
Arthur Dunn is his name. But don't let that fool you. To the people who really know him, he's not as boring as that name sounds. He was why I read
The Other Side of the Bridge (Mary Lawson).
Lawson is all about tricking her readers in the beginning of her books. Only to reveal in the end that long-accepted "facts" are actually not true at all. The dull guy who hardly speaks is the good man with a very romantic heart. The rakish light-of-his-mother's-eye is actually a lazy and manipulative creature of ego. And people do get their due. Lawson seems to approach her stories (generally set in farmland Ontario, Canada) with a real need to bring about justice. She did so in
Crow Lake and she does it again here.
I liked this one better, though.
It still portrays the sometimes harsh reality behind sibling dynamics (Arthur and his brother Jake), standoffish neighbors, and unplanned pregnancy as a catalyst for change (and a few other shocking events, as seen in the harsh winter light of northern Ontario). But I can hang on through all that without losing hope, as long as I'm pulling for someone like Arthur. The quintissential unsung hero, who doesn't bother to point out the injustices against him because he seems to understand why people do these things and also, he seems to be content enough despite it all.
I thought about why I liked this book better, and I think it's two main things.
1) Ian the farmhand's perspective lends a lot of weight to Arthur's character, and provides a believable perspective--not just on Arthur but on Laura (Arthur's wife) and Jake too. In addition, Ian's own story is a good angle on the town--he's trying to find his career and his way in this place where he knows everybody and everybody knows him.
2) A little bit more distance between the author and the main character than in Crow Lake. My guess is that Crow Lake's protagonist was far too close to the author herself and therefore Lawson's portrayal of that character is pretty unforgiving. When Lawson allows more affection for Arthur, we can be more comfortable about sympathizing with him.
There are plenty of great side stories in this book too. Ian's friend Pete, a native Canadian, who feels there is no reason to leave such a beautiful lake or to do anything but fish whenever he can. The German prisoners of war (this is set during World War II) who become part of Arthur's extended family of farm help. The Canadian soldier who returns home without his legs and whom Arthur visits every day despite not knowing what to say.
If you've read between the lines here, you may have guessed that I have a hard time either understanding or sympathizing with Lawson's female characters. To me, they are two-dimensional. Even the lovely Laura, whom Ian has a crush on, and who plays a pivotal role with the men around her, is not quite present in this story. She seems to be merely a plot device.
No matter--the book is well worth it. Dark and somewhat moody in tone, but gives much to think about.