The Other Side of the Bridge

by Mary Lawson

The setting of Mary Lawson's book is the small town of Struan in Northern Ontario before and during WWII and later in 1950s. As the narration moves backwards and forwards in time, this can be confusing. The characters are drawn from a community of farmers of mixed European descent and an Indian Reservation. The environment is beautiful but harsh. The other side of the bridge

The book tells of the devastating effects of WWII and the consequences of love, hate, jealousy and obsession on otherwise everyday lives, and how the two generations are linked by fate and community. Lawson describes vividly how the horror of war can reach right into the heart of a community at the furthest reaches of the Empire. The characters are all well drawn; some outcomes are predictable but this is a compelling, immensely readable book in which the reader is gripped by vivid descriptions and moments of tenderness and humour. To be recommended and followed by reading Mary Lawson's 'Crow Lake' please!