Cover Image: Bridge of Clay

Bridge of Clay

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

It’s been worth the wait Markus Zusak. A compelling, beautiful story.

“Let me tell you about our brother. The fourth Dunbar boy named Clay. Everything happened to him. We were all of us changed through him.”

Penelope Lescuiszko, thanks to the insistence of her father, had used the opportunity to flee The Soviet Union while supposedly attending a piano eisteddfod. After taking refuge in several different countries, she finally lands in Australia, where she takes on the unmotivating task of cleaning, mostly toilets to keep her a roof over her head. She met Michael when the piano she’d bought was delivered to his house instead of hers (they lived on the same street).

Michael had all but given up on the world and women after a bad break-up. Their lives entwine, more as two lonely people at the beginning. However, this eventually changes, and they marry, and five boys arrive in relatively quick succession. The brothers, Matthew, Rory, Henry, Clay(ton) and Thomas, are typical tearaway boys. Rough and tumble, fight, makeup, defend each other, and all learn to play the piano (on their mother’s insistence). Their mother also instils reading in them from an early age. The Iliad and The Odyssey had been part of her childhood. Her father had read them to her while she was growing up. When she left, he’d hidden English translations of both books in her suitcase, with a letter telling her not to return home, but to take the chance to flee communism.

The boys’ idyllic life comes crashing down when Penelope is diagnosed with terminal cancer. It’s a slow and painful time for all of them and life goes on as best it can. Clay spends most of his free time with his mother, listening to her history and that of Michael.

Michael, the father, cannot come to terms when Penelope dies and within months, vanishes. Matthew is left in charge of keeping the home running and the boys reasonably under control. He hates his father, calling him a murderer for leaving them alone, so young and vulnerable to care for themselves. When Michael makes an unexpected visit many years later, Matthew is shocked to hear that Clay wants to go with him to build a bridge, washed away over the river which runs next to his new home.

There are not enough words to describe the absolute poetic beauty of this story. Markus Zusak left us all breathless and asking for more with The Book Thief. Believe me, this book, in my opinion, might be even more powerful, more poetic with strong characters, and strong motivation to keep turning the pages,

The storyline has wrapped itself around my heart, making me sad, but also realise that sometimes, we need dark days and hard times in our lives to make us appreciate the rest of life that much more.

I loved every single word. Thank you, Markus Zusak, you’ve once again proved that you are a master storyteller.

Treebeard

Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.

Was this review helpful?

The anticipation for Markus Zusak's latest novel has been eager to say the least; heightened immeasurably by the 10-year wait. So here it is.

This is the story of the Dunbar family, the parents, the five boys, but most of all the story of #4 child Clay. It's also the story of a bridge that Clay will build for - and to - his father. And the crux of it all is the why.

I had a few issues with this book, which is why it's taken me almost a week just to decide on a rating. In the end - 3 stars - it was good. But with several caveats, because while I really liked the second half, the first half was just ok for me.

The book is long. That in itself is neither here nor there. But it took me a long, long time to begin enjoying it. By the 1/3 mark I'd convinced myself to keep going, and somewhere beyond the halfway point I decided it was actually quite a good story. My problem was the effort it took as a reader to achieve the expected level (just normal, not rapturous) of gratification.

So let's say I didn't like the first 200 pages (or thereabouts). Here's why. I felt disoriented - I couldn't work out where the story was set until I was told. I wasn't even sure if it was Australia at first. I was lonely - I couldn't tell the 5 boys apart, and didn't know which ones to love and which to ignore. And it wasn't just the boys, there were actually a lot of characters - human and animal - introduced in that first section, and it was really hard to keep track of them. I was a bit bored - boy children's antics and horses don't interest me that much, but Penelope's (the mum's) backstory gave me a glimmer of hope. I was worried - I just knew that there were some important things happening in the story that I wasn't grasping, and I was concerned it might affect my understanding of what was happening later on. I was frustrated - I didn't really like the writing style, although I did get used to it later in the book.

But then around Part 3 it began to gel a bit more, my reading speeded up, and I got into it.

In the end my two favourite characters were the two women in Clay's life, his mother and Carey, his girl-who-is-a-friend-but-becoming-a-girlfriend. The secret, probably due to the lengthy buildup, wasn't difficult to pick, although it still produced an emotional response when it was revealed.

So would I recommend it? Only to readers who are prepared to put in the effort. Not for first-time readers of Zusak!

* If anyone can explain to me what was going on with the bridge during that storm, please let me know!! *

Was this review helpful?

Thanks to Netgalley for giving me an E-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

When I first heard this was being released, back when booktubers were posting about it in their Bookexpo videos, I was really interested in the novel. I didn’t know much about it, but like most people, I fell in love with the beauty and sorrow of The Book Thief and wanted to see what else Zusak could do [I know he’s written other books but still]. Then, when I was accepted for the review copy, I felt my interest dwindling.

Bridge of Clay is a pretty hard book to get into, at least to begin with. There are always two narratives in each section. At first I found this a bit baffling, then I got the hang of it and enjoyed it for a bit. It’s possible to follow along when the second narrative [usually in the past] is about absent characters such as the mother, or when there was a section about how the Dunbar parents met for the first time. But it becomes confusing, and a touch frustrating, when the second narrative is about characters who also appear in the present, such as Matthew or Clay. It’s not the easiest thing to keep up with, and it’s not really something I recommend you read just before bed. Not because the book will give you nightmares, or anything like that, but because it requires you to be concentrating as you read.

That being said, if you’re willing to take your time with it, Bridge of Clay is a thoroughly enjoyable read. As strange as the synopsis makes the book sound, it’s actually very charming and gripping. In some ways, it reminds me somewhat of Haruki Murakami’s novels, particularly with the inclusion of all the pets. The Dunbars seem to have a habit of adopting strange animals and then naming them after Greek heroes in homage to Homer. My particular favourite is Achilles, the mule. Yes, they really do have a mule, which sometimes breaks into their house when given half a chance. It’s definitely a weird little quirk to the story that works nicely. More importantly, it points to the semi-feral status of the Dunbar boys. Their mother, Penelope, is dead, and their father abandons them, leaving Matthew [the eldest, and the narrator] to try and support himself and his four brothers.

Which is why, as a reader, you feel a certain amount of second-hand anger when their father comes back, seemingly on a whim, and requests help with building a bridge. There’s a kind of strange reality at play here, something that seems beyond the realms of possibility. He’s not just after a little bridge to go over the pond in his backyard. Nope, he’s after an actual huge-ass bridge. Which is why it makes sense that he needs help, but not so much why he asks the brothers. It’s pretty obvious that he’s doing it to try and build a [cough cough] bridge between them, but it still seems a bit ridiculous that he would have the nerve to come ask for a favour after abandoning them. When Clay agrees, to the anger of the other brothers, you can’t help but feel a mixture of anger and sadness over his decision.

This points to what is clearly Zusak’s finest tool in his writing arsenal– his ability to write real, poignant characters. Ones you could imagine bumping into in the street, or living on the other side of town. Zusak’s world, as strange as it may sometimes seem, is still our own. He’s able to bring his characters to life, able to make you wish that you knew them outside of the confines of the paper. It’s truly a magical talent.

And here’s another thing he does well– writing prose. The prose in Bridge of Clay, like in Zusak’s other works, is nothing short of art. It’s lyrical and poetic and it just pulls at something inside of you. At times, it can be a little heavy-handed. There were moments towards the end of the book where I was uncertain what was actually going on, but mostly they’re just gorgeous. Anyone who is interested in writing beautiful prose should absolutely check out this book, and anything else that has Zusak’s master touch. Between the brilliant characters and heart-wrenching descriptions, it’s really no surprise that I sobbed my heart out at the end of this book. And I know I won’t be alone in that, either. I will grant a cookie to anyone who is able to make it through this novel without tearing up.

In conclusion, Bridge of Clay was a beautiful and haunting read that I will definitely be recommending to friends. There are times when the dual narrative is confusing, and sometimes the descriptions become so descriptive and so saturated with metaphors that it’s hard to keep up with the plot, but the amazing characters and the sheer beauty of the prose is definitely worth the amount of concentration this book expects from you. I’m giving it an 8.5/10 stars.

Was this review helpful?

Bridge of Clay is acclaimed, prize-winning author Markus Zusak's long-awaited follow-up to the spectacular The Book Thief which was first published in 2006, and while it wasn't as enjoyable as that, there is still much to admire about it. I cannot see it as being as successful, but it will appeal to those who delight in Zusak's inimitable writing style. The story follows the lives of the five Dunbar brothers who live at 18 Archer Street, Sydney, in a house without adults. It charts their struggles since their mother passed away and father walked out on them without so much as a word. It also takes a look at the hopes and aspirations of their parents, Michael and Penny, before the boys were born.

This is a beautiful, emotive and heartfelt novel about the ups and downs we all have in life and the emotions that accompany them. When I read that Zusak had decided to write in exactly the way he wanted to on matters close to his heart knowing that no matter the book or the story, you simply cannot please everyone, I was full of admiration. Needless to say, not everyone will appreciate the subtly nuanced ruminations on life, love, grief, loss, and so much more. This appears to be a story you will either love or hate, a classic "marmite" novel if you will. If you enjoy books that explore the often hidden issues under the surface or the philosophical underpinnings to life you'll likely love this. On the other hand, if you need action and a solid plot this may not be for you as it doesn't really have a plot per se, it's more of a character-driven tale. The perspective is one that constantly changes with potential for confusion and will not suit everyone, and It's certainly a challenge to engage with but once you are it's a captivating read.

Many thanks to Doubleday for an ARC. I was not required to post a review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

Was this review helpful?

DNF - 58%

When i heard this was finally coming out, I was so excited to read it. I absolutely positively LOVED The Book Thief and was ecstatic when I was approved to receive it.

Unfortunately upon reading, Zuzak's latest literary entry was confusing and bland. From the first page, the continuously changing POV was near impossible to keep track of. The characters personalities were lukewarm at best.

I had an inability to connect with any of the characters through out the portion that I read. I made a genuine effort to continue reading but after taking almost a week to read what equates to around 300 pages, I finally gave up.

While the story and its premise had real potential, I failed to find myself motivation with which to complete my reading.

Was this review helpful?

NO SPOILERS

Bridge of Clay is the story of the Dunbars, Michael and Penelope and their five sons, told by the oldest, Matthew. Well, that sounds dull, doesn’t it? But this is such an overwhelmingly insightful novel, so beautifully written with pathos, humour and love that it is as far from dull as it could be. The loves, the losses (heartbreaking at times), the anger, the hanging on, the resolution, the absolution…and all without any sickly sentimentality.

I loved Zusak’s The Book Thief for his non-patronising understanding and recounting of a difficult subject. Bridge of Clay has that same empathetic assuredness. The writing is that of Matthew but the perspective is from all, collectively and individually…even the mule. The story runs backwards and forwards and sideways, always revealing a little more of the hows and whys of the now. A quarter of the way through I literally lost the plot and had to start again but then I hardly put it down. I feel I know every character, they are so heartbreakingly real. The intimate detail is perfectly told and no observation is throwaway; all is important and will stay with me for a very long time.

This book was long time coming and is a masterpiece…I don’t say that lightly. Part of me wishes I had not read it so I still had it to read.

I think if a Dunbar boy has got your back then all is well…you really do have to love them.

Thank you to NetGalley and Doubleday for the Advanced Reader Copy of the book, which I have voluntarily reviewed.

Was this review helpful?

Five Dunbar boys, the eldest was Matthew (who narrated the story), the fourth was Clay, who seemed to be the most sensitive and socially aware. The youngest was Tommy with Henry and Rory somewhere in between. They lived at 18 Archer Street in the suburbs of Sydney, where Matthew took over the job of caring for his brothers after their mother died and six months later their father left without a word. Their struggles were many, their ways of grieving all different.

Bridge of Clay tells of tragedy and loss; of heartache and hope; and insecurities, not just in the five boys but in their father as well. Clay would be the one to build a bridge – but was it a bricks and mortar bridge, or a metaphorical bridge?

As we learn of life before the five Dunbar boys were born; of Michael’s early life, and Penny’s as well, we get to know their individual likes and dislikes; their hopes for the future. It was Penny who said she’d like five children, but Michael who said, let them not all be boys!

I struggled initially with Bridge of Clay – the writing confused me, and I couldn’t get into the flow of the story. I put it aside for a few days, then picked it up again today. Straight away I was into the lives of the Dunbar boys, and couldn’t put it down, and although it jumps around, it’s easy to catch the links. The publisher’s words best sum it up – “Here is a story told inside out and back to front.” Aussie author Markus Zusak has had Bridge of Clay coming for our reading pleasure for some years now – I’m glad it’s finally here. Recommended.

With thanks to Pan Macmillan AU, NetGalley and Picador for my uncorrected proof ARC to read in exchange for my honest review.

Was this review helpful?

I loved The Book Thief so when I heard Markus Zusak was due to publish another book I couldn’t wait to read it. Unfortunately, I really struggled to get into it and so I didn’t finish it. I barely made it past the first chapter.

My main struggle with Bridge of Clay was the style it was written in. I am not sure if the problem was me or if the book was just genuinely difficult to get into.

The Dunbar brothers live in a world governed by their own set of rules because there is no adult around to tell them what to do.

As they struggle with the trials of growing up they discover the secret behind the sudden disappearance of their father.

Clay is the linchpin that holds the family together and he will build a bridge for his family, his past, his sins and for greatness.

But how far will Clay go to build it and what will he have to overcome to do it?

Bridge of Clay should have been a good book, but it just wasn’t right for me.

“In the beginning there was one murderer, one mule and one boy, but this isn’t the beginning.”

This was a promising start to the book but by the time I was 5% into the book I decided I really couldn’t continue anymore. I may have tried some more to engage with it but I have a lot of other books to read and nothing in the story suggested to me there was any reason for me to continue.

Very disappointing.

Was this review helpful?

Finally we met with Zusak's new book after Book Thief. He's taken his time, but it was totally worth the wait! Bridge of Clay is about 5 brothers who live alone. Their mother died, and father left. They live in suburbs of Sydney alone. The story is told from the eldest brother's perspective, Matthew. But, the star of the book is Clay, the fourth boy, who is trying to build this bridge. The bridge is physical and symbolic. It takes you 50 pages to get into the book. Suddenly we're thrown into it not knowing who is who, and what's going on. But, be patient, because after you get the hang of it, we're in Zusak's magical world.
His writing is just so rich. He has his own style, and I can appreciate it's not for everyone, but there's no doubt he's very skilful. He has his long descriptions, choppy sentences, clever metaphors. It's not usual, but still captivating. It makes you somehow curious to keep going.
It's a character driven book. Before you know it, you start to feel and care for this family. It's very different than what I grew up in, so it took me some time to adjust to the dynamics of a 5 brothers, big family. Nevertheless, I enjoyed reading about them and felt for them.
All in all, this book was a very unique journey. I loved it. I gave it 4 stars because of the hard start, and some parts of the book that were too slow (like the horse racing part).

Thanks a lot to NetGalley and the Publisher for granting a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

DNF - 30%

This is the first time in a while that I've actually not finished a book. I should mention that I was one of the few people who liked but didn't love The Book Thief, but I find it hard to believe that Bridge of Clay will be as well-loved as that book. More power to you if you can actually finish and enjoy it.

At times it felt like Zusak deliberately went out of his way to make the story more confusing and difficult to enjoy. It's a painfully cerebral metaphorical wandering through the lives of five Australian brothers - Matthew, Rory, Henry, Thomas & Clay. The prose is full of the kind of bloated overwritten description that doesn't quite make sense.

Inside, the house was oven-like.
The furniture all was roasted.
The pictures just out of the toaster.
They had an air conditioner. It was broken.


There's some Homerian aspects, too, the most obvious of which being the boys' mule Achilles, but there are illusions to Homer's work throughout.

I'm not going to go on too much in this review, especially as I didn't finish it. I noticed some readers saying it took a while to get going so I pushed through, but I think 170 pages should be more than enough for a book to grab me.

Was this review helpful?

Well, what can I say about this book? I found it totally mesmerising! It took a while to get going, but suddenly you find you can't put it down!
It follows the lives of the five Dunbar boys, told from the point of view of the eldest Matthew, but it concentrates on the fourth boy Clay. After their mother dies and their father abandons them, the boys are left to raise themselves in the suburbs of Sydney. Markus Zusak tells a remarkable tale here, the bridge of the title being both physical and symbolical. The timeline does jump around a bit, but this doesn't really detract from the story.
It also touches on horse racing, and having an interest in the Sydney racing scene it was a bit of a trip down memory lane for me. I did laugh at the racehorse called Engadine (yes Markus and I share the same hometown, though I don't personally know him!)
All in all, Bridge Of Clay is a wonderful, riveting book,and I have no hesitation in recommending it.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

I loved the Book Thief and I was so looking forward to this new novel Markus Zusak. I have heard great reviews of this book. Bridge of Clay is a completely different writing style from the book thief.
The story is about the 5 Dunbar boys living in a house with a few animals and their father long gone. It’s a coming of age story of love and loss and forgiveness. The story describes each of the brother lives and the way they settle their problems with their fists.
For me I struggled through this book. I thought the writing was good but, it didn’t gel together. The writing was just all over the place. It went from one thing to another in one sentence. I just didn’t get it. Because of this I stopped reading it after 60 %. Life is too short reading books you don’t enjoy.
Thank you Netgalley and Random House Uk for a copy of this book

Was this review helpful?

Forgot how much I loved Markus Zusak's writing. His prose is a joy to read, his way with words is incredibly impactful, creating memorable imagery no matter the meaning. Just a genuine delight to take in.

The story itself is told in a non-linear format, and with a large number of characters it takes a little while to get to grips with what’s going on – or at least it did for me. When it does come together, a rather moving tale of coming of age, loss, abandonment, and forgiveness is revealed.

Granted, there were one or two things that didn’t quite work for me, but in the wider story they were negligible.

This was an ARC in exchange for an honest review. With kind thanks to NetGalley and Random House.

Was this review helpful?

I really loved, “The Book Thief,” and was excited to read the latest novel by Marcus Zusak, “Bridge of Clay.” To be honest, this was a bit of a struggle at the beginning, as it took me a while to settle into the book and I would say that readers need to persevere and get used to the style, and flow, of the writing. Although, as you would expect, the language is beautiful, I still found this took a while for me to really get truly invested in the story.

The novel centres on the five Dunbar brothers, the eldest of whom narrates the story. At the beginning, the brothers are living alone, having been deserted by their father, who returns home as the novel opens. At first I found the parts about running, and racing, quite uninteresting and the general flow of the storyline quite confusing. Fairly early in the novel, one of the brothers, Clay, decides to give up school and becomes obsessed with bridges – and in building one. Of course, though, that is not all that the novel is about. It is about five brothers, left parentless, who have to cope on their own, of belonging, family and forgiveness.

This has deep themes and is, ultimately, very moving. I am not sure why I struggled so much in the beginning, but I found the style very difficult at first – it jumps, stops and starts. However, keep going and you will be rewarded. I received a copy of this from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.

Was this review helpful?

The writing style of Markus Zusak is extraordinary. He paints with words, not flowery pictures but real and down to earth images that stand out, enhancing the story and the characters. Take this phrase:

“A button was missing where his guts surged forward with great determination.”

It just typifies the language the pervades the whole novel. As is the varied use of sentence lengths that create a range of different tempos - sometimes slow and drawn out and other times short and sharp; creating an atmosphere and mood of the story or character at that time.

The imagery here is very powerful:

“She’d started leaving us that morning, and death was moving in: He was perched there on a curtain rod. Dangling in the sun. Later, he was leaning, close but casual, an arm draped over the fridge; if he was minding the beer he was doing a bloody good job.”

The story told is not in chronological order; it jumps around incredibly but it flows and the links stand out. As the publisher’s blurb says “Here is a story told inside out and back to front”. At times it is a nickname that is the focus like ‘Mistake Maker’ or ‘Murderer’ or it is an object like the book The Quarryman or the TW (typewriter) that gives you an anchor in following the story. A story of a family, of their parents, their parents pasts and futures and where it takes the five boys.

It is a compelling story that unfolds with a huge amount of emotion and leaves you drained.

The publisher’s blurb is excellent introduction to the story and I don’t intend to summarise a story which holds a lot of tragedy but is, at the same time, uplifting.

While this isn’t an easy read, it is worth reading.

Thank you to Netgalley and publisher, Transworld Digital for a complimentary ebook copy to read in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

Was this review helpful?

I thoroughly enjoyed Bridge of Clay. Having adored the Book Thief I was thrilled to see a new book by Markus Zusak , and delighted that it lived up to expectation.
Clay was an interesting character and Zusak's writing once more had that indefinable something that makes his books so readable.

Was this review helpful?

I found Bridge of Clay hard work at first to be honest but once a couple of chapters were read I got pulled in. Five brothers, all different, all with great characters. I great read that I definitely recommend.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you NetGalley and Random House for providing me with a copy for review.

Bridge of Clay is an emotional coming-of-age novel that centres of family and tells the story of a group of brothers who were left by their parents when they were young. However, the sudden reappearance of their father and his request for them to help him build a bridge changes everything for them.

I was a little unsure if I would like this novel at first and mostly wanted to read it because I love The Book Thief so much, but I ended up enjoying it a lot more than I expected. Marcus Zusak has an incredibly unique writing style that always gives his writing such a strong voice and interesting vibe, even at slower points in the plot. It makes it fairly easy to read, despite how long the novel actually is.

The story was a little dull at points, though I think that's more because I don't usually like reading realistic novels, but I still enjoyed it overall and how the story developed. It is an unexpected and great story about family, growing up, and change and one that I can definitely see many people enjoying.

Was this review helpful?

An epic novel about five brothers. It took me a while to get into this book, my first read from Zusak as I have not read The Book Thief, but it paid off greatly. Once my confusion about the characters were over, I was amazed by the world building skills and the richness of Zusak's language. The references, the characters, the plot, it's all magnificent.

Was this review helpful?

This book. This. Book. I veered from loving it to hating it, to it breaking my heart in two and stomping all over it. In hindsight, I should have seen that coming - given what happens every time I read The Book Thief.

I think one of the reasons I didn't like this as much as I liked the former book was because I couldn't relate as much to the main characters, teenage boys. I have read books with male protagonists that I have enjoyed but I prefer a female protagonist if I'm given the choice. As the story unfolds, however, what becomes apparent is that this story is not just centred on these young men, but also on the women who shaped what they became. Those were the parts of this story that spoke the most to me personally, but there are so many different ideas and characters woven into this narrative that I imagine every reader would be able to take away something entirely different.

This isn't a fast read. At 464 pages in hardback, it isn't that long but it isn't exactly a walk in the park either. It took me a little while to get into the story properly, Marcus Zusak is very good at bouncing around in time, giving you different pieces of the narrative at different times, a throwaway comment on one page may become something hugely significant even a hundred pages later. While that makes for incredibly satisfying (and don't forget heartbreaking) reading later on in the book, it makes the early pages stupendously confusing. My advice, stick with it, give yourself the time and space to let your brain absorb the information you're given, trust me it'll all make sense eventually.

This review is incredibly difficult to write, largely because I can see that this story is going to be pretty polarising. Some people are going to love it, some people are going to loathe it. Personally, upon reflection, I've decided I loved it. I think it's a book that requires a re-read, which was also true of The Book Thief if I'm perfectly honest. It's a book that grows on you, a book that you have to read to truly understand. The summary doesn't do it justice, it honestly needs to be read to be believed.

My rating: 4/5 stars

I received a digital advanced review copy of this book for free from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Was this review helpful?