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When Laura arrives in their rural community, the fragile balance of the brothers' rivalry is pushed to the edge of catastrophe... Ian Christopherson: Protagonist for odd-numbered chapters. Dr. Christopherson's son. Expected to be the next doctor. Has a perverted love for Laura, going as far as getting a job at Arthur's farm to get closer to her. Mary Lawson's The Other Side of the Bridge deserved its place on the Booker longlist, says Penelope Lively". TheGuardian.com. 7 October 2006. Archived from the original on 2015-04-09 . Retrieved 2016-12-13. verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{
The first sign of trouble". Independent.co.uk. 30 September 2006. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04 . Retrieved 2017-09-16. As with her first novel, Crow Lake, the setting is Northern Ontario. It is the mid 1930s and Arthur and Jake, the sons of a farmer vie for the affections of Laura, a newcomer to the community. A generation later, Ian the son of the local doctor becomes obsessed with Arthur's wife... Evokes beautifully the big joys and sorrows of most people, no matter how small their town' The Times Read more Details
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Carl Luntz: Arthur's best friend. Has a collection of antlers. Goes to fight in the war and dies along with his brothers. Jake Dunn: Wheat-colored hair, triangular face, Arthur's brother. Excels at school and women. Four years younger than Arthur. Falls off the bridge in Chapter 4. Has a permanent limp after.
There are multiple themes throughout the story. They include growing up, friendship, love, adultery, sibling rivalry, war, guilt, responsibility, choices in life, and farming. Mrs. Dunn: Arthur and Jake's mother. Has had multiple miscarriages in the past leading to her overprotective nature of Jake. The Accidental Rift". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 2016-03-05 . Retrieved 2017-09-16.
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The Other Side of the Bridge". Booker Prize. Archived from the original on 2011-05-21 . Retrieved 2012-06-18. Penelope Lively in The Guardian wrote "Tragedy abounds in the novel, but such is its humanity and its wisdom that the effect is not dismaying, but somehow reassuring. Appalling things happen, and are done, but in the last resort ordinary decency somehow wins out. This is a fine book – an enthralling read, both straightforward and wonderfully intricate" [4] The Other Side of the Bridge by Mary Lawson". Archived from the original on 2012-04-21 . Retrieved 2012-06-18. Laura Dunn: Reverend March's daughter. Comes with him when he comes to take over for Reverend Gordon. Falls in love with Jake and gets pregnant with his child resulting in Arthur marrying her to avert her crisis.