Not all books start with a really nice dedication, but Bridges are for burning does. It goes:
As a young girl, I presumed I would have my writing published by the time I turned twenty. It has taken me another twenty years. I hope every time you hold this book, you are reminded that whenever you wake up is your morning.
From the title, one can take a wild guess and think the book would be about ending friendships and relationships.
It follows the life of Oghogho ‘Gigi’ Dempster and everyone else in her life. Gigi is a single woman in her early thirties who was tired of being single and wanted a romantic relationship. On Valentine’s Day, she was advised by her best friend, Alana, to go to a nightclub and meet new people. She follows Alana’s advice and the unexpected happened.
The book felt like a Nollywood movie due to the dramatic events that kept unfolding. It was like no matter how crazy you think a character’s life is, another character’s life is spiraling out of control. I kept guessing what would happen to the characters and how their stories would end. My favourite character was Mudi because he’s a simple guy and he was the only unproblematic person in the book to me.
I like that the author added texture and depth to the characters’ lives by giving them a background story and allowing them to develop but at the same time, I think the number of POVs we had were too many. Reading Bridges are for burning, I feel more strongly that life is not black and white. It’s easy to draw conclusions and make judgments about some life situations and circumstances but sometimes, it’s not that simple.
Bina Idonije really tried on Bridges are for burning and in general, it was a good read. I recommend it to fans of relationship drama and people who are looking for a light and funny book.
This review was written by Olamide Ojediran as an activity under Black Boy Review’s Book Grants program
