Bridge of Clay

Markus Zusah has written two of my favorite books, so I was very excited to read his newest. It is the story of a family of boys who face tragedy after tragedy. Each boy is more interesting than the last. The fighter, the thinker, the gambler, the animal collector, the protector and Clay. They collect animals named after characters in The Odyssey, they terrorize the neighborhood, they skip school and they love each other fiercely. But at it's heart, this is the story of Clay and how he holds the family together. This book is told in flashbacks and flash forwards. It is told in stories and timelines. It is told as a love story, a tragedy and a comedy. It is not for a casual reader. It is not for the feint of heart. It is for a reader who likes to go on a journey, who doesn't mind shedding some tears, who likes to be challenged. This book tells the story of what happens when all the structures that make up a family fall apart and new structures have to be built. But again, it is the story of Clay and his heart, and all the ways he takes on the troubles of those around him until he can't anymore. Then it becomes the story of the brothers who help him pick up the pieces. Happy 2019 my friends and happy reading.