‘My mother was a cantankerous wagon. She was a pig-headed woman who never listened to a word of advice. She held everyone around her to impossibly high standards. She held herself to impossibly high standards. She was her own worst enemy, and mine. She disagreed with every word I said. She crossed me at every turn. She drove me mad. I’ll be glad to see the back of her.’
– The Bridge to Always
[ About The Bridge to Always ]
Maeve Gaffney arrives in a small West Cork town in pursuit of a dream: to be reunited with Tim, the lad she fell for years ago and who, unbeknownst to him, fathered her daughter, Emer.
For Tim, now married and a pillar of the community, Emer’s existence is a shock – but the chance to rekindle an old flame with her mother is tempting.
For Agnes, a lonely landowner, Maeve and Emer’s arrival is an opportunity to make money – and maybe new friends
For Malachi, a man of few words but deep emotions, it’s . . . complicated.
For Emer, it’s about growing up and finding her voice.
For all five, the arrival of this beautiful, wild mother and her silent, observant daughter sparks a devastating chain of events none of them could have predicted.
[ My Review ]
The Bridge to Always by Lynda Marron publishes April 3rd with Eriu and is described as ‘a story about identity and place, about finding out who you are, who your people are, and what it means to be a family.‘
It’s absolutely no secret that I, as well as many others, are huge fans of Lynda Marron’s writing. Many of us discovered her view on the world via her wonderful Instagram posts which you will find here. Last year Lynda’s debut, Last Chance in Paris, was the perfect balm we all needed, one that, to this day, I keep recommending to folk. Lynda seamlessly immerses her readers right into her stories with beautiful prose, vividly described settings and an emotional thread that weaves its way in and around every word right into your heart.
The Bridge to Always is a little closer to Lynda’s home this time, as it’s set in the fictitious town of Drohid in West Cork, less than twenty kilometres from the city. Maeve Gaffney arrives into Drohid like a whirlwind providing plenty of fodder for the local community. With her young daughter, Emer, by her side, Maeve is renovating a local house with the intention of making it a home for herself and Emer. Maeve is grieving her mother’s death and although their relationship was fractious, her mother’s voice is still very clear in Maeve’s mind. As a single parent, Maeve has struggled through bad times but now she is convinced that this move from Dublin to West Cork could be the perfect new beginning for both of them.
Emer is a gentle and timid child and is very much in the shadow of the vivacious and unstoppable personality of her mother. As Maeve breaks down walls and starts renovating the house, Emer stands back and shares her perspective on her mother’s behaviour. Through the eyes of a child we see how erratic Maeve’s constant motion is. Emer tries her best to be present with her mother but sometimes it just gets too much. Watching Emer on this journey of self-discovery is quite affecting as she struggles to find her voice, to find her way.
Agnes is a neighbour with good intention, a woman who has lived in the parish for quite a number of years. Now in her seventies, Agnes never truly fitted in with the locals and spent much of her time alone but she sees something in Maeve and Emer, a possibility of a fresh start. But Agnes is keeping her own secret close to her heart, one that could instantly damage this new fragile friendship.
Malachi is quite an unusual character. We never really get inside his head. He has his own agenda and has a certain level of respect in the community but folk are unsure of him. Malachi befriends Maeve but there is a tangible presence that, as readers, is impossible to pin down.
Tim Corcoran is quite the boyo, part of a well-recognised golden couple in Drohid. Tim could have lead a very different and more loving life, but he chose what he thought was a more beneficial path and is now stuck in a fractious family dynamic, the son-in-law of a wealthy local property developer. When Maeve arrives into town, Tim is shocked and confused. His ordered existence is about to be upended in ways he could never have imagined.
For readers not familiar with Co Cork and its environs, Lynda Marron paints a perfect picture. The dialogue, the Corkonian phrases and banter are all lovingly interwoven into this extremely emotive tale. The Bridge to Always is a love story but with Lynda Marron at the helm it is so much more. Maeve Gaffney is a quirky individual whose actions are often questionable and her behaviour toward Emer did raise my heckles at times. And this is exactly what makes Lynda Marron’s writing so very authentic and so very special, with her characters all coming to life and their actions becoming almost personal.
There is no question that Lynda Marron writes from the heart. Anyone who knows Lynda, knows that her natural inclination is to hide away and not be the centre of attention. But Lynda you cannot hide away from the fact that your writing is exquisite and that you lend compassion and emotional resonance to all that you create, be it a corner of your garden, a lush cake or, for all us lucky readers, a stunning novel, bringing us all joy and the freedom to escape our own world for just a small while.
The Bridge to Always is another beauty, with a cast of perfectly flawed individuals and a fine spattering of Cork. Captivating, affecting and eloquent, it is quite simply a joy to read and a book I dearly hope you all get the opportunity to enjoy. Congratulations Lynda Marron!
[ Thank you to Eriu and to Lynda Marron for sending me a copy of The Bridge to Always in exchange for my honest review ]
[ Bio ]
Lynda Marron grew up in a small town called Prosperous in County Kildare. She moved to Cork when she was nine and lives there still.
She studied science at University College Cork and holds a master’s degree in microbiology.
She likes stories about long-held love, friendship, and second chances.
When she isn’t writing or reading, you’ll find her in the garden.
Instagram ~ @sultanabun
I like the sound of this one, Mairéad. I will keep this book in mind for Reading Ireland next year. Great review.
Carla if you’re on IG Lynda’s handle is sultanabun. Her posts give you a very good indication of her writing. I hope you get to read her books. Thank you x