Review of Magic Bridge

[Piyush Natoo]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Magic Bridge" by Tom Wheeler.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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I believe it is apt to say that Tom Wheeler's 'Magic Bridge' took me by surprise. Set in a world that is an image of the real world, the novel is concerned with the life of the lead protagonist Aiden Summers. Aiden is deeply troubled by the pain of losing his girlfriend to a drunk accident and the guilt of being the hands behind the wheels that took her life. This double-sided sword of pain and guilt pushes Aiden towards a suicide attempt that fortunately fails, and after weeks of being confined to his hospital bed, Aiden comes across the story of a magic bridge, that when traversed can rekindle broken lives.

And thus, Aiden begins his journey toward the spirituality and mysticism of India and Sri Lanka. But what awaits him there isn't certainly simple, the unpredictable weather, the roughness of the seas, and the tensions fraught between India and Sri Lanka make his quest next to impossible.

Aiden is steadfast in his resolve and it is quite remarkable to witness, he eventually finds the answers that he sought. The book is deeply entrenched in the spiritual aspects of various religions, and that is delicately addressed.

While the novel's main character is certainly Aiden, the theological aspects and religion seem to be a character or an extended theme in itself. The author has crafted a visually rich narrative with equal parts of fact and fiction. However, being an Indian myself, I was a bit disappointed regarding the authenticity of facts and stereotypical attributes yet it certainly did not diminish the effect the book had on me.

The book takes the reader on an imaginative journey across oceans quite literally. It is well-presented with no grammar or editing errors, which is why, I'd rate the book a solid 5 out of 5 stars.

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Magic Bridge
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