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Low Bridge: A Saga of Ohio's Miami-erie Canal
Orphaned at the age of four, Adam Miller comes to live with his aunt and uncle in the wilderness of Ohio. As farmers, they raise him as their son. In 1838 at the age of seventeen, he is excited about the new canal system being dug. It is finished from Cincinnati to Piqua. His dissatisfaction with the small amount of monies received for their excess farm products sets him out into a new way of life. With the self-assuredness of a nearly-grown man he volunteers himself and his two friends to travel to Piqua where farmers are receiving more favorable prices. It is seventeen miles from his home, but head like to see the canal. While on this trip Adam meets Mr. Charles who is also excited about the canal and impressed by Adam. He encourages him to learn about the canal business. As Adam does, he grows into manhood experiencing difficult situations that call for quick thinking and sheer courage. He meets the love of his life, all in the atmosphere of the continued digging of the canal as it opens the wilderness from the Ohio River up to Lake Erie.
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First published April 3, 2006
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
February 21, 2009
I was disappointed with this book because it seemed to be written either by or for a 6th grader. All the characters, except for the men who attacked Adam and his friends, seemed to be too good to be true, always forgiving and properly motivated. The characters were not believable. I found several typos in the book, and the name of Chapter 8 is "Blended Families". Perhaps I am wrong, but I think that is a modern-day term, not one that would have been used in 1849. I could imagine myself in a canal boat, but that could be because I have actually been on a canal boat; I am not sure that our author's description was that good. I might recommend the book for young people but not for adults.
January 31, 2009
I enjoyed learning about the history of Ohio's canals and their impact on Ohio's economy and social culture.
Having hiked along the canal in Independence, Ohio (just south of Cleveland), it is neat to imagine what the canal looked like before they built the I-77 brige over it and before the industrial parkway grew up on both sides. There's a Lockkeeper's Inn on Rockside Rd. near I-77 and the canal hiking trail. In the book, scenes of boats going through locks were interesting to visualize when compared to the restaurant that sits on the former site of such locks.
I disliked the writer's style in terms of characterization. She did a lot of telling instead of showing. For example, she tells you that Adam has a crush on Alese. There are a couple of dialog scenes between the two of them, but no romance to speak of. Then, suddenly they are getting married.
Likewise, the plot was a little light. Adam encounters all the right people to set off his career on the canal in a way that is more fortunate than would ever happen in real life. No setbacks, no suspense.
Still, despite the simplistic nature of characters and plot, I enjoyed reading about the canal, boats, commerce and cholera. I've never read a historical fiction novel about the canals and so this was interesting and refreshing.
It's a quick read. I read approx. 75% of the book while waiting for my plane at the airport. I finished the rest while waiting for the shuttle from the airport to the hotel.
Library book club for Feb.
Having hiked along the canal in Independence, Ohio (just south of Cleveland), it is neat to imagine what the canal looked like before they built the I-77 brige over it and before the industrial parkway grew up on both sides. There's a Lockkeeper's Inn on Rockside Rd. near I-77 and the canal hiking trail. In the book, scenes of boats going through locks were interesting to visualize when compared to the restaurant that sits on the former site of such locks.
I disliked the writer's style in terms of characterization. She did a lot of telling instead of showing. For example, she tells you that Adam has a crush on Alese. There are a couple of dialog scenes between the two of them, but no romance to speak of. Then, suddenly they are getting married.
Likewise, the plot was a little light. Adam encounters all the right people to set off his career on the canal in a way that is more fortunate than would ever happen in real life. No setbacks, no suspense.
Still, despite the simplistic nature of characters and plot, I enjoyed reading about the canal, boats, commerce and cholera. I've never read a historical fiction novel about the canals and so this was interesting and refreshing.
It's a quick read. I read approx. 75% of the book while waiting for my plane at the airport. I finished the rest while waiting for the shuttle from the airport to the hotel.
Library book club for Feb.
February 21, 2009
What I learned- a little Ohio history about the building of the Miami- Erie Canal. Book over-all dull. Written for children or young adults but doesn't not seem to me at my advance age as interesting as the fictionalized history books I read about the Presidents and American History as a child.
Turn out first section most interesting. A rather dull telling of how the Miami-Erie canal was built thru the eyes of Adam. Work directly connected to canal he started at late teens and book takes us up into hs thirties, I believe. But Adam is rather a stick figure and does capture the readers ( at least mine ) interest.
On Chapter 7 p41 just finish Part 1- reading for Library Book Group. Like very much- so far only about little lost boy taken in by Trudy and Joseph Gephart, turns out to be Trudy's sister's boy. Sisteramd husband had died, and neighbors were bringing boy Adam to Gephart's when attached by wolves and only Adam survives. Trudy and Joseph kind gentle people.
Turn out first section most interesting. A rather dull telling of how the Miami-Erie canal was built thru the eyes of Adam. Work directly connected to canal he started at late teens and book takes us up into hs thirties, I believe. But Adam is rather a stick figure and does capture the readers ( at least mine ) interest.
On Chapter 7 p41 just finish Part 1- reading for Library Book Group. Like very much- so far only about little lost boy taken in by Trudy and Joseph Gephart, turns out to be Trudy's sister's boy. Sisteramd husband had died, and neighbors were bringing boy Adam to Gephart's when attached by wolves and only Adam survives. Trudy and Joseph kind gentle people.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews