Welcome from Julie Orringer

[Julie]

Hello, Goodreads readers! Thanks for joining me for this weeklong chat. I'm writing to you from Brooklyn, NY, where I'm working on a new novel, taking care of my nine-month-old son, and anticipating spring. Please ask anything you like about The Invisible Bridge, How to Breathe Underwater, or writing in general. I'll be reading your questions and posting answers daily.

[Emily]

Hi Julie!

I read and loved The Invisible Bridge earlier this year. Having lived in Budapest and studied 20th century nationalism in central/eastern Europe, I found the novel totally engrossing and completely spot-on. I'm so happy you're on Goodreads for a discussion group this week! I'll be back with some questions/comments/praise :)

Emily K

[LynnB]

Hi Julie - I read The Invisible Bridge a while ago and have been recommending it to all my friends. Excellent story that just pulled me right in. Can you tell me anything about the novel that you are working on? I definitely plan to read it!

[Lisa]

Hi, Julie. Thanks for hosting this group. I'll try to participate later in the week. I read How to Breathe Underwater years ago and I'm eager to read The Invisible Bridge. I'm glad to hear you're working on a new book.

[[deleted user]]

Hi Julie,
I just finished The Invisible Bridge for my book club which will be meeting in two weeks. I absolutely loved it! I know I'll have some questions, but I'll have to put my thoughts together on what I want to ask. I'm very excited to hear that you are working on a new novel!

[Kristin]

Julie,
The Invisible Bridge is one of those books that is life changing. For me, it is in my top 5 (along with Sarah's Key and The Kite Runner--yes, in my humble opinion, you are that good!!!)I fell in love with each and every one of your characters, and felt like every experience and challenge they faced, I went through along with them. What an epic story-you have obviously poured your heart, soul, and many hours of research into this. Your descriptions of the settings were rich and vivid...they read like poetry. I was emotionally spent when I finished it, and in a heap of tissues (a good thing!)) I think because I am a huge enthusiast of WW2 history, your book really resonated with me, and has left a lasting impression. You are a gifted writer, and I am so looking forward to your next book. Thank you for sharing this story. Bravo!

[Chrissie]

I absolutely loved The Invisible Bridge. This book deserved every one of the five stars I gave it. When I picked up the book I was worried that this would be another one of those hyped-up books that everyone says is wonderful, but isn't. This was beyond all my expectations. I definitely wanted my friends to read it. If you want to know why I liked the book, here is my spoiler-free GR review:
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Many of my friends have now read this book. We all gave it five stars, except one who awarded four. Speaking for myself, I want a five star book to be amazing, This certainly was. Thank you for writing it.

[Carmel]

Hi Julie,

I read your book last year and thoroughly enjoyed it. I recommended it to a friend (who read it on her i-phone!!) and told her one of the things that was great about it was that it was so nice and long, you had the pleasure of knowing it wasn't going to end soon. Any story of the way the Jewish people were treated is hard to read, but it is satisfying to have the truth made known and, in the end, good overcoming evil.

A quick question -- how much documentation of your research is necessary when you submit a historical novel? Did your publisher want to see yours or do they just trust an author to have their facts straight?

[Stacey]

I really loved The Invisible Bridge. In its evocation of time, place, and character, it struck me an old-fashioned historical novel--and I mean that in the best sense--the kind that sweeps you up emotionally so you feel as though you have lived through the events yourself alongside the characters. I'm wondering how long it took to write and also if you had any prototypes and influences in mind as you worked?

[Sue]

Hi Julie,
I just finished The Invisible Bridge, and really liked it. I am just curious whether any of it was based on your family history. I am looking forward to your next novel.

[Jodi]

Hi Julie:

I was wondering if you could come to our book group meeting on the Upper East Side and discuss The Invisible Bridge? The date would be April 5th but for you I think we could change it if that date didn't work. We have also had conference calls with authors that have worked out very well.

[Diane]

Loved this book! The characters and setting were so vivid. You obviously did a great deal of research. I'd like to know how you pulled together all of the history and details.

[Andrea]

This was truly an amazing book. I could close my eyes after reading a chapter and feel as if I was there. I actually cried at the end of the book. Not just because it was a perfect ending but because it was over. Thank you for writing such a an amazing book.

[MarkB]

The Invisible Bridge was my favorite read of 2010. I'm assume that my Hungarian heritage played a part in my opinion, but I found your writing to be among the most complete and compelling that I have ever read.

[Mary]

Dear Julie,

I was 4+ years old the day Pearl Harbor was bombed. When I tell people that we got our news about the war from reading the paper and watching news reels at the theater, they shudder. We saw the concentration camps, the demolished cities, the prisoners of war. Your book brought back old memories. It was beautifully written. The characters were so real and the love among the brothers was heartbreaking. I've recommended this book to my family and friends,,, readers and non-readers alike. It was wonderful. MaryJo

[Janet]

I loved How to Breathe Underwater. And it made me curious about your childhood. I grew up in the Detroit suburbs so I recognized many of the settings in your stories. How old were you when you lived there and where did you live?