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harureads's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
An existential exploration of a woman who has defined her personhood with being a mother and a wife, and how the loss of these elements in her life makes her lose herself. It was difficult to imagine that a man had so aptly understood and presented the psychological underpinnings of a housewife who lived during the two world wars without much consideration of it in her safe and bourgeoisie neighbourhood.
Her dialogues with her family members tell us that she is someone who never picks a side, tries to appease everyone, which results in her never forming a real relationship with anyone because she does not condone having an independent identity. The end shows her locked up in her car in the middle of snow with no one around to help her, which might be the possible cause of her death and this event represents what her life was like.
Her dialogues with her family members tell us that she is someone who never picks a side, tries to appease everyone, which results in her never forming a real relationship with anyone because she does not condone having an independent identity. The end shows her locked up in her car in the middle of snow with no one around to help her, which might be the possible cause of her death and this event represents what her life was like.
mbenzz's review against another edition
4.0
This short little book took me over a week to finish, but I enjoyed it overall. I think most people would find this story rather dry and boring, but I saw echoes of myself in India Bridge and her life as a wife, mother, and housewife, and I could identify with her on many levels.
Upon finishing this book, I immediately started its companion novel, Mr. Bridge, but I found I really didn't care for his voice. After getting 12% of the way through his story, I choose not to continue on.
This book definitely isn't for everyone, but I rather enjoyed it.
Upon finishing this book, I immediately started its companion novel, Mr. Bridge, but I found I really didn't care for his voice. After getting 12% of the way through his story, I choose not to continue on.
This book definitely isn't for everyone, but I rather enjoyed it.
indianajane's review against another edition
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
jordan_linder's review against another edition
3.0
Different style of reading, read by suggestion of Nana. Almost sad to visualize a woman's role back then.
jgintrovertedreader's review against another edition
3.0
This quiet, introspective novel wasn't exactly to my taste, but there's a lot here for a group discussion. This may stick with me for a while.
lazylarry's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
ms_greenjeans's review against another edition
4.0
Read this, and you know why the 60’s happened. The whitest white lady stuck in her role, unable to move beyond what others thought of her—if you’ve ever wondered what “quiet desperation” is, pick up this book.
The ending is haunting and metaphorical but perfect.
Also, after reading the blurbs, I wonder how our perception of Mrs. Bridge has changed since the book was published. They thought she was funny. I see her as a Karen before Karens decided to speak up. She was tragic.
The ending is haunting and metaphorical but perfect.
Also, after reading the blurbs, I wonder how our perception of Mrs. Bridge has changed since the book was published. They thought she was funny. I see her as a Karen before Karens decided to speak up. She was tragic.
showell's review against another edition
4.0
Can't get that scene where she and her husband are calmly having dinner while a tornado destroys the country club around them out of my head.
ericfheiman's review against another edition
5.0
Over the wisdom of Montaigne she brooded, eventually reaching the conclusion that if super-celestial ideas were necessarily accompanied by subterranean behavior it might be better to forego them both.
What a neat trick this book pulls off.
Short chapters describing the daily life of the privileged, well-meaning (and, even for the 1930s, pretty racist) India Bridge verge on the banal. Slowly, though, one gets to know Mrs. Bridge and as her flaws pile up, so does her humanity. By its conclusion, Mrs. Bridge’s dramatic stakes have barely risen since the book’s start. But because we’ve sat shotgun through her ride of life, its final hiccups land like devastating earthquakes.
What a neat trick this book pulls off.
Short chapters describing the daily life of the privileged, well-meaning (and, even for the 1930s, pretty racist) India Bridge verge on the banal. Slowly, though, one gets to know Mrs. Bridge and as her flaws pile up, so does her humanity. By its conclusion, Mrs. Bridge’s dramatic stakes have barely risen since the book’s start. But because we’ve sat shotgun through her ride of life, its final hiccups land like devastating earthquakes.
torchlab's review against another edition
4.5
In a just world this book would be considered an American classic on the level of Gatsby or Catcher or something