The Bridge

Rating:
Summary: A Dazzling Journey Through The Subconscious
Review: If you, like myself, were put off by Banks' first book (The Wasp Factory -- a psychobabble view of a sociopath's mind), don't let that stop you from reading this book. Yes, this is another descent into the human subconscious, but one much more acceptable, perhaps because it is less pretensious, or perhaps because there are no attempts at aligning "significant behavior" with childhood peculiarities.

This is the inside-out view of the landscape of a coma-victim. Although this is not revealed immediately, I haven't given any spoilers here; the story soon makes the point and the dust jacket states it outright.

Initially inhabiting an endless bridge (from his perspective) the unnamed protagonist introduces us to the dreams he has within this reality of his. Each dream persona, including the narrating one, represents an aspect of the man in a coma: for example, the barbarian thug whose impulses are largely unmoderated by thought is easily seen as representing that part of the protagonist who seems to go forward in "real life" without much introspection. In the coma universe, we see where this leads him.
The book certainly walks a thin line between cute and playful. The author does reveal the character's name, by the way, in two hints at different points in the text, hints he even hints at in the behavior of an animate dirk owned by one of the protagonist's personae. But beyond the occasional social satire and sparkling suggestions of what coma-life might be like (and why) is a real story about real people you care about, even the inhabitants of the coma-world; I found myself impelled to the conclusion of the book.


For those curious enough and unable to find the name hints, I offer two quotes from the book:




pp. 173,4 (hardbound copy): "He started seeing a girl called Nicola [...] People made jokes about their names, called them imperialists, asked them when they were going to claim Russia back."

p. 216 (hardbound copy): "[...] their lead singer went on to become half of the Eurythmics. People would ask if he was related to her."

Rating:
Summary: A 'Bridge' between your imagination and reality
Review: A shocking surprise to anyone familiar with the real Forth Rail Bridge and expects a travelogue cum novel. Is it a trip to a fantasy world, a nightmare, a psychodrama? The Bridge is ultimately one of the most challenging and rewarding novels ever because it can be all of these things and none of these things. It is not a story for the passive reader hoping for an easy narrative progressing from A-Z. Some of the language can be difficult but rewarding for those who will persevere. There are many surprises awaiting the reader, many avenues to explore, many tracks to choose between in this incredibly complex multi-layered story. Let your imagination go for a journey which will astound, delight and perhaps confound you. One thing is certain - you will never forget travelling on "The Bridge".

Rating:
Summary: Read THE WASP FACTORY
Review: A very good book, but since I'd already read The Wasp Factory (by Banks) infailed in comparison. the Wasp factory is twisted, sick, intriguing, and surprising. A damn good book. But so is The Bridge so buy 'em both.

Rating:
Summary: entrancing and hypnotic
Review: As many of the others Banks reviewers, this is my favorite Banks book.

This book overcomes the classical genre distinction between fantasy, science fiction and mainstream novels: it's the novel of a complete artist, transcending categories to write without the limits of the traditional forms, playing with them all in a delicate fugue.

It mingles themes from Kafka and Freud (who makes a guest star apparition as Dr Joyce), with Banks own obsessions (war, Scotland, 19th century steel architecture), plays with the greek and middle-age mythology in a very modern way, with a funny link to the Culture.

I've been twice in Scotland: the spirit of this land is so well captured (I happen to live in Paris, where the heroin flies away: I can't understand her) !
The postmodern love story is also excellent. It moved me deeply.

A very absorbing book: like another reader, I keep an excellent memory of the period I read it, just because I read it at that time.

P@

Rating:
Summary: surreal fantasy
Review: banks has a worthy style. this book stayed with me for a while somehow--it resonates.

Rating:
Summary: One of the best
Review: Banks himself has stated that this is possibly his favourite of all his creations. How can I argue with the great man?? I must confess that this is indeed one of my personal favourites of Banks.
Richly and superbly written it explores the mind of a car-crash victim whilst in a coma, his hopes and fears. This dances the fine line between being an Iain Banks (non-scifi) and being an Iain M. Banks (scifi).

One of the other reviewers, below, compares the theme to Irvine Welsh's Marabou Stork nightmares. However, The Bridge was written first (1992 - 1st edition in the UK, Welsh's - 1996). Just thought that it was worth pointing out.

Fans of Philip K. Dick will probably adore this, as I did. As with all Banks however, it will not be for everyone.

Rating:
Summary: Mr Bank's worst book
Review: Having enjoyed the Crow Road and the Wasp Factory very much, I have to say that I found this a very self-indulgent and confusing book. I was forced to give up half way through (the first time I have ever given up a book) as the battle to try and comprehend the story was becoming extremely tiresome and unsatisfying.

Rating:
Summary: Mayday! Mayday!
Review: Help! My love of Banks' Culture series forced me to read this book. Bad idea. Now I know more than I want to about Scottish hippies and their nightmares.

Still, this is Iain Banks, and there are some good parts of the book. But I can't recommend it, even to Banks fans.

Rating:
Summary: Please read
Review: I don't easily give a book 5 stars, but this piece of writing showed how Iain Banks was not a one-off with the success of the Wasp Factory. In fact, no matter how good the wasp factory wasm, this is better.

The narrative follows an individual as he slips into a coma after an accident and the stories of the two parrallel lives in either. It is interspaced by the bizzare adventures of the most wicked, foul, scots-tounged knight ever to exist. Follow his narrative at your peril.

The story would be fine as it stands, but where the story unfolds in the parrallel world is a giant city built on an endless bridge. What really made the story for me was what the bridge was modelled on in real life - the Forth Bridge in Scotland. One thing that i'm interested in was whether or not other readers of the book who have not seen the forth bridge and it's surroundings felt the story had the same edge. Readers?

To conclude, a book that opened my eyes, and definately Bank's best. Just don't make this the first Banks book that you read - start on the wasp factory, a free tip!

Rating:
Summary: The Bridge
Review: I have enjoyed everyone of Iain Banks' books, except this one. I have never been able to make it past the first chapter. This is one of those books that as soon as you put it down, you can never pick it back up again.