Candlelight Bridge
In 1910, twelve-year-old Candelaria Rivera and her family flee across the Chihuahuan Desert to America to escape the rising storm of the Mexican Revolution. Meanwhile, twenty-year-old Yan Chi Wong flees the Chinese Revolution and a shattering loss, also bound for America, where he's nicknamed Yankee. They meet in El Paso, Texas, where they struggle to make a home in a world that does not want them, until a terrible desire threatens to destroy their lives. Candlelight Bridge is not a romance but a tale of grudging partners struggling to survive the American Dream.
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Community Reviews
Lopez Lee successfully portrays the plight that immigrants in America faced in the early 1900s in Candlelight Bridge. By juxtaposing both stories that become one, readers see two different versions of the same dream. The Riveras’ courage and resilience are admirable – even more so given the multiple tragedies they endure. Yan Chi, while clever and determined, manipulates and mistreats others in his quest for respect and success.
That being said, the story’s slow pace rendered it difficult to engage in at times. And moments that should have been emotionally powerful felt cut short. My heart broke for what the characters endured, but I felt a sincere connection with only a few of these moments. However, due to the possibly triggering content (i.e. death, miscarriage, sexual assault, racism), I can see why the author didn’t linger too long on these scenes. Unfortunately, I think she sacrificed that deeper connection as a result. The ending was a bit anticlimactic, but if she plans on continuing with Candelaria and Yan Chi’s stories, then it seems to fit.
In-depth book review: https://cantinabookclub.com/review/candlelight-bridge-by-cara-lopez-lee
Podcast interview with Cara Lopez Lee:
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-39-cara-lopez-lee-candlelight-bridge/id1716042267?i=1000663085050
YouTube: https://youtu.be/wHiZ5EDogUM?si=1da1fvwaFbiBRTwf
That being said, the story’s slow pace rendered it difficult to engage in at times. And moments that should have been emotionally powerful felt cut short. My heart broke for what the characters endured, but I felt a sincere connection with only a few of these moments. However, due to the possibly triggering content (i.e. death, miscarriage, sexual assault, racism), I can see why the author didn’t linger too long on these scenes. Unfortunately, I think she sacrificed that deeper connection as a result. The ending was a bit anticlimactic, but if she plans on continuing with Candelaria and Yan Chi’s stories, then it seems to fit.
In-depth book review: https://cantinabookclub.com/review/candlelight-bridge-by-cara-lopez-lee
Podcast interview with Cara Lopez Lee:
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-39-cara-lopez-lee-candlelight-bridge/id1716042267?i=1000663085050
YouTube: https://youtu.be/wHiZ5EDogUM?si=1da1fvwaFbiBRTwf
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