Eight ancient Life planners staggered across the Four Hills Bridge and collapsed into the welcoming abode of Prof. Genoni. There they endured the pain yet enjoyed the pan [44] and the Peruvian lucuma fruit ice cream. But while they continued staring into one another’s face waiting for the miracle of science the pain grew worse. They attempted to talk as one twin to another:
Karl: When reading the electronic version I had the feeling that I was reading an abridged version. So, upon completion, I bought a hard copy. They were essentially the same. It’s a worthy Pulitzer Prize contender. It seems to be a thoughtful, well-crafted book.
Yet, I read it with the same detachment with which the narrator delivered it. That troubled me, as I’d expected to be more drawn in based on the book’s longevity and popularity. The story had more of a journalistic approach than a literary one – to me – despite all of its literary acclaim. Not a tour de force, but an historically important book, and certainly a worthwhile read. B+
Keith: Brother Juniper set out to prove Theology was a Science; he was doomed from the start but eventually got fired up. B+
Charlie: The author was trying to be literary - I need more than that; the book was unnecessarily complex and obscure. I am not a religious individual, and I don't care about theology. C
Bob S: Not a professional type. Well-written; the plot and character development was superb. One thing I note in a book: is the narrator's voice in present tense or past? It is intriguing if set in a period where the verbiage is set. The writing in places was outstanding. A-
Mike B: The two great themes of literature are death and relationships [I hesitate to say Love, as the author asks, "how many would be in love if they had never heard of the concept of Love?"]. This book started with death, an unemotional drop, yet one can see why Tony Blair referred to this book in his 9-11 remarks: only two instances when we see 'innocent people' drop, flailing to their death. Then the author goes on to give us the relationships. Clever writing prompt, beautifully executed. A-
Kenny G: I agree with Charlie; I don't have a religious background. I found the book confusing and boring. Books such as this are why I went into Science, not English. C
Bob W: I found it as three individual books, none of which came to a conclusion. The author's choice of English phrasing is beautiful. As an overall completion, I found it not quite finished. A-
Tom G: I agree with Mike: an exercise in writing. This is an instance in which people bring up unanswerable questions - yet philosophy like this is crap. The author's prose is wonderful - I always felt I read good literature for prose, not for plot or character development. A-
And from far north of Peru:
I really enjoyed reading The Bridge of San Luis Rey. The characters were interesting though flawed. The book was well written. It has a powerful message about the power of love. I suspect that a reader would get new insights with each reading of this book. Grade: A
- Dick J.
I am once again spending the month of November on one of the Golden Isles of Georgia. And as I kick back on our balcony and look past the 656-foot Hyundai auto carrier, Golden Ray, capsized in the middle of Saint Simons Sound out toward the Sidney Lanier Bridge (the longest bridge in all Georgia), I can't help but think about Brother Juniper's struggle to understand the mystery of God. Was it an accident or was it God's intention to send 4,200 Hyundais and Kias to the bottom of the sea? Was the poet of the Confederacy, Sidney Lanier, really struggling to articulate the mystery of God's plan when he wrote "The Marshes of Glynn"?
Whether the direction of our lives is part of God's plan or not, I find Wilder's exploration of the role love plays as a "bridge" to memory fascinating. I have read The Bridge of San Luis Rey at least three times over the course of 60 years and I am always intrigued by the role the Abbes plays in each of the characters' lives and by her thoughts at the very end of the novel. It is a haunting story which Wilder tells well. I understand why it is considered a classic in American literature. I wish I could join in on the discussion. A
- Jack
