The Invisible Bridge

The Invisible Bridge
By Julie Orringer
Alfred A. Knopf, 2010. 602 pgs. Historical Fiction

This is the story of Andras Levi, a young Hungarian Jew who dreams of becoming an architect. He is accepted to the Ecole Speciale in Paris but as World War II begins to unfold he, his family, friends, and whole world are plunged into a nightmare of uncertainty and disaster. This sweeping saga is at times a touching love story, an insightful piece of historical fiction, and an epic tale of one family’s struggle to survive in a world determined to tear them apart.

The Invisible Bridge is Julie Orringer’s first novel and it is truly a beautiful piece of literature. I didn’t love every aspect of her plot, but her characters inspire a great deal of empathy as she takes them through this turbulent period of European history. Orringer is also able to move the story quickly, which is fortunate since the book is a hefty 600 pages long. This story is not for everyone since it contains some harsh and graphic language, but I still recommend it to readers who enjoy epic historical fiction.

CZ