The Invisible Bridge

by Julie Orringer

This book had me from the beginning.  It's a grand scale story starting in Budapest in 1937 with two brothers going to the opera to celebrate one's parting to study architecture in Paris. I loved them both immediately.  The lush experience at the beginning stands as a wistful memory as we travel from that year through 1945.  Written sequentially and clearly, we experience the beginnings of anti-Semiticism and the rise of the German assaults, and then full blown war.  It's a horrible irony as we observe these characters we so love deal with the impending racism, war and destruction.  Once in Paris, Andras gets involved working in the theatre, and falls in love with the wonderful Klara, who runs a ballet school.  She's a bit older than he, and they struggle with their attraction as Andras makes his way through the architecture school and Klara raises her daughter and teaches.  Something about these characters just grabs you.  Orringer is very good with characters.  My heart went out to all of them as she captures all of our vulnerabilities.  Either in a beautiful city over a drink, or starving and striving for survival crammed into a train car, this is a heartbreaking and life affirming novel.  I'm hoping for a sequel - I don't want to let them go!  It is extremely detailed and historical.  Think Wolf Hall, but a little more accessible and with much more heart.