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A review by mrdietz
Bridge of Clay by Markus Zusak
3.0
It's tough not to be disappointed by Zusak's latest novel, particularly when I spent so many years eagerly anticipating its release. Although it doesn't pack the emotional punch that The Book Thief, or even I am the Messenger, did, I think I would still recommend it. First, there can be no question that Zusak is a talented writer. I did find much of this book to be too overwritten for me - the metaphors were too distracting, and the constant naming and renaming of characters was excessive. This flowery style of writing works perfectly for an abstract personification like Death in The Book Thief and not quite as well when it's a young man typing the story out on a typewriter.
I love the structure of a twin narrative, where each chapter bounces back and forth between the past and the present. The first few sections involving the history of the Dunbar boys' parents are some of my favorite parts of the novel. The romantic connection is earned. The choice to bounce through time non-chronologically is less enjoyable. As the story progressed, I found myself less engaged in the story.
For a story called Bridge of Clay, there is surprisingly little bridge-building actually taking place. Though it might seem an odd complaint, I would have loved a thorough description of the architecture and labor that goes into constructing a bridge. It's an instance of my expectations not connecting with the novel's intentions, which is my least favorite type of criticism, but it does still remain at the forefront of my mind. Though Clay is the main character, I didn't necessarily see him as that captivating of a figure.
I'm sure that plenty of folks will love this story of a non-traditional Australian family, and I want to like it so much more than I actually do. I can only wonder if the more than ten years spent writing this novel in some way hindered the final creation. Now that Zusak has exorcised this story, I am excited to see what he writes about next. I only hope it doesn't take another decade to produce.
I love the structure of a twin narrative, where each chapter bounces back and forth between the past and the present. The first few sections involving the history of the Dunbar boys' parents are some of my favorite parts of the novel. The romantic connection is earned. The choice to bounce through time non-chronologically is less enjoyable. As the story progressed, I found myself less engaged in the story.
For a story called Bridge of Clay, there is surprisingly little bridge-building actually taking place. Though it might seem an odd complaint, I would have loved a thorough description of the architecture and labor that goes into constructing a bridge. It's an instance of my expectations not connecting with the novel's intentions, which is my least favorite type of criticism, but it does still remain at the forefront of my mind. Though Clay is the main character, I didn't necessarily see him as that captivating of a figure.
I'm sure that plenty of folks will love this story of a non-traditional Australian family, and I want to like it so much more than I actually do. I can only wonder if the more than ten years spent writing this novel in some way hindered the final creation. Now that Zusak has exorcised this story, I am excited to see what he writes about next. I only hope it doesn't take another decade to produce.