Review: Bridgers by Angie Thompson
Bridgers: A Parable by Angie Thompson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I always find books especially interesting that are loosely based on a Biblical story – it’s fun to watch how the author fleshes different aspects of the true story in a fictional one. And in Bridgers, Angie Thompson did an amazing job fictionally portraying the parable of the Good Samaritan.
Characters: At first, I was a little confused who the main characters were, but it became apparent who the three were: DaVonte, Levi, and Peyton. To avoid spoilers, I’m not going to mention which guy played which role in the story, but I’ll just say my favorite character was probably Levi. I could connect so well with his shyness, and I loved his desire to serve the Lord in spite of his weaknesses. Some of the conversations he had were so beautiful and encouraging to me – and such a reminder to completely trust the Lord and not depend on my own strength. His storyline was just amazing! And for DaVonte … it was beautiful how the smallest bit of truth so deeply affected his life and the lives of those around him. His and Levi’s friendship was a ton of fun (fish sticks and Joan of Arc were golden – great writing there, because that’s the way good friends roll with inside jokes.) And Peyton … yeah. Not a fan of him, but I liked Natalie. She was sweet.
Writing Style/Plot: I really enjoyed the writing in this book – it was clear and concise but flowed really well. I wasn’t distracted by the writing at all, and that left the spotlight on the story. The plot was great – the parable was utilized well, but it wasn’t overly close to the Biblical story. There wasn’t a bunch of action, but watching how the story progressed and how the characters developed was so engaging. The book flew by in the best of ways!
Moral/Theme: Obviously, the theme of loving one’s neighbors was a huge part of this book. I really liked how the author addressed racial/class tensions – instead of just completely throwing the blame on one side, both sides were presented as being wrong because they both hated each other, just for different reasons. But there were all other kinds of great morals – the power of just a few words of truth, trusting not in our own strength, doing what’s right no matter the cost … and of course, the truth of the Gospel that is the only way people can be changed and lives can be healed.
Overall, I loved this book. It was so encouraging and truth-filled, and I was sucked into the story so quickly. I’m excited to read more by this author in the future.
Disclosure: I received this book free from the publisher/author. The opinions I have expressed are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
