October Read: Mrs. Bridge

We will begin the discussion of Mrs. Bridge by Evan S. Connell on Monday, October 4, 2010! Talk to you then!

September's flying by, and in just over one week, we'll be starting to talk about Mrs. Bridge! Start your engines!

Better than that, last night I started the book! Already about 2/3 finished. Without revealing anything about the story, I'll just say that I'm enjoying the KC landmarks.

Finished this afternoon. The book is due back tomorrow, and I can't renew as someone else is waiting for it, so I won't be able to have it in hand next week as we're discussing.

Isn't anyone going to begin the discussion of Mrs. Bridge? Am I as a mere newcomer supposed to begin?

While reading the early part of the book, I did not like the title character. She seemed shallow and not terrible bright. But in reading further, it seemed that her limitations are not of her own making and that she tried very much to do what she could to facilitate the activities of others. She was quite devoted to her family, and often in a rather sensible way. Certainly, she was bound by the public expectations for her social class, but who isn't bound by class and role expectations?

The ending of this tersely and very well written book is quite sad. The book is well worth reading.

While reading the early part of the book, I did not like the title character. She seemed shallow and not terrible bright. But in reading further, it seemed that her limitations are not of her own making and that she tried very much to do what she could to facilitate the activities of others. She was quite devoted to her family, and often in a rather sensible way. Certainly, she was bound by the public expectations for her social class, but who isn't bound by class and role expectations?

The ending of this tersely and very well written book is quite sad. The book is well worth reading.

>5 Illiniguy71:, 6: Hello, and welcome to the group. Thank you for getting us off to a good start. I read Mrs. Bridge back in 1996. I rated it 4 stars and counted it in my Top Ten books for that year. I was just going to skim it for this group, but I started reading it yesterday and got caught up in it once again.

I don't think we're supposed to like India very much but rather feel sorry for her misspent life. I agree that she was devoted to her family -- at least as much as one can be devoted while being so detached from them. I felt like the children pretty much went their own way while Mama tried to keep up with the society ladies. I suppose this is the way it was in the upper middle class in the 1940's, although she did have the one friend who stepped out of the mold and played football with her kids and got interested in social justice issues.

I've only made my way to Page 101. I'll try to get it finished by tomorrow night and comment some more. Anyone else ready to jump in here?

I'm here!

I agree with Illiniguy (welcome, by the way) that the book seemed sad. India just didn't seem able to take control of her own life - whether because she didn't have the ability or whether she was constrained by society. I think she was envious of her friend who "stepped out of the mold". But there was no way she would ever try to emulate her. She was just such a passive person! That scene at the end of the book when the Lincoln stalls when she was trying to back out of the garage was one of the most pitiful I've ever come across.

I wasn't sure whether we were supposed to like her or not. Surely we aren't meant to admire her. But what lessons can we learn from her?

Hi, everyone! And welcome, Illiniguy!

I just finished Mrs. Bridge last night and will comment more as it sinks in a little. I thought that the book was extremely well written. The sparse, matter-of-fact style drew me in, and then all of a sudden Connell would include a detail that made me realize just how empty Mrs. Bridge's life was. One that really struck me was the chapter when she was so worried that she wouldn't have anything to do, but then served frozen strawberries because they save time.

I agree that she seemed very detached from her children. In most of the early chapters, I couldn't even tell what ages they were. I kept wanting to know more about them, but I don't think that Mrs. Bridge knew them very well either. That's one lesson that I think we can learn from Mrs. Bridge - enjoy your children. I felt like she spent most of her time worrying that they would do something "wrong." I wasn't surprised that they all went their own ways when they grew up.

Has anyone read Mr. Bridge? He played such a small part in this book. It would be interesting to see things from his perspective.

I've been swamped with work and personal matters. Haven't started it yet, though I still hope to get to it.

If not, I may need to skip this one and re-join the group in December.

>That's a great question, Sandy, about what lessons we should learn from Mrs. Bridge. For starters, I'm going to be more assertive!!

>10 porch_reader:: Hi Amy, I read Mr. Bridge shortly after reading Mrs. B back in the 90's. A completely different POV made it most interesting but I don't recall the details. I think we should read it at some point. Maybe Keith will draw it out of the hat soon!

>11 lindapanzo:: Aw, c'mon, Linda. If it makes you feel any better, I'm still on Page 101. I forgot I had a tutoring session this afternoon. As soon as I get supper planned (something simple), it's back to books. This is a quick read with some of the shortest chapters I've encountered in a book.

Well, Donna, I DO have two days off (Mon and Tues) so maybe I can get to it this long weekend, assuming I get my massive work project finished.

Yes, please, Linda - give it a try. The chapters are super short - some only a couple of paragrahs - and the book reads very quickly. After working so hard everyday at the office this week, you'll need something to help you decompress before sleeping.

I had a strange reaction to this book. I thought it was beautifully written, and I loved the setup - how instead of a standard narrative arc, the story was told in little snapshots that ultimately gave us a picture of a life.

My problem was that the life (Mrs. Bridge's life) was so sad, and not at all what she wanted, and stifled, and lonely, and pitiful. I had a very hard time reading it - for some reason, it made me feel incredibly guilty (and I can't think of any good reason for feeling guilty, besides that I am the bad child who moved across the country away from my parents). Mrs. Bridge's life just seemed so empty, almost tragically so.

I suppose that it is a sign of what a good writer Evan Connell is that I had such a strong reaction to the book. It is beautifully written.

As far as lessons learned are concerned, I suppose the most important one would be to do something. It isn't enough to just sit around, and have other people do your work, and wait for the things you want to happen, to happen to you. Because they won't.

Welcome, Illiniguy, and please accept my apologies! I swear I wrote something on here yesterday morning, but it's not there! Post gremlins again, I guess.

I thought this was a great book (thank you, Donna!). I agree that Mrs. Bridge was not very likeable at the start of the book, but she grew on me as I realized she was a prisoner of the social mores of her time period. I kept remembering the characters from The Help as I read this, and it also made me think of Olive Kitteridge. The ending had quite an impact on me. I hesitate to call it a "good" ending, but it was close to perfect for the book. I think "pitiful" describes it well, Sandy.

What lessons can we learn from her? I think we already have learned them, at least as a society. I suspect that this is the kind of life that propelled the "feminist revolution" of the 60s and 70s. It's easy to say we would have behaved differently, but we probably wouldn't have during that time period.

The book did make me very anxious to read Mr. Bridge, so I may not even wait for Keith to choose it! He's going to miss picking for December, since we chose the second-place book for that. He laughs when I ask him to do this, but he is always interested in how the voting is going!

And I agree with all who said it was wonderfully written. What a talent.

I finished the book earlier today and have been ruminating on it. It's that kind of book! I sort of changed my mind about Mrs. Bridge, the character. I too found her sad and pitiful in the beginning, but slowly realized that she had been a great influence on her children and husband.

She brought out Walter's softer side as much as anyone could. He was definitely a cold fish yet he delighted in surprising her on her birthdays and even sent roses after she messed up the pineapple bread.

Ruth came around a little bit (you have to use your imagination here) when she was writing the 'proper' letter to her mother while lying naked in bed with the bad boy. Carolyn depended on her tactfulness and acceptance when her marriage was in trouble. And, even Douglas wrote that comforting letter to her about how much Walter had loved her. I'd say all three of those kids had longing thoughts about the environment she had created at home...after they left it!

She was so kind to her friends that I'm sure there would be lots of testimonials from them. Harriet and the gardener probably thought she was a good employer. In fact, Harriet declined to be wooed away from the Bridge's kitchen. All these "little" things add up to a life well spent imo. It's just too bad that she couldn't see how much impact she'd had on others' lives. OMG, it sounds like It's A Wonderful Life!

Bottom line: I love this book and upgraded my rating to 4.5. I'll probably reread Mr. Bridge sometime next year. I also have Son of the Morning Star by Connell to read. It's an account of Custer and the Little Big Horn.

#17 - Donna - That is a very interesting perspective. I ended the book feeling sorry for Mrs. Bridge. From my 21st century perspective, I think that I wanted her to be more self-determined, to take charge of her life and make the most of it. But, after reading your comments, I see how she impacted those around her. And if she had just realized that, she would likely have been quite pleased.

I was fascinated by Mr. and Mrs. Bridge's relationship, and hope to get a fuller picture of it when I read Mr. Bridge. The chapters when they were in Europe provided a very different picture of them. I do have to say that I would not have been as steadfast as Mrs. Bridge at the country club dinner when the tornado was coming. Growing up in the midwest, I'm pretty relaxed about tornados, but when everyone else headed for the basement, I think I would have gone along.

Amy, I surprised myself by my change of heart toward Mrs. B. As I was reading, I was muttering comments like "get a backbone." I pitied her because she was so bewildered by her children and spent so much time doing frivolous things. I still don't admire those behaviors, but deep down, I think she stood by her family and made a difference in their lives.

I loved that tornado scene! Another favorite scene of mine was in Paris at the cafe when their reluctant tour guide Morgan (the son of a family friend to refresh the memory) kept putting his foot in his mouth and finally ended the awkward conversation with his understatement, "it's sure been an experience!" I thought Connell injected a lot of humor like this in a subtle manner. Never using the guest towels made me chuckle as did the phrase "retaliating" invitations. I wish I'd taken better notes!

#17 This is a wonderful insight, Donna. And that is just the goal that Mrs Bridge probably had in life - to have such a positive impact on the people around her. Too bad she never realized how successful she was. BTW, congratulations on your "hot" review of our book. I read all the reviews posted by the group, and they are all excellent - each making a slightly different point. I'm feeling a little outclassed here and will pass on posting my own review.

#18 I'm with you - growing up in Kansas, I'm relaxed about tornadoes, but if there is one bearing down on me you can bet I'll be joining the crowd in the basement. If hubby wants to stay upstairs and eat his dinner, he'll have to do it alone! I thought that really was an uncomfortable scene. I can't imagine that she didn't feel like she could suggest taking shelter and just waited for him to say it first - or not.

Well, it looks like we're talked out (unless anyone else has more to say? We'll listen!), so remember, we chose the 2nd place book to read for December: A Bad Day for Sorry by Sophie Littlefield. How about Wednesday December 1?

#21 Sounds good.

I guess I didn't realize that A Bad Day for Sorry is a mystery. Yay!! I say this because I just got an alert about the Macavity Awards. This was nominated for the Best First Mystery award but it lost to The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie.

Maybe I'll get to that one. I've been in an all-October reading slump.