Cover Image: Bridge of Clay

Bridge of Clay

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

I absolutely love Markus Zusak, so I had high expectations for this book. It didn’t disappoint - I couldn’t give it 5 stars after previous works, but I absolutely loved it

Was this review helpful?

Whilst I mostly enjoyed getting to know the abandoned Dunbar brothers, the book felt too long.
The narrative sometime just went places where I had no idea what was going on.
It was very much a mixed bag for me.

Was this review helpful?

This was a brilliant read. As soon as I started reading this book I just knew I was going to love it. Highly recommended

Was this review helpful?

While I generally love a coming-of-age books about sibling dynamics, I didn't enjoy this book as much as I thought I would. I am a huge fan of The Book Thief so I suspect my expectations let me down. I did enjoy living with this family as I read their story, but I just wanted to connect with the characters on a deeper level. It's certainly a slow-burn and took about 150 pages before it grabbed me, and unfortunately I thought some sections of it were overwritten.

Not for me sadly, but I very much appreciate the opportunity to have read it.

Was this review helpful?

At first I found this one hard to follow, especially as my only other experience with Markus Zusak's work has been The Book Thief. But I'm so glad I stuck with it. The prose was almost lyrical at times and what unfolded was a complex but beautiful story of family, love and loss.

Was this review helpful?

*I received this ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

Actual rating: 3.5 stars

Ugh alright so I love Markus Zusak, The Book thief is my favourite book ever, and I loved The Messenger, but Bridge of Clay felt like so much effort was put into it and the result just fell short of what it could have been.
Zusak just tried to do so much with this book, spanning decades and countries and the length was so unnecessary- so much could have been taken out, so much of it felt like filler padding everything out. And I usually ADORE Zusak's writing, I always love how lyrical and metaphorical and beautiful it is, but god damn this book had no plain English at all. Half the time I didn't even know what the author was trying to say because of all the flowery language.

This novel was like Zusak took all the parts people enjoyed of The Book Thief and added a fine layer of cocaine to create a mean head-rushy combo of literature chaos.
Don't get me wrong, I liked reading this, the story was interesting, the character were interesting, I always adore an Australian setting, but Zusak just tried so hard to write this book, and it so thoroughly shows. The result is that I'm honestly quite disappointed- Zusak tried to do too much and cover too many things, and if he'd simplified the story and writing I would have had a much more enjoyable reading experience.

Was this review helpful?

I received this book a long time ago and a while after the publishing date. Therefore I will not be giving feedback as not only would it no longer be relevant, but also I didn't get round to reading it. My thanks to the published for the opportunity, as always this is much appreciated.

Was this review helpful?

A decent read. However, this is NOTHING compared to "The Book Thief' and just isn't what I was expecting from Zusak. Underwhelming.

Was this review helpful?

This isn't on a par with The Book Thief, and heads in an entirely different direction- but that's no bad thing. The book commences in the beginning of the story and then twists the timeline around in a really clever way. Takes a little time to get into and it's a great puzzle of a read. Full of super original construction and a story that carries you from start to finish. It looks simple enough, but constructing this was probably hard work and it's a lovely read.

Was this review helpful?

Bridge of Clay by Markus Zusak

For how do you walk towards your father without being a son? How do you leave home without realising where you’re from?

This book… it’s a 568 page poem about brothers, running, fathers, a bridge, mistakes, Homer’s Odyssey, mothers, stories, dying, legacies, horses and a mule, clay, painting, David and the slaves, reading, Pont Neuf, grief, refugees, an engraved lighter, a piano, a typewriter, a peg…

…there was always a bulkiness to us. A bursting at the seams. Whatever we did, there was more: More washing, more cleaning, more eating, more dishes, more arguing, more fighting and throwing and hitting and farting… It didn’t matter how in control or on-top-of-things were, there was chaos a heartbeat away. We could be skinny and constantly agile, but there was never quite room for all of it – so everything was done at once.

Like many readers, I had eagerly awaited Zusak’s ‘next book’. And let’s be frank, we all waited very patiently. And then it arrived, this story about the five Dunbar brothers with their absent father and dead mother. And I pounced on it but just couldn’t get into it. I heard Zusak speak, which of course made me enthusiastic all over again but no, I didn’t get very far. And then my book group selected it, so I persevered through the first few chapters. And then something changed – the intimacy of those family moments, those wounded lovely boys, a mother’s heart breaking as she contemplated what she’d miss. And Zusak had me wholly, completely until the very last word.

You know your mother’s dying when she takes you out individually. We skip moments like stones.

From the service we carried her away. On one side was Henry, Clay and me. On the other, Michael, Tommy and Rory – same as our Archer Street football teams – and the woman inside was weightless. The coffin weighed a tonne. She was a feather wrapped up in a chopping block.

And we walked back out together – through the crowds and words of people, and a city all swollen with sun. And death came walking with us.

From there, there was a sort of bashed-up quiet. The table was arid between father and sons, and a hell of a lot of toast crumbs.

5/5 Stunning.

I received my copy of Bridge of Clay from the publisher, Random House UK, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

It must be hard for an author to follow up from two amazing books. This book was flat to me and just too long. It was okay, I just enjoyed his other books more

Was this review helpful?

I tried to read this but unfortunately despite multiple attempts I just couldn’t get into it. The Book Theif is an all time favourite of mine and perhaps I was setting this book up for a fall by expecting it to live up to that. Unfortunately it just wasn’t the book for me. As I don’t believe it is fair to review books I haven’t finished I haven’t linked a video review.

Was this review helpful?

DNF @30%

The five Dunbar brothers live in a house without grownups and with a collection of animals.
When their father returns, Clay's life changes.

The Book Thief is one of my favourite books so I was really excited to read Bridge of Clay.
Bridge of Clay follows the Dunbar brothers and the history of their family. The time jumps were confusing at times, especially with the formatting of the eARC.
I wasn't keen on the writing style - things seemed really dragged out and long winded, and not much happened.
I lost interest and decided not to carry on.

Unfortunately, this wasn't for me.

Was this review helpful?

This just isn't for me. I had very high expectations for it and they were dragged down as I went along with this book. The pacing is slow to the point of no return. A drag. Sorry. DNF.

Was this review helpful?

I was expecting great things from this book because The Book Thief is one of my favourite books of all time.

Unfortunately, I just couldn't get into this book. At times I had no idea what was going on.

However, that's not to say that others wont enjoy it!

Was this review helpful?

This was not the book for me, so I'm going to put it down at page 19. I won't rate it or write a long review because I don't want to dissuade anyone from reading it I wasn't a fan of the writing style and the plot doesn't pull me in. That being said, this book has a great opening line and I think a lot of other people will love this.

Was this review helpful?

This is a marvelous, rollicking tale of the five Dunbar boys, abandoned by their father after their mother died and now living alone in the family home with an assortment of animals. Told through the eyes of the oldest brother Matthew it mostly focuses on his younger brother, Clay and his exploits. The book is a little difficult to get into at first (and I did have to read the first chapter twice to get the rhythm of the writing) as it jumps around in time and many things don't have a significance until later. But trust me you will grow to love the characters (and Achilles the mule) and it will all fit together before the end to make a spellbinding and beautiful, poignant tale of family love.

Was this review helpful?

very very lovely. i love the way zusak writes. probably not as excellent as the book thief, and very wordy tbh, but i did very much like this.

Was this review helpful?

Now this is a book "Bridge of Clay by Markus Zusak" I was looking forward to download and read. So when this book was available I had to read it. Especially as I loved his first book The book Thief.
However, I sadly found this book, one of the hardest and confusing books I have read in a long time. and so long.
I had put it down several times and picked it up then started to read it again, which I never do. Shame though as I loved the Book Thief and I've read it a few times now.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

I enjoyed this book but I was a little disappointed because it isn't as good as The Book Thief. I liked the characters of the Dunbar boys and how what happened to them shaped who they are but also how their own personalities determined their personalities also. There is a really good balance of nature and nurture. The thing I found hard was the timeline changes. I found that the jump between them was very sudden and I got confused as to what time period I was reading about, Despite this, I got very absorbed in the story and would recommend it

Was this review helpful?