The Bridge

 The Bridge by Peter J. Tomasi, Illustrated by Sara Duvall

A Book Review by Charlize from the Miami Branch

Genre: NF Graphic History Novel | Pages: 201

Stars: 4/5 | Tears: 0/5 | Mature Content: 1/5

Would you recommend this book to someone, why or why not?

I would recommend this book to people, especially anyone who is interested in the history of New York City or to someone who has visited NYC. 

How did the author keep you interested throughout the story?

The bright illustrations caught my eye on every page, and I kept wondering when they were going to complete the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge as they kept hitting roadblocks and setbacks. With the book being a graphic novel, I found that it was a faster read than a traditional book which also helped to keep my attention. 

Did this book change or challenge any preconceived notions you had about the subject?

I did not have any preconceived notions prior to reading this book. However, I did not realize just how strenuous the labour was to build the bridge, and what a major milestone it was to connect Manhattan and Brooklyn.

Have you read anything else on this subject by an author with a different viewpoint?

I have not read anything with a different viewpoint, but I have read other books about the Brooklyn Bridge. I became interested in reading this book after watching the TV series “The Gilded Age”, where the main characters attended the official opening of the Brooklyn Bridge and it was mentioned that Emily Roebling was overseeing the construction on behalf of her ill husband.

Was there anyone in the story, or a statement made that you disagreed with while reading?

I disagreed with the Trustees’ self-motivated attitudes and the antiquated views regarding women.

What did you learn from this book? Did you find the subject interesting?

I learned a lot about the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge and what a massive undertaking it was, as well as the groundbreaking technology they used. I also learned about the Chief Engineer Washington Roebling and his wife Emily. I did find the subject interesting and would read other books on the subject. 

Did you stop to Google anything while reading this book?

I did not. 

Were you satisfied with the overall structure of the book, or could improvements be made?

I found that the ending came on rather quickly. In my opinion, a lot of time was spent describing the construction of the towers and not very much time was focused on the suspension of the bridge or how they built the bridge deck. I would have liked to have known how they achieved that. However, overall I was satisfied with the structure of this book. 

If you'd like to place this book on hold, CLICK HERE!