I just finished reading Between the Bridge and the River by Craig Ferguson. I enjoy his show, and I had heard this book was good, but I didn’t know what to expect. It’s not something you’d see/hear on CBS, that’s for certain (so be aware) – BUT, it’s pretty good. I’m a sucker for stories with love and redemption, and this has both.
From Wikipedia, about the book,
“Ferguson has attributed the inspiration for the novel’s title to a conversation with a Jesuit priest about whether all those who commit suicide go to hell. According to Ferguson, the priest said that while suicide was a mortal sin, if someone were to jump from a bridge and genuinely repented of their action before they hit the river they would be forgiven. Ferguson interpreted this as there always being one last chance of redemption, which is the core of the adventures in the novel.”
Cool, right? Ok, now for the quotes.
Fraser’s mother, Janice, was actually quite a happy soul but she had to hide it because, like all pseudo-intellectuals, she thought being cheery made her look stupid, which of course she was for believing that rubbish in the first place.
Hillbillies are much maligned, as most of them place hospitality and kindness above cynicism and wit and therefore are deemed intellectually inferior by the cynical and witty who occasionally pass through their domain on the way to somewhere noteworthy and sophisticated. Hillbillies don’t mind this, of course, because they place hospitality and kindness above cynicism and wit and therefore the cynicism and wit of the cynical and witty is wasted on them. No real harm done.
“Cut me some slack here, I’m dying.”
“Ah yes, the victim excuse. Victim is where evil is born.”
“Oh, for Christ’s sake. I’m not evil.”
“I know. You are beautiful but you are afraid. You are in danger of committing little acts of evil.”
“Bloody hell,” sighed George. He was beginning to wonder if he could handle this kind of scrutiny. He was just beginning to wonder if he should get away from Claudette – then she leaned over and kissed him on the lips.
“You have deserted the realm of cynical reason, and there will always be a part of you that is suspicious of that. Debate is healthy, only evil does not question itself.”
DumbFunnery 