The Bridge

By: Lisa Tawn Bergren

Narrated by: Cameron Beierle

Length: 6 hrs and 47 mins

Publisher's summary

In the early 1960's, a young woman and her infant son are thrown into a cold Montana mountain river after their car plunges from an unstable wooden bridge. In the terrible moments that follow, Anna Conway and a stranger who attempts to help both lose their lives. Through their heroism the child is miraculously spared. Nearly forty years later, unexpected events bring New Yorker Jared Conway back to the river with his own son in tow. Crushed by a disappointing end to his marriage and the numbing pace of his business, Jared finds himself yearning for something he cannot define. Yet before he can discover the thing that will bring him inner peace, he must first come to terms with the mysteries of his traumatic past.

©2000 Lisa Tawn Bergren (P)2002 Books in Motion

easy, light fiction

It is an easy, enjoyable read.

When Jared's marriage collapses he takes his eight year old son on a cross country trip to visit Montana where he needs to clean out a cabin left to him after the death of his great-uncle. It is his first time there since his infancy when his mother was fleeing her abusive boyfriend and they were involved in a tragic accident. Thy made it to the small town where he lived only to have the bridge they were crossing collapse into the river. A local elderly man was fishing and rescued Jared, but his mother died.

The book takes part over the course of one summer. Jared and Nicolaus spend their days cleaning out the cabin, fishing and meeting the local people. And Jared finds himself in a friendship with a local female artist. The romance is predictable in that the two characters are good-hearted, nice and caring but from two different worlds. Both Jared and Eden have dealt with heartache. They struggle with trust, and neither of them can see a way that they can have a real relationship. But both are likable characters and I always enjoy when characters inspire empathy.

My favorite part of the book though were the few chapters that told his mom's story. I found these sections moving and a bit more complex.

Beautiful story!

I loved this story! I want to hear more about Jared and Eden! Thank you Lisa!!