The Bridge of San Luis Rey: A Novel
by Thornton Wilder
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Book Reviews of The Bridge of San Luis Rey: A Novel
Book Review: Eclipsed by the "Boom" Writers
Summary: 3 Stars
This book is a 1928 Pulitzer Prize winning novel that may have been a breakthrough for its time. As I read it I could not help but wonder how this content would have fared in the hands of "Boom" writers such as Octavio Paz or Gabriel Garcia Marquez. Had I read this before I read the South American Boom writers I might have had more appreciation for it.
I checked Wilder's bio and could not find any time spent in Peru or South America prior to (or after) writing the book unless it was during his Coast Guard service. Perhaps its weakness is fundamental: that it is an impression of rather than the actual experience of Latin America. At the time it was written, it may be the closest English speaking readers could get to this type of cross-cultural literary experience. Now readers have a variety of authentic voices to chose from.
Wilder has created a good book, but is not a great book. I understand that it is on some lists as a great American classic. I recommend that those who compile these lists try some of the late twentieth century Latin American writers.
Book Review: surprising its secret
Summary: 4 Stars
A couple of weeks back I rented Robert DeNiro's movie adaptation of The Bridge at San Luis Rey. The movie was so completely worthless that I felt obliged to read for myself Thornton Wilder's book on which the movie was based.
This is the conceit of the novella: five people die when a rotten footbridge over a Peruvian gorge collapses, and a naive priest searches for a thread of divine meaning in the five deaths. Wilder's theme is "learn at last that anywhere you may expect grace." This message is is proved not only in the lives of the characters, who bless each other in unusual and unexpected ways, but also in Wilder's intimate prose. The style is remarkably similar to that of Marquez and the other poetical latin novelists - and very effective for tranforming colonial Peru into a mythical dream.
The Bridge at San Luis Rey is too lovely and restrained - too lacking in tension and tragedy - to be a great novel. But for me it was a refreshing interlude between larger novels that are more challenging and more deceptive.
Book Review: What am I missing? I found the book dull and unsatisfying.
Summary: 2 Stars
I have read all the positive reviews and I am a bit stumped. I found the early chapter about the relationship between the mother and daughter very tedious and meaningless. I almost stopped reading after that chapter, but slogged on through the rest of the book with little uptick in enjoyment. I believe people just feel they have to love and praise the "classics" no matter what. I found the book dull and unsatisfying. I'm so glad it was a short book. The most enjoyable part of the book was looking up the many words I did not understand. I'm very glad I put the [...] app on my iPhone.Book Review: Well written, but...
Summary: 4 Stars
The book "The Bridge of San Louis Rey" plagues you with the question, "Why those five?" The book then goes into a small segment of the personal lives of all the victims of the bridge collapse, ultimately leaving it up to you to decide and think about. The book was extremely well written, with careful attention to vocabulary, and sentence formation. Therefore, I give the book a 4 out of 5. All that being said, I personally did not like the book, it's just not the genre that i like to spend my time reading.Book Review: Beautiful Collector's item
Summary: 5 Stars
The Bridge of San Luis Rey is a Thornton Wilder classic and well worth the read in any form, but the edition I purchased from provider, Leo Sun Sign, is an exquisite collector's item with gorgeous colored illustrations. The book arrived quickly and was in impeccable condition. The perfect gift for any book lover.