Review of The Bridge
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Hannah Hampton
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Review of The Bridge
[Following is a volunteer review of "The Bridge" by Andrew Palmer.]
The Bridge by Andrew Palmer is a thought-provoking read. It is both a historical retelling of the infamous Quebec Bridge disaster and a realistic fiction piece set in a modern-day university. Palmer expertly weaves the two settings together to create a multilayered story. The present and the past intersect in this novel, challenging the characters to accept the responsibility they owe the common man in their careers as engineers.
It is engineering student Ben O’Betany’s final semester at university, and his ambition has never been lower. Rather than focus on acing his midterms, he and his best friend Tyler plan to spend exam season drinking, partying, and getting into all kinds of trouble. Esther Emami, on the other hand, has had her nose in the books since she was a freshman. With her goal of becoming an engineer so close, she vows to let nothing distract her from graduating. When the two are forced to form an unlikely team for a project, they dive deep into a horrendous example of failed engineering and learn more about themselves than they could have ever predicted.
This book was truly fantastic. I was hooked from the beginning chapter, and my enthusiasm never wavered. The masterful interweaving of historical fiction with a story of college students allowed the plot to blossom in a way a singular narrative could never have provided. Even though the story moves between the current day and a historical setting, the transitions are clear and not confusing, allowing for a seamless and engaging read.
It is truly difficult to think of anything to criticize about this book. I would recommend adding a little bit more character development, as many characters seemed to only grow a little bit throughout the story, but this is not so much a criticism as a suggestion. As this story is about young people taking their first steps into their careers, it makes plenty of sense that they would not exit the story as fully developed people. Additionally, I only found one minor grammatical error, leading me to believe this work was professionally edited.
This story is perfect for fans of historical fiction and realistic fiction, and especially for enthusiasts of stories set in an academic setting. Personally, I know nothing about engineering or Canadian history, and I still thoroughly enjoyed this book. The characters are witty and relatable, and I especially enjoyed Ben’s role as a narrator. I rate The Bridge by Andrew Palmer a perfect five out of five stars.
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The Bridge
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
The Bridge by Andrew Palmer is a thought-provoking read. It is both a historical retelling of the infamous Quebec Bridge disaster and a realistic fiction piece set in a modern-day university. Palmer expertly weaves the two settings together to create a multilayered story. The present and the past intersect in this novel, challenging the characters to accept the responsibility they owe the common man in their careers as engineers.
It is engineering student Ben O’Betany’s final semester at university, and his ambition has never been lower. Rather than focus on acing his midterms, he and his best friend Tyler plan to spend exam season drinking, partying, and getting into all kinds of trouble. Esther Emami, on the other hand, has had her nose in the books since she was a freshman. With her goal of becoming an engineer so close, she vows to let nothing distract her from graduating. When the two are forced to form an unlikely team for a project, they dive deep into a horrendous example of failed engineering and learn more about themselves than they could have ever predicted.
This book was truly fantastic. I was hooked from the beginning chapter, and my enthusiasm never wavered. The masterful interweaving of historical fiction with a story of college students allowed the plot to blossom in a way a singular narrative could never have provided. Even though the story moves between the current day and a historical setting, the transitions are clear and not confusing, allowing for a seamless and engaging read.
It is truly difficult to think of anything to criticize about this book. I would recommend adding a little bit more character development, as many characters seemed to only grow a little bit throughout the story, but this is not so much a criticism as a suggestion. As this story is about young people taking their first steps into their careers, it makes plenty of sense that they would not exit the story as fully developed people. Additionally, I only found one minor grammatical error, leading me to believe this work was professionally edited.
This story is perfect for fans of historical fiction and realistic fiction, and especially for enthusiasts of stories set in an academic setting. Personally, I know nothing about engineering or Canadian history, and I still thoroughly enjoyed this book. The characters are witty and relatable, and I especially enjoyed Ben’s role as a narrator. I rate The Bridge by Andrew Palmer a perfect five out of five stars.
******
The Bridge
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: Forbidden Knowledge by Terence H.Young
