A review by gabriel_sakoda
The Bridge Over the River Kwai by Pierre Boulle

adventurous tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Had this book not been so damn racist, this would have been a perfect comfort read. There is enough suspense, macho posturing and moral questioning in Bridge Over the River Kwai to carry two entirely separate books, one about the Colonel's grueling experience and one about the Plastic and Destructions Company and of all their unique personalities. Maybe it should have been. For being 200 pages, there are a lot of characters with thoughtful flaws and highlights. Nicholson and his obsessive perfectionism, Joyce with his youth and Shears's desire for action. This book is a compelling exercise in breadth over depth. The characters have enough layers to keep you guessing on what they are going to do next, but not so much that it becomes interrogating. Generally, deep characters are preferred, but this book presents the case that characters should be as deep as their narrative allows them to be. With so much going on at the same time, we can't get too attached or the shifts become too jarring. There are so many moving parts to the sabotage as well as the construction that watching each section get benched for narration on the other was quite frustrating, but it never compromised on outlining short and long term character goals. And as things started to build up in the fourth part, we spend enough time with them as they standby for the sabotage and in the final moments of its construction that it becomes clear that they have grown. All things considered, Bridge Over the River Kwai was actually quite light on plot events, favoring dramatic buildup despite the fact that a literal bridge was being built in the background. It's a fun, if dated, read and worth checking out for fans of historical/military fiction and definitely worth it if you enjoyed the David Lean film or are interested in watching it.
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