The Other Side of the Bridge by Mary Lawson

This was the type of book that I tried to savor for as long as possible but couldn't because it was too good.  I didn't want to put it down.

The synopsis: Arthur and Jake Dunn are brothers growing up in Struan, Ontario (a fictional in the Canadian Shield) during the 30s/40s...a time of struggle, on the cusp of war. They are the sons of a farmer and as opposite as two people could be.  Arthur is strong, solid, dutiful and set to take over the farm.  He is the pride of his father.  Jake is the younger, attractive, can-do-anything son who has the ability to wrap every person around his manipulative finger. His mother's pride and joy.  And with all this, of course there is a rivalry that is sure to tear lives apart. 

In the same town, 25 years later, there is Ian Christopherson, the son of the town doctor.  He's a good kid, with a level head who is slightly afraid of the future but more than that, afraid of falling into a rut, doing the thing that is expected of him.

Somehow, these two world intermingle and become locked together by fate.  And as sometimes happens, fate deals a shitty hand every now and then.

The cover of this book (shown) sums it up best: Heartbreak, truth, lies, tears, grief and hope. This book had reminders of East of Eden (John Steinbeck) and of course with that, the story of Cain and Abel.  You hated who you were supposed to hate; loved the lovable characters and cheered for the good to slay the bad.  Sure signs of a gifted author.  Mary Lawson can keep on writing them because I will always want to read her books.  Such amazing story telling.  A definite must read!

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!

Crow Lake by Mary Lawson

Well, I've finished my book. It was awesome! I loved it. Read it!


So, this is a book about family - the Morrison family to be precise. It's a book about love, loss, compromise and acceptance among siblings. It's about the hand that life deals you and how you decide to play that hand.

At the start of the novel, the Morrison family (Mom, Dad, Luke - 19, Matt - 16, Kate - 7 and "Bo" - a girl, 1 1/2) is living in a small, remote and rural town in Northern Ontario called Crow Lake. It's a place where most kids do not go beyond high school because they are expected to work on the farm. The Morrison's are one of the few non-farm families and Luke is headed toward college - the first Morrison to reach that goal. Of course, tragedy strikes the family and the kids are left to survive on their own without the security of their parents and Luke must give up the "dream". The story is told through Kate's eyes and through her we see only her experience of the tragedy and later learn how different that is from the rest of the families experience.

It's so interesting to see how events, experienced by one group can be interpreted so differently by each individual. Things that are a tragedy to one are simply a fact of life to another. Read the book - it's worth it.