cold water was thrown over me. I'd definitely recommend this book.
Just for the record, I am an oil engineer, and while I was reading the final part I couldn't help but think of how engineers are transported to an oil rig, and how dangerous it might be. This device is named offshore personnel basket, but in Spanish, and especially in my country (Mexico), we call it "viuda" (widow), and watching the next video you can tell why: Offshore Personnel Basket
Favorite quotes:
"Remembering Hilda as she used to be, was doubtless more satisfactory than seeing her as she must be now—and, after all, Alexander asked himself, what was it but his own young years that he was remembering?"
"They stood close together, looking out into the wan, watery sky, breathing always more quickly and lightly, and it seemed as if all the clocks in the world had stopped."
"Two people, when they love each other, grow alike in their tastes and habits and pride, but their moral natures (whatever we may mean by that canting expression) are never welded."
"Sometimes I get used to being dead inside, but lately it has been as if a window beside me had suddenly opened, and as if all the smells of spring blew in to me."
barrypierce's review
3.0
In the preface to this edition Willa Cather writes, "Alexander's Bridge was my first novel, and does not deal with the kind of subject-matter in which I now find myself most at home." She spends the rest of the preface apologising for its existence. I feel Cather is far too tough on herself for this novel, because I rather enjoyed it.
The plot is very simple. A man has an affair and can't live with it. That's basically it. This novel has the unique claim of the main character being a bridge-maker, can't say I've come across that before. However what this novel lacks in plot, it makes up for in sheer enjoyability. Many reviewers overlook the basic experience of enjoying a book. When I sat down and read this novel it flowed before me. I was enthralled for the whole journey. I must give props to Cather for constructing such a smooth narrative and for creating such a crazy ending, that was great. Altogether this is a fine novel that overcomes its plot problems and leaves you rather content.
The plot is very simple. A man has an affair and can't live with it. That's basically it. This novel has the unique claim of the main character being a bridge-maker, can't say I've come across that before. However what this novel lacks in plot, it makes up for in sheer enjoyability. Many reviewers overlook the basic experience of enjoying a book. When I sat down and read this novel it flowed before me. I was enthralled for the whole journey. I must give props to Cather for constructing such a smooth narrative and for creating such a crazy ending, that was great. Altogether this is a fine novel that overcomes its plot problems and leaves you rather content.
thebookcure's review against another edition
3.0
Again I love the Barnes and Noble Library of Essential Reading Series, it brings me books I would have missed. Very different style from her other works, not as compelling but interesting and worth a read.
sllibres's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.5