Comments on: The Bridge of San Luis Rey

By: Linda

Linda — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 01:54:46 +0000

Can it be that those who died were those who suffered deeply at the hands of unrequited, torturous loves? The daughter in Spain, the telepathic twin, the young girl sent away to tend to the old aristocratic lady was deeply in love with the Abess who cast her out. All these characters were wretchedly obsessed and haunted by the othert, the one who did not return their love. They could not “push on”, but became trapped and even entranced in their own brooding inner world. In contrast, the sea captain, who lost a daughter and was no stranger to tragedy, pushed on. But Esteban, Pepita, Marquesa, these were the haunted, tormented souls obsessed with the uninterested “other”. Did they unconsciously invite harm’s way? You bet they did. The sea captain, grieving his young daughter to the very day the bridge collapsed, left the bridge to tend to earthly, practical matters. He was not a happy man, but rooted in the now, and strong in his stalwart silences. I came away feeling those 5 had to die, in order to live! Freed from torment, unchained by pre-occupation with another, more powerful self than the self each possessed.

By: tamara lord

tamara lord — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 14:16:22 +0000

this book was hard to read it was a book full of sorrows and pain more for dona maria. she longed for her daughter to love her and to say that she was the best mother of all. also dona maria had a change of heart towards the end of the book just before she died.

By: susie Ruth

susie Ruth — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 16:57:39 +0000

Much is made of the characters and destiny, but what of the bridge? Anybody wanna talk about it?

By: Books read in Dec ‘07

Books read in Dec ‘07 — Mon, 05 May 2008 20:47:19 +0000

[...] Christmas by Hijuelos (248 pp.) 90. This Year It Will Be Different by Maeve Binchy (210 pp) 91. The Bridge of San Luis Rey by Thornton Wilder (133 pp) 92. Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf (194 pp) 93. Ishmael by Daniel [...]

By: Book Awards Challenge Complete!!

Book Awards Challenge Complete!! — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 04:54:40 +0000

[...] by Gao Xingjian (Nobel Laureate) 16. The Shipping News by E. Annie Proulx (Pulitzer) 17. The Bridge of San Luis Rey by Thornton Wilder (Pulitzer) 18. Kristin Lavransdatter I: The Wreath by Sigrid Undset (Nobel [...]

By: 1morechapter.com » Blog Archive » From the Stacks Challenge

1morechapter.com » Blog Archive » From the Stacks Challenge — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 21:02:00 +0000

[...] Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini Mr. Ives’ Christmas by Hijuelos Independent People by Laxness The Bridge of San Luis Rey by Thornton Wilder The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by [...]

By: 1920’s : Decades ‘08

1920’s : Decades ‘08 — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 16:27:06 +0000

[...] ‘07 Reviews: The Bridge of San Luis Rey by Thornton Wilder (3M) The Glimpses of the Moon by Edith Wharton (Framed) Kristin Lavransdatter [...]

By: Saturday Review of Books: December 8, 2007 at Semicolon

Saturday Review of Books: December 8, 2007 at Semicolon — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 16:51:32 +0000

[...] ChristineMM (Anthony and the Magic Picture Frame)23. ChristineMM (manga: Dr. Slump vol. 1)24. 3M (Bridge of San Luis Rey)25. gautami tripathy (Perfect Match by Picoult)26. Just One More Book! Podcast (The Rich Man and the [...]

By: Andi

Andi — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 15:08:54 +0000

Wow, sounds like a fantastic book. I’m only familiar with Our Town, but I certainly won’t hesitate to pick this one up if I run across it.

By: 1morechapter.com » Blog Archive » 12 Pulitzers in 2007

1morechapter.com » Blog Archive » 12 Pulitzers in 2007 — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 06:15:08 +0000

[...] The Bridge of San Luis Rey ****1/2 – Wilder (1928) FINISHED A Death in the Family ****1/2 – Agee (1958) FINISHED To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee ***** (1961) FINISHED Angle of Repose by Wallace Stegner **** (1972) FINISHED The Color Purple – Alice Walker **** (1983) FINISHED The Shipping News – Proulx (1994) The Stone Diaries – Carol Shields ****1/2 (1995) FINISHED The Hours – Cunningham (1999) FINISHED Middlesex – Eugenides (2003) FINISHED The Known World – Jones **** (2004) FINISHED March by Geraldine Brooks ***1/2 (2006) FINISHED The Road by Cormac McCarthy ****1/2 (2007) FINISHED [...]