Title: The Bridge
Author: Karen Kingsbury
Genre: Christian/Gentle Read/ Romance
Publication Date: October 23, 2012
Number of Pages: 336
Geographical Setting: Franklin, Tennessee ( some storyline in Nashville and Portland, Oregon)
Time Period: 21st Century, around Thanksgiving-Christmas
Topics: Bookstores, Lost Love, Hope, Second Chances
Characteristics of a Gentle Read
- Emotional tone that warms the reader's heart and reflects traditional than modern values.
- Language is very simple and safe, nothing offense or complex
- Characters are wonderful people you can identify with and want to care about.
- Storyline is really more about the characters and how they deal with problems of relationships, money, etc. Because this is a Christian fiction, moral values play a big role in the plot.
- Setting takes place in a small town, community is very close-knit as they work together to help the fellow members.
- Although a quick read, one could enjoy it at a gentle pace, with nothing to upset or surprise the reader.
- Multiple points of view of the characters involved in the story to understand their inner problems and how they work out their relationship to a happy ending. Also features a strong, bright and beautiful woman ( Molly) and strong, dependable man ( Ryan.) Charlie and Donna are secondary, likable characters that remind readers of strong, enduring love, even during a tragedy.
- Quick read that is easy to stop and start should the reader be interrupted.
- Descriptive language sets the tone of the story, causing the reader to care about the characters until the satisfying happy ending.
Plot Summary- Molly Allen and Ryan Kelly were college sweethearts, chasing musical dreams and spending afternoons at the local bookstore known as The Bridge. But fate ( in the form of a misunderstanding) causes the love birds to go down separate paths: she alone in Portland playing the violin and dreaming of Ryan; he a successful singer in a country band ( til the band breaks up), longing for Molly's voice and what could have been.
For 30 years,Charlie and Donna Barton have run The Bridge, a place where people meet to talk and read good books. But flood waters and foreclose spell the end of the Bartons' dreams. Then tragedy strikes, bringing Ryan and Molly back to town save to The Bridge and reconnect in a season on miracles and second chances.
My Take- This is a very feel good book, reminds me of something one could find on Hallmark, UP or any family friendly channel. The plot is predicable (and the resolution to the happy ending is pretty abrupt) but it left me feeling all warm and fuzzy ( and teary) at the end. I really love the message of how second chances and miracles can be possible in this day and age. I would definitely recommend this book for those who like stories with an simple, moral-driven storyline or will get them in the holiday spirit.
Readalikes ( From Goodreads.com)
1. Angels at the Table: A Shirley, Goodness and Mercy Christmas Story by Debbie Macomber
2.A Winter Dream by Richard Paul Evans
3.Tidewater Inn ( Hope Beach # 1) by Collen Coble
I appreciated how you mentioned early on and reinforced later in your "My Take" section, that this is a seasonal book. I tend to avoid reading books set at Christmas (or any other holiday) unless I'm reading it during the holiday season, and I know quite a few people who feel the same way. This seems like a book where it could be easy to miss the Christmas element of the story, so it's great that you made it a point to include that information!
ReplyDeleteDefinitely marking this title down for our Holiday display for next year! Our patrons will love it.
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