Customer Reviews
VERY BEAUTIFUL - By: Heather Marshall Negahdar, 06 Nov 2008 
"They sat on in silence, or almost silence; if you listened closely you could just hear a faint thrumming from thousand of wings. Beyond the dragonflies the sun was sinking slowly, casting its rays across the lake, on either side, everything as far as the eye could see was slowly dissolving into the haze. Ian thought, If I live to be a hundred years old, I will always remember this."
Mary Lawson has done it again in her second novel. Beautifully written, we are introduced into the farming community of Straun in Ontario. The characters are ordinary people but such fine people as we see in patient & long suffering good hearted; Arthur Dunn, his brother Jake; handsome, devious & charming, the complete opposite of Arthur. They, having just suffered the death of their father are left with two big farms to manage. This is no easy job as the World War is on, & as Arthur has just been declared unfit for the army, he decides that he will play his part by at least growing the food that will feed them. He goes by diligently; working morning to evening, so very hard on the farm, marries the most beauteous woman in the world Laura, who bears three lovely children. They live comfortable lives but their private life is about to be interrupted as Jake returns to the farm after years of living in many varied areas of the world & with his wary ways continues where he has left off. Other people are not happy to see him especiallly his brother. The people who passed through the life of the Dunns, & they themselves will quietly entertain you. I highly recommend this fine work by Mary Lawson.
Reviewed by Heather Marshalll Negahdar (SUGAR-CANE 03/11/08)
As good as it gets - By: read.a.book, 17 Sep 2008 I simply loved this book & would recommend it to everyone!!! Very emotive, descriptive, powerful & thought-provoking writing that had me in tears at the end. 'The Other Side of the Bridge' is as good as it gets. Wonderful!!! I'm rushing out to buy my copy of 'Crow Lake' asap!
The Other Side of The Bridge - By: gerty guinea, 17 Jul 2008 
Another good read, possibly even better than Crow Lake. Jake has to be one of the most evil & unpleasant characters ever written! I wanted to reach into the book & slap him! A very compelling read, very evocatively written & highly recommended.
Beautifully written and atmospheric - By: Janie U, 12 Jul 2008 This book has a well written prologue which immediately made me interested in the relationship between Arthur & Jake.
Throughout the book the swapping between the two periods in time orked very well with none of the confusion that can happen in some books.
There are beautiful descriptions of the countryside around the town, paying particular attention to the seasonal differences in the scenery, which are dramatic in that area.
The narrative articulates the thoughts in Arthur's head in words that he could never be able to speak himself which works very well & adds huge depth to the story.
Also there is a great ending - time moves on but doesn't seem to move at alll.
Superb, perfect. - By: L. H. Healy, 07 May 2008 This is one of the best novels I have ever read, absolutely loved it. I am in awe of the writing, the storytelling.
Unputdownable book. Wonderful characters, believable relationships, the hardship & romance, pain of life & love is told in superb & stunning prose. I love how the story is told, how the setting in rural Northern Canada is evoked so strongly that the reader can close their eyes & see Arthur farming his land & Ian helping him.
Can't wait to go back & read 'Crow Lake', the author's earlier work which I believe received much praise.
