The Other Side of the Bridge by Mary Lawson

Let me start by saying that I really love this author. If you'll remember, she also wrote Crow Lake. The Other Side of the Bridge is her second book and though it is a completely different story from Crow Lake it takes place in the same area (Northern Shield in Canada) and is just as good.

This novel is the story of two brothers, Arthur and Jake, sons of a local farmer. Arthur is the dutiful, not-so-book-smart, oldest son who is destined to take over the farm. Jake is the younger "miracle" child who is devious, attractive (a quality that proves to be misplaced in such a person) and as it turns out, dangerous. The story itself moves back and forth between the 30s (when the boys were young and growing up) and 50s (when the boys had established their own adult lives). For some reason, Jake lives his life trying to best his older brother simply for the sheer joy of watching it confound and depress Arthur. Jake becomes the jealous, if-I-can't-have-it-no-one-should type and in the end it shapes the future of what will become of both boys. Definitely a Cain/Abel, East of Eden parallel and one that always draws me in.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It's compellingness sort of crept up on me and I found myself foregoing most activities so I could find out how the story would turn out. I'm bummed to find out that this author only has the two books that I've read out and I await her next publishing. Read this!