Book Review

Last week our book group met to discuss The Invisible Bridge by Julie Orringer. This is a hefty (nearly 800 pages!) novel set during the Holocaust, but it is really not as heavy as that sounds. Indeed, at the meeting most of us agreed that the first half or even two-thirds of it read like a Danielle Steel romance! (Not that I've read one, but you know....)

It tells the story of Andras Lévi, a Hungarian Jew studying architecture in Paris just before the start of WWII. He falls in love, but everything is very complicated, and all kinds of misunderstandings and heartaches occur. It's very plotty—too much so for me, in fact, but those who enjoy a story simply for the sake of the story will love it. The writing is good and the characterizations are good and the time and place are realistically portrayed; there are just no grand overarching themes here.

Anyhow, the Nazis come to power and things do get considerably darker, although because of what has come before, you just know that Andras will turn out OK. (I'm not giving away anything by telling you this, because the entire narrative is told from his point of view, so you know he'll survive to the end!) There were altogether too many mysterious benefactors and last-minute saviors and lucky breaks for my weary eye-rolling muscles. Every time Andras was sure to lose everything (including his life), some surprising turn of events would save him.

I'm not at all sorry I read this book, although it was much too long and drawn-out; it just wasn't a book that will stay with me for a long time.

Next up is The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson.

Comments

[Margaret]

I loved the Devil in the White City! I didn't read it for Book Club, but it seems like a great discussion book. We try not to pick anything over 400 pages; most of us still work full-time, so it's tricky to read huge tomes. :)

[Jack @ TheJackB]

It sounds kind of intriguing. On my way to Amazon to read the other reviews.

BTW, it is nice to see that you are still blogging. There are fewer and fewer of the old timers still doing it.

[Becky]

Sounds like an interesting book. I really enjoyed Devil in the White City. Good luck!