The Suspension Bridge by Anna Dowdall
Reviewed by Heather Babcock
Bridges have always held a fascination for the human species, as evidenced by our use of language: when it comes to networking and relationships, we are advised to “build bridges” and warned not to “burn” them; we ease our worries about the future by telling ourselves that we will “cross that bridge” when we come to it and Paul Simon offers us comfort when he promises to be our “bridge over troubled water”.
In her new novel, The Suspension Bridge, author Anna Dowdall explores the idea of the bridge, both physically and spiritually. Set in 1962, a Canadian river city is building what they hope will be the world’s biggest bridge: a project that fascinates and terrifies its citizens in equal measure. Sister Harriet, a nun at a prestigious all-girl’s school, finds herself particularly drawn to the bridge as she privately struggles with her loss of faith. Anxiety heightens when three of the school’s most popular girls suddenly go missing.
Dowdall chillingly reminds us that progress isn’t just about what we gain but also about what we lose and how that loss can affect some more than others:
“Harriet’s medieval mystic face came in handy when a banker cited the New York Nylon Stocking Strangler terrorizing that city, and went on to say that such occurrences were – tsk tsk – perhaps part of the price you paid for progress.” (pp.118-119)
With its focus on character development and beauty of prose, The Suspension Bridge moves along at a relaxed pace; it reminds me of Picnic at Hanging Rock, both the novel by Joan Lindsay and Peter Weir’s gorgeous 1975 film. I quite enjoyed Dowdall’s enchanting imagery:
“The icy delicate moon sent diamonds running through the snow as Harriet took the shortcut across the quadrangle back to her room.” (p.98)
The Suspension Bridge is a thoughtful, compellingly character-driven novel that flows with a captivating, poetic rhythm.
About the Author
Anna Dowdall was born in Montreal and, like her protagonist in The Suspension Bridge, moved back to the city of her birth twice. Again, like the peripatetic Sister Harriet, she’s lived all over, currently making the Junction neighbourhood of Toronto her home. Her three genre-bending literary mysteries, April on Paris Street (Guernica 2021), The Au Pair (2018) and After the Winter (2017), feature evocative settings and a preoccupation with the lives of women.
About the Reviewer
Heather Babcock's debut novel Filthy Sugar was published by Inanna Publications in 2020. She has had short fiction and nonfiction essays published in many literary journals including Descant Magazine, The Humber Literary Review and The Toronto Quarterly. In 2015, her chapbook Of Being Underground and Moving Backwards was published by DevilHousePress. Babcock has experience as both a performer and an organizer of open mic and reading events. She is currently working on a novel tentatively titled The Memory of Crows.
Book Details
Publisher : Radiant Press (Oct. 15 2024)
Language : English
Paperback : 343 pages
ISBN-10 : 1998926125
ISBN-13 : 978-1998926121
I've always been fascinated by bridges, both real and metaphorical. As a young child, about four or so, I was terrified of crossing bridges, I was convinced they'd buckle and collapse underneath me. Gephyrophobia. And my dad used to tell me I was the only person he knew who burned her bridges in front of her - a line I'm using in the novel I'm currently working on. I cross bridges without too much anxiety now but there's always that what if... And yet, I love bridges so much too, the way they span and arch up into the sky. And you can feel triumphant, crossing a bridge. I'll definitely read this book! Thank you for the lovely review and for bringing it to my attention!