Mr. Bridge
by Evan S. Connell
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 136)
Read in June, 2008
A very nice compliment to Mrs. Bridge. As with Mrs. Bridge (India), Mr. Bridge (Walter) – the character – is often frustrating but Connell’s writing is not. The story is quiet, made up of the small instances in a man’s suburban life between the two world wars. It’s all a bit cloudy and Mr. and Mrs. Bridge don’t have the hindsight to understand the world around them – their prejudices and bindings, nor their opportunities. And what fills the story out is you can see their childr...more
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Read in August, 2007
As devastating as Mrs. Bridge, but in a far more frustrating way. Mr. Bridge's (the character, that is, not the novel's) complete lack of self-awareness, save for a few moments of desire, is a total marvel, frustrating as hell, and yet the book itself is still so compelling. Such an intense portrait of a life, once again, and the way we might mythologize ourselves in ways that might be completely inane, or completely delusional. I didn't sob at the end like I did with Mrs. Bridge but instead cl...more
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Tamar, tu as raison - this book totally stank. It took everything that was good about Mrs B (the subtlety, the distance of Mr B, the intrigue of his character) and just wrecked it all - it attempts to give him more dimension but it all feels very contrived, and the tragic irony of his sacrfifice for his family only leading to their problems doesn't at all come across, until he then spells it out. This book was a real let down. If he was so desperate for a sequel, I would've thought one of th...more
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Read in November, 2007
A deeply realistic and loosely plotted view into the "average American" mind. Imagine a more readable Ulysses, if Bloom was a stodgy midwesterner. Connell manages to avoid what must have been a sore temptation to add outsized drama and focuses on the small triumphs and minor heartaches that frame most of our lives. The book is incredibly well summed-up in the eponymous Mr. Bridge's closing thoughts on happiness: "But not joy. No, that belonged to simpler minds".
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Read in February, 2006
a sequel to Mrs. Bridge it is written in the same vignettes style but from the point of view of Mr. Bridge.
Is it possible to live a life of complete quiet desperation that you are completely unaware of?
after you read both books read more evan s. connell and watch the movie with paul newman and joanne woodward.
if you want to read a book about people living the suburban life and completely aware it is sucking their souls away read some richard yates.
Is it possible to live a life of complete quiet desperation that you are completely unaware of?
after you read both books read more evan s. connell and watch the movie with paul newman and joanne woodward.
if you want to read a book about people living the suburban life and completely aware it is sucking their souls away read some richard yates.
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I recently re-read this and it's companion, Mrs. Bridge. They are both terrific. You get a portrait of them through sharp, witty descriptions of the trivial day to day things that make up a person's life. Mr. Bridge is a racist, sexist, greedy man and his wife is clueless and seemingly lacking the ability for critical thinking, but somehow they are pillars of their country-club neighborhood. I wish more people loved these two books as much as I do.
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A worthy companion to "Mrs. Bridge," this book covers essentially the same period of time, but from Mr. Bridge's perspective. Mr. Bridge is not, overall, a sympathetic character, and I think Connell had a bit more trouble making him seem real, but it's still a fascinating book which should definitely be read along with "Mrs. Bridge." Together they make a complex portrait of a marriage and a family.
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I adored this book and "Mrs. Bridge" too -- real slice of life of a bygone era and a bygone type of family. Understated writing style, but reading between the lines tells you all you need to know about the characters.
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Read in May, 2008
Devastatingly sad character study, of both Mr. Bridge and our country. Not as emotionally powerful as _Mrs. Bridge_ (and oddly repetitive in a few spots), but I still highly recommend. Read Mrs. first, then Mr.
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Read in May, 2007
Dudes, you all need to read this. This portrait of '30's-40's wasp suburban life is funny as hell and subtly scathing while remaining empathetic. Revolutionary Road from the neighbor's point of view.
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Read in January, 1990
Love the vignette style of Mr. and Mrs. Bridge. The vignettes are able to capture the character and his experiences.
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Read in June, 1992
If I remember it from high school, then it must be a good one. Kind of like diary entries of a life lived. Quiet.
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Read in March, 2003
I liked Mrs. Bridge better, but this little sequal is a real gem. Read Evan S. Connell, now!
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Devastating portrait. Companion novel to Connell's equally devastating "Mrs. Bridge."
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You won't know whether to laugh or cry.
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