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Mr Bridge
Mr Bridge | Evan S. Connell
8 posts | 7 read | 1 reading | 7 to read
Evan S. Connell's Mr Bridge is a moving and darkly funny portrayal of a man who is outwardly successful but internally stunted by existential doubts, repressed sexual yearnings and deep-seated prejudices. Fans of Jonathan Franzen and Richard Yates will enjoy Connell's pitch-perfect portrayal of marriage and family life, and this new Penguin Classics edition also includes an introduction by Lionel Shriver, author of We Need to Talk About Kevin. Walter Bridge, husband to India and father to three, is a successful lawyer in a Kansas suburb. The daily dramas of his life only serve to illuminate his prejudice, self-doubts and dreary existence - his Christmas gifts to the family are stock certificates, which he immediately takes back to manage on their behalf - yet he is also kind and charitable, loving his wife while never able to tell her so. In Mr Bridge, Evan S. Connell gives us a moving, satirical and poetic portrayal of a man who cannot escape his limitations, and a couple growing old together but unable, ultimately, to connect. The companion novel, Mrs Bridge, telling the story from the other side of the marriage, is published in Penguin Modern Classics with an introduction by Joshua Ferris, author of Then We Came to the End and The Unnamed. 'Mr Bridge is a tour-de-force of contemporary American realism, a beautiful work of fiction' - Life 'With a delicate and subtle irony, Mr Connell shows us, first from her, then from his point of view, the little daily dramas of this ordinary family. It is very, very funny, often moving and sad, and written with an uncompromising realism that one rarely comes across. To me the Bridges were a revelation: I cannot recommend them too highly' - Daily Telegraph
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KellyK
Mr Bridge | Evan S. Connell
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1. I love Mr. Bridge and the companion Mrs. Bridge - maybe because we lived in Kansas City and I always enjoy books with familiar places in them.

2. If in KC, I‘d suggest a trip to The City Market and a stop at Planters, the best garden store, and also the rose garden at Loose Park. If in St. Louis, spend time on The Hill - especially if you love Italian food.

#RoadtripUSA2022 @megnews

Bklover Zia‘s on the Hill followed by dessert at Missouri Baking Company. Yum!!! 🇮🇹 3y
KellyK @Bklover - I ❤️❤️ Zia‘s! 3y
megnews I just ate at Charlie Gitto‘s the other day!! Delicious!! 3y
KellyK @megnews - lucky you! 😋 3y
18 likes4 comments
review
Redwritinghood
Mr Bridge | Evan S. Connell
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Pickpick

As a follow up to Mrs Bridge, here we get the story from Mr. Bridge‘s POV. He is almost as insulated from the world at large as Mrs Bridge, but he doesn‘t see it. The racism, sexism, and anti-semitism are rampant here as well. He is also a man who is unable to express his emotions for his family other than through taking care of them financially and judging those who are non-conformists harshly. 4⭐️ #hoopla

BarbaraBB I did like Mrs Bridge better, how about you? 4y
Redwritinghood @BarbaraBB Yes, I think I liked it better too, but they were both quite good. 4y
42 likes2 comments
review
AmyStewart
Mr Bridge | Evan S. Connell
Pickpick

Following Mrs. Bridge...the sequel (told from the husband‘s POV) is considerably darker and weirder. He‘s just as cloistered in white suburbia as his wife, just as emotionally stifled, but considerably more prejudiced. When I think about the time period when this was written, I can see what a pointed critique of the country club set it really was. Well worth reading—quick and engrossing—read with a friend, because you will want to talk about it!

Boxtersushi I enjoyed them both - I think it was in the wake of the movie featuring Paul Newman & Joanne Woodward as the Bridges. 7y
51 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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merelybookish
Mr Bridge | Evan S. Connell
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My friend is visiting from Kansas City and brought me some classic KC novels. ☺️

BarbaraBB They are sooo good. Enjoy! 7y
LeahBergen I‘ve always wondered about these. I can‘t wait to hear what you think. 👍🏻 7y
Cathythoughts These look interesting! Keep us posted 💕 7y
61 likes3 comments
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HotCocoaReads
Mr Bridge | Evan S. Connell
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Pickpick

This book shows the sadness and heartbreak of normal life in those little moments that just make you feel like you're going through the movements. And Mrs. Bridge's parenting—I get it. Like I should be telling my kids stuff that will help them, even though I don't know if those things are right. Mrs. Bridge was trapped into being the person she was and the life she lived (the last scene was brilliant). It leaves you feeling hollow too.

BarbaraBB Loved it as well! Did you know that ten years afterwards Connell wrote 7y
catebutler Can't wait to discuss! I'll be finishing this up over the weekend. 7y
HotCocoaReads @BarbaraBB I didn't know that! I wondered if Mr Bridge was the perspective of the husband or if it's the story of the son. Guess I should look it up. 7y
HotCocoaReads @catebutler Me too--I so love our face-to-face discussions! 7y
BarbaraBB It's the husband's side of the story of their lives. It is really well done! 7y
25 likes1 stack add5 comments
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BarbaraBB
Mr Bridge | Evan S. Connell
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Pickpick

I absolutely loved his wife so I wanted to read Mr Bridge's side of the story as well. He seemed so boring in her book, and not interested in her at all.
The opposite is true: his life is dedicated to her and their children. He just feels that the best way to take care of them is by working hard and make sure that they can live without financial worries. Mr and Mrs Bridge tell a story about marriage and family life in Kansas in the 1950s.

5 likes1 stack add
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LibrarianRyan
Mr Bridge | Evan S. Connell
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Bailedbailed

I got to disk 3 out of 11. It was putting me to sleep and I only listen to audiobooks while I drive, and we couldn‘t have that. It‘s just not my cup of tea. It reminds me of Death of a Salesman. It just drones on. It started to get interesting when the maid asked for an advance on her pay, but nothing was built on it. I will say, this is the only story I remember where a parent would rather their child win a pony than win a bicycle.

ValerieAndBooks I liked both this book and Mrs. Bridge a lot. But they are both composed of vignettes which probably doesn't lend well to audio. 8y
LibrarianRyan @ValerieAndBooks I agree. I might have liked it more if I had read the first book and read the second instead of audio. 8y
29 likes2 comments
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LibrarianRyan
Mr Bridge | Evan S. Connell
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Bailedbailed

Okay I have tried but this is just soooooooo boring. I only made it through 3 discs. I do not relish falling asleep while driving. It reminds me of death of a salesman. It's has some interesting thing but not many. Thank you Recorded books. I may not like it but some library will be happy to get it.

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