Markus Zusak - Bridge of Clay

Bridge of Clay by Markus Zusak

Senior YA Fiction, Adults.

Markus Zuzak’s latest tome of a book is no easy read. It’s a book you need to take your time over, each line requiring the critical analysis of reading poetry, such is the mystery and imagery of each line.

However, once you have navigated your way through the imagery and innuendo of the text and the outline of a setting begins to emerge, you are in for a treat. Zusak’s Bridge of Clay is the story of the five rough and tumble Dunbar boys, fending for themselves after losing their mother to cancer.

The story begins with the return of the Dunbar’s wayward father, The Murderer. The Murderer delivers an invitation for the sons to join him at his new homestead where he needs help to build a bridge that won’t get washed out during the flood season.

Fourth brother Clay is the only Dunbar prepared to take another chance on their father. His willingness to follow his father out to the bush block is the trigger that begins to unlock the grief and entrapment the boys had found themselves in for so long. 

The oldest Dunbar son, Matthew, narrates the story in rough fragments that criss-cross characters, time and place. Perhaps this style is also part of the symbolism: Matthew pounding the story out on an old typewriter, dug up from the ground.

Yes, it could have done with a bit more editing, and probably would have been a lot more readable with a smoother flow. But I found myself totally caught up in the sad and mournful story of these beautiful, unruly boys with shattered hearts.

And the animals. Loved those misfit animals.

Zinga rating: 4.5 stars                                                                     

Markus Zusak is the author of five books, including the international best seller, The Book Thief, which spent more than a decade on the New York Times bestseller list, and is translated into more than forty languages - establishing Zusak as one of the most successful authors to come out of Australia.

Markus grew up in Sydney, Australia, and still lives there with his wife and two children. In a statement about Bridge of Clay, Zusak said:

 “Clay Dunbar builds a bridge for a multitude of reasons: for his brothers and to honour his parents…but it’s also an attempt at greatness. He builds a bridge to save himself, and to make a single, beautiful moment: a miracle and nothing less.        

                                                                                                                                 www.zusakbooks.com 

Summerlost

Although summer has now passed and our autumn colours are well and truly showing their glory, Summerlost makes for a perfect little holiday read no matter what time of year. This wonderfully bittersweet story is written by Ally Condie, author of the very popular fantasy series 'Matched'.

Lost

‘Last summer we had a Dad and a brother and then they were gone. We did not see it coming.’

After the death of her husband and son in a horrific car accident, Cedar’s mother takes her grieving family back to the small town where their grandparents live. Twelve year old Cedar narrates the story of her family’s adjustment to life without their loved ones, and their first summer of knowing that in the space of one moment your life can be changed forever.

‘We learned from the accident that anything could happen. Anything bad, anyway.’

Found

Cedar worries about what might happen if her mum finds someone new and falls in love. But, reeling in her loss and trying her best to make like life is normal, Cedar’s mum buys a holiday cottage to give them new focus.

‘Mom didn’t end up falling in love with a person, but she did fall in love with a house.’

A character-filled holiday house becomes part of their healing process. Cedar’s mum works obsessively on the house’s renovations while Miles and Cedar entertain themselves and try not to let their mum know they’re watching soap operas for most of the day!

Lost

With time on their hands, memories and regrets flood back. Cedar lives in deep remorse of her last words and actions toward her little brother, who had special needs.

'I couldn't tell anyone. I never, ever wanted Ben to be dead. But sometimes I wanted him gone. And then he was.'

Found

Cedar becomes curious about the boy who rides past her house each day, nicknaming him the Nerd-On-A-Bike. When she learns that his weird attire is his costume for the outdoor Summer Shakespeare theatre festival she stops being so mean to him and a delightful friendship evolves. 

With help from Leo (Nerd-On-A-Bike), Cedar also gets a job at the festival and the two become intrigued by an old unsolved mystery at the theatre. Cedar gets so caught up in solving the mystery of actress Lisette Chamberlain that she makes some decisions that result in her new friends being hurt and betrayed.

Found

I am so glad I found this adorable coming-of-age story. And, I have to admit it was the gorgeous cover image that sold it for me.  

The grief journey Cedar and her family goes through is raw and honest. Cedar makes mistakes and has to live with them.  Most of these actions are born out of her emotional processing and Ally Condie does a magnificent job of writing this voice of grief and loss. I love the way Condie completes the story with a beautiful conversation between Cedar and Leo:

“A minute ago you told me that you thought I was cute.”

“Yeah,” Leo said. “I mean, I do think that. But you’re not my girlfriend. You’re my person.”

I knew right away what he meant.

I thought he was cute and he thought I was cute but it was different than it was when people have crushes.

With Leo I’d fallen into another kind of like. I couldn’t wait to tell him stuff and I loved hearing him laugh at my jokes and I loved laughing at his jokes. He made me feel like I had a spot in the world.

It felt as if Leo and I could like each other all our lives.

So I hugged him.

He was my person too.”

Zinga Rating: Five Stars *****

The Matched series also by Ally Condie