The Bridge of Beyond

The Bridge of Beyond is a beautifully written book about generations of poor women who both celebrate life's joys, and endure life's suffering. Set in a time just after slavery, the people in the story are struggling to survive in an unstable economy, turning to alcohol and violence when life grows too painful. The beauty of the Earth and the depth of their loving relationships, among women, as well as between women and men, help sustain them in the anguish of betrayal in love, the death of loved ones, and the despair of poverty. And ultimately, for the main female character, her own strength also stands her in good stead, and her love of life and the land's beauty, give her reasons to live and survive after so much has been taken from her. I recommend this book for people who love good writing and a story with strong female characters who endure in dignity despite life's indignities and pain.

I read this book and was just captivated by the strong women in this book. It is an amazing story of three generations of incredible women who struggled and survived many hardships. It speaks to me about the power of the human spirit. This book and the characters having continued to stay with me. This book is a must read for anyone who is looking for inspiration.

The Bridge of Beyond is about the lives of (about) three generations of Caribbean women from the late nineteenth century to the early twentieth century. I found the book compelling for several reasons. For one, it is set in Guadeloupe and I learned a lot about that island which I previously knew nothing about. Also, the insight the book gave me into Caribbean culture reminds me of the constantly changing, pluralistic culture in which I live here in the United States. This book literally gave me big smiles, tears in my eyes, and a lot to think about. Anyone who is interested in the human condition would enjoy this book.

Set on the French West Indian island of Guadeloupe, The Bridge of Beyond traces a century of history of the Lougandor women beginning after the end of slavery. Five generations are followed, but the main story revolves around Toussine, the woman known as "Queen Without a Name," and her granddaughter, Telumee. The surprise in the book is that the reader can end up feeling such empathy with characters not fully developed in the traditional literary sense. Schwarz-Bart's women are both long-lived and ephemeral like the fairies and witches of the fairy-tale realm. Her entire novel has an otherworldly feel to it. It is a kind of magical tribute to women, self-reliance, living, and the power of self, and also addresses the ever-present West Indian literary theme of transcendence. One of the nicest pleasures of reading the book is the total envelopment one feels with nature. Schwarz-Bart's imagery is filled with references to the sun, moon, stars, flowers, trees, rivers, waves, and the sea. The imagery is repetitious until it becomes almost a written chant in which the story lives. A truly magical literary experience with a feminist foundation.

This book is a wonderful example of the power of womenhood, of its rewards and its downfalls. It emphasizes the bond between women and mothers and grandmothers, and shows that women can survive without a man's help. The imagery and descriptions of the land are beautiful.