<p>ignatius, I enjoyed the trivia! But I think it was written by a descendant of our beloved Narrator because the answer to the question about Jaime begins, “Jaime is the five year-old son of La Perichole…” He’s not! He’s seven! And I refuse to believe that the webmaster was being intentionally imprecise. ;)</p>
<p>^^^ </p>
<p>Mary: See the bottom of the page to submit a correction. :)</p>
<p>(And again, I didn’t even notice.)</p>
<p>^ Oh believe me, I tried. But it required registering for a Fun Trivia account and I just couldn’t bring myself to do it. A gal’s gotta have some standards. :)</p>
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<p>The Marquesa for Do</p>
<p>Your examples of the love connection got me thinking. By the end of each story we have a secondary relationship developing between the characters - The Marquesa for Pepita, Captain Alvarado for Esteban, Uncle Pio for Jaime, the Abbess for Dona Clara and Camila. It seems like one of the messages is that love renews in new connections as old ones are lost.</p>
<p>Great observation, sylvan8798!</p>
<p>One might infer that there was friendship-love between the Abbess and Camila at the very end of the story, when Camila had started working with the Abbess.</p>
<p>Another category might be something that could maybe be called didactic love (?)…a fondness toward someone you want to teach and form and mold. That would apply to Pio’s love for Camila and the Abbess’s love for Pepita. I think it’s something a little bit different from maternal or paternal affection.</p>
<p>Maybe I’m splitting hairs, but I think you could also make a case for bereaved love. Bereavement relationships in the story would be:</p>
<p>Esteban - Manuel.
Camila - Jaime and Pio.
Alvarado - his daughter.
The Abbess - Pepita, Esteban, and somebody unnamed that she told Esteban about.
Do</p>
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I like this!</p>
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Yes–the Abbess was researching so she could solve problems she saw around her, while for Brother Juniper “there was no element of doubt in the experiment. He knew the answer.” The ending suggests to me that Wilder preferred the Abbess’s approach to life. She was open to learning, and coming to new conclusions.</p>
<p>I agree that the Abbess was maybe unrealistically ahead of her time, but I liked her, so that didn’t bother me :-).</p>
<p>I looked up the music played at the funeral, the Requiem of 1605 by Tom</p>
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<p>How about agape? The word has a variety of (related) meanings depending upon historical context, but for the Abbess, I like C.S. Lewis’ definition: </p>
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<p>sylvan8798, I also really liked your observation that “one of the messages is that love renews in new connections as old ones are lost.” Again, it shows Wilder’s optimistic side–his belief in the regenerative nature of love and its ability to heal .</p>
<p>buenavista, I’m impressed that you looked up and played the Requiem of 1605! I would never have even remembered the name of the piece without a re-read of that part of the book.</p>
<p>agape - Yes. (I could not put my finger on the word I wanted to use to describe the Abbess’ love of her work … but looked back at the thread and Mary had just posted it.)</p>
<p>I finished this book two days ago, had been away on a ten day family vacation in Colorado.</p>
<p>First thing I did after closing the book was to read this thread, and discovered such an enlightening conversation.</p>
<p>I think this may be one of our best selections for a “book discussion”. This book will linger with me a long,long time. Thanks to Ignatius for suggesting it.
I have never read Wilder, and will read more now. </p>
<p>NJTheatermom wrote:My son, a theatre major, is a great believer in works of art shaking you up and making you uncomfortable…sometimes for reasons you can barely understand.</p>
<p>This is exactly how I felt after reading this book!</p>
<p>I liked it, found it “optimistic” overall, but it felt like an ill fitting shoe- pinching and annoying me. I wanted to shake it off.</p>
<p>So, I did what I always do, I watched the movie version- Amazon Streaming. (Robert Diniro should be very embarrassed about his role in the movie)
It’s a terrible movie, but helped me visualize the book.
By the way, I watched it closely to see how they depicted the “timeline” issue, and the Jaime looks about four in the movie. </p>
<p>So, why did I like this book ? - the writing. Many, many times, I paused to reread a sentence over and over. I don’t do that much, and perhaps I’ve been reading too many popular “low brow” books? In any case, Wilder’s simple, yet profound, writing style impressed me. </p>
<p>Why do I think it an optimistic story? Things happen. Bad things, to the innocent, Jaime and Pepita, and bad things to those who have been less than perfect.
Yes, our “human condition” our “existential dilemma” that we could be on that bridge at any moment is our human burden. Unlike the “flies”, who get swatted, or “gestilating falling ants” mentioned in the book, we are burdened with consciousness. </p>
<p>What was the message for me in this story?
That agape love is indeed the highest form of “god like” love. I remember sitting in the Methodist church reading the large Gold letters above the altar
“GOD IS LOVE”. </p>
<p>So. when the Abbess receives the funds for her endeavors, and Camilla gives away her possessions to find solace working with the less fortunate, Wilder ends his fable with a hopeful tone, emphasizing true “god- like unselfish love”. </p>
<p>And,Wilder was wise not to answer the huge, overarching, unanswerable question “WHY, WHY, WHY ???”</p>
<p>Kudos to Thornton’s 30- year- old self for just posing the question in such a creative story.
That this book made him a “millionaire” in the late 20’s is quite astounding,
that it won the Pulitzer amazing, too. </p>
<p>I found this link, [The</a> Big Read | The Bridge of San Luis Rey and Our Town](<a href=“http://www.neabigread.org/books/thebridgeofsanluisrey/audiotranscript.php]The”>http://www.neabigread.org/books/thebridgeofsanluisrey/audiotranscript.php)</p>
<p>**Sister Maureen: Well, one of the people I was most drawn to, and this might not be surprising, was the abbess, Madre Maria del Pilar. Now, she was not on the bridge, she’s not one of the ones who died, but she is connected with everyone. She’s connected with all five people who did die on the bridge.</p>
<p>Sister Maureen: Wilder calls her the strange genius of Lima. She clearly is somebody on whom the people of Lima depend; first of all the very poor, the sick, the orphans. **</p>
<p>Hi, SJCM, we missed you! I’m glad you value this book club selection so much.</p>
<p>That Big Read link you provided was great. Here is one of my favorite statements in it, from Russell Banks:</p>
<p>“I admired the quality of attention and honesty that Brother Juniper brings to these lives. I mean he’s not a man who’s trying to defend the church. He’s trying to justify the deaths of these people, and he brings to their deaths, their lives I should say, he brings to their lives, the history of their lives a quality of attention that and a freedom from judgment, a refusal to judge that can only be called love.”</p>
<p>It’s so interesting that Banks says this, because his own amazing novels tend to be about very damaged, troubled people whom Banks himself describes with empathy and without judgement. </p>
<p>In a way, Banks is a little off base because I think Brother Juniper did judge. What Banks is really describing is Wilder’s attitude toward the characters.</p>
<p>So…could we include, in the love list, Wilder’s love for his characters – authorial love? :)</p>
<p>SouthJerseyChessMom –- I’m glad you’re here! I hope you had a wonderful time in Colorado.</p>
<p>Thanks for “The Big Read” link. Here is an interview with Thornton Wilder from December 1956: [Paris</a> Review - The Art of Fiction No. 16, Thornton Wilder](<a href=“http://www.theparisreview.org/interviews/4887/the-art-of-fiction-no-16-thornton-wilder]Paris”>Paris Review - The Art of Fiction No. 16). </p>
<p>At one point, he talks about “highbrow” vs. “lowbrow” writing –- interesting in light of what you posted above. </p>
<p>Also, I want to comment on something sylvan8798 asked earlier:</p>
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<p>I don’t – I just have the Amazon bargain paperback. For those of you who would like a taste of what sylvan is looking at, here is a vintage book site where you can see a few of the Amy Drevenstedt illustrations (roll your mouse over to magnify): </p>
<p>[1927</a> First Edition Book The Bridge of San Luis Rey - Thornton Wilder from greatvintagestuff on Ruby Lane](<a href=“http://www.rubylane.com/item/338449-RL1489/1927-First-Edition-Book-Bridge]1927”>http://www.rubylane.com/item/338449-RL1489/1927-First-Edition-Book-Bridge)</p>
<p>Greetings Mary, yes Colorado was fun.</p>
<p>NJTheaterMom wrote:
**He’s trying to justify the deaths of these people, and he brings to their deaths, their lives I should say, he brings to their lives, the history of their lives a quality of attention that and a freedom from judgment, a refusal to judge that can only be called love." **</p>
<p>Did anyone else read this as I did, which was to pass judgement on all the characters, as their stories unfolded?
I guess, I took Brother Juniper’s perspective, that there must be some “fault” or “defect” or “reason” why these five were the “chosen ones”. </p>
<p>I read with total judgement.
Then suddenly Brother Juniper was burned at the stake.
I didn’t see that coming. </p>
<p>And, I realized that Brother Juniper’s quest, and mine, to “justify” why these five died, was misguided. It was the wrong question.
It took me quite some time to get it.</p>
<p>^ It’s easy for us to get drawn into “the quest” to find an answer. I guess it’s human nature to want an explanation for the inexplicable. I like how the first chapter is titled “Perhaps an Accident” and the last chapter is “Perhaps an Intention.” It reflects Wilder’s own words that ignatius posted earlier: “The book is not supposed to solve.”</p>
<p>We all like the Abbess, but did anybody think her hostility toward men was a little extreme? I’m pretty sure all the CC members posting about The Bridge are women so we’re probably okay with that 
– but I wonder how a male reader might feel about the lines: </p>
<p>“Madre Mar</p>
<p>Many very intriguing comments in posts above, which make me want to go through the book again, to see what I have missed on the previous reading, and also to form an opinion on some of the issues. Sadly, that will have to wait until I have finished our taxes. But see you again after that.</p>
<p>I agree, QuantMech. I think I need to reread this book to appreciate it more. I definitely read it too fast. Sorry I haven’t added more to the conversation, but I do enjoy reading everyone’s insights. Thanks.</p>
<p>SJCM: I really like the writing and reread many sentences also. I think the length of the book made every word count for Wilder (and made it easy for me to decide to revisit the book once I finished.) As usual, your posts clarified some ideas circling my own mind while at the same time sending me new directions. Glad you’re back.</p>
<p>Mary: I agree that the Abbess does not hate men - perhaps feels despair, frustration, anger, disregard, weariness … maybe an intense dislike of the Archbishop. ;). I have a feeling her work involves her emotions enough that she has little left over for hate. </p>
<p>All in Peru know the acclaimed actress the Perichole while the Marquesa and the Abbess get somewhat short shrift at the time - even from each other the one time they meet. Yet the narrator describes them as the two great women of Peru (as the perspective of history was to reveal them). Pepita and Clara the daughter eventually link the two women … both older women learn lessons: the Marquess to love bravely and the Abbess … well … “Now learn,” she commanded herself, “learn at last that anywhere you may expect grace.” And she was filled with happiness like a girl at this new proof that the traits she lived for were everywhere, that the world was ready. “Will you do me a kindness,my daughter? Will you let me show you my work?” Nice! :)</p>
<p>Ignatius, I like your Abbess quote above. To me, one of the most striking lessons of the book is the lesson the Abbess learned from Pepita’s death.</p>
<p>From pp 102/103:</p>
<p>“Behind the screen the Abbess sat among her girls. The night before she had torn an idol from her heart and the experience had left her pale but firm. She had accepted the fact that it was of no importance whether her work went on or not; it was enough to work. She was the nurse who tends the sick who never recover; she was the priest who perpetually renews the office before an altar to which no worshipers come. There would be no Pepita to enlarge her work; it would relapse into the indolence and the indifference of her colleagues. It seemed to be sufficient for Heaven that for a while in Peru a disinterested love had flowered and faded.”</p>
<p>I want to include two excerpts from the Afterword of my copy of the book (2004 edition) because they speak to Wilder’s writing process and a type of love as yet unmentioned by us - jealous love. </p>
<p>In the Afterword, page 120: </p>
<p>Wilder treated his journal as a private debating society. In these two examples, … , we see him pondering Esteban’s personality and the role jealousy plays in love . Wilder did not always date entries, but, to make for efficient reference later on, he was always careful to number them.</p>
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