Title: History is Objective but Its Retelling is Subjective
M.C.V. Egan- The Bridge of Deaths
M.C.V. Egan’s book, The
Bridge of Deaths, centers on a delicate balance between historical facts
and psychic retelling. This book is an interesting take on cold case
investigation and historical fiction mixed with some cosmic-humanism. I was
surprised to find that the duo of realism and mysticism worked quite well together
within the text.
The three main characters: Bill, Maggie, and Catalina search
through historical documents and experience psychic readings in order to find
out what really happened on August 15th, 1939. It soon becomes apparent
that history is not always reported correctly and that greater forces were at
work to draw the trio together. I loved the narrative voice used by Egan where
she opened up a world set in both modern day and in 1939.
My favorite quote from the book is the first line of the
first chapter, “He perceived himself to be a sensible man.” I was hooked. Right
at the beginning the reader is thrown this ironic line that shows great insight
into the main character, Bill; but also sets one of the book’s themes that your
perception of reality is your reality.
My only problem with this book comes in the drowning
exposition of the historical reports surrounding the central mystery. Some of
the book is comprised of meticulously comprehensive emails or web chats that
explicate the various historical records in frustrating detail. I wanted there
to be narrative chapters between the investigation chapters to give the reader
a mental break.
Aside from the monotonous chapters I did enjoy the fictional
story that surrounded a real historical event that the author was
investigating. I appreciated how Egan threw herself into the novel as a
character and created a story similar to her own research. This book played with the idea that the retelling of history is not always
how it actually happened.
I give, The Bridge of
Deaths 3/5 Stars ***
R.A. Ross
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