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How Bridge McCoy Learned To Say I Love You
An off-center lover story about a man who walks two steps forward and one step backward, hates change, and when he tries to tell the woman he loves that he loves her, all he can say is "I, I, I, I, Lo,Lo,Lo....," and starts choking like he's choking on a meatball.
- GenresRomance
376 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 1, 2014
2 people are currently reading
16 people want to read
About the author
Robert K. Swisher Jr.
23 books15 followersI have been writing since 1967. To date I have placed twelve novels with traditional publishers ranging from young adult to historical fiction. My novels received good reviews from Publishers Weekly and others. Over the past eight years I have indied eleven novels ranging from mysteries, humor, zanny love stories, literary, and an off the wall creative writing book based on a course I taught. I have worked for newspapers, outdoor magazines, and placed many short stories and poems with literary magazines.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
March 10, 2015
“How Bridge McCoy Learned To Say I Love You” by Robert K. Swisher Jr. is a lovely and quirky coming of age story for a grown up man. A bunch of odd characters accompany our hero as he recovers from a failed relationship by moving to Lost City and trying to move on with his life.
As often in life, you can learn a lot from people you seem to have little in common with, and that is what happens here. I was amazed at the wonderful storyline, the original setting and the excellently drawn cast in this story.
Heartwarming.
As often in life, you can learn a lot from people you seem to have little in common with, and that is what happens here. I was amazed at the wonderful storyline, the original setting and the excellently drawn cast in this story.
Heartwarming.
August 9, 2016
Swisher has raised the bar a little higher with his new book, How Bridge McCoy Learned to Say I Love you. His style of writing is distinctive and this book is highly original, verging on a brand new genre. What I love about his writer, is his ability to create unusual but believable characters and deliver a highly entertaining read, with hidden depths.
Swisher has mixed the mundane, the surreal and the plain odd into a moving story with a perfect logic of its own. At times sad, often funny and sometimes totally bizarre, this is a thought provoking tale of loneliness, acceptance, deep friendship and love. Full of interesting insights into the unavoidable fact that the cost of playing it safe is the aching pain of loneliness.
The Lost City is a place where people with broken dreams can hide away from the harsh realities of the world and find acceptance. A place people can drink and dance, worship rocks and talk to lamp posts, heal their wounds and find genuine friendship, and can speak their mind, while being bombarded with life’s issues, both big and small.
Bridge saw horrors in Vietnam, was disillusioned by life as a hippy, has done being a cowboy, and is now a novelist, with an art gallery in the Lost City. He is afraid of change and has perfected protecting himself from being hurt or betrayed again. Problem is, he has fallen in love with Vivian, a large, kind-hearted, pot-smoking woman, who owns the local coffee shop, and he chokes every time he tries to tell her. Through his internal dialogue, the reader gets a real sense of his fears and his vulnerable self, he tries so hard to keep hidden.
The town’s inhabitants are well drawn in their oddities. My favourite character was Vivian and her dancing fairies.
“Vivian peeped through the window … Occasionally he would type a few words. Am I in your words? … Am I a comma that needs to be moved or a word that fulfils the complete paragraph?”
The narrative often seems dream-like (or drug induced!) but within the context it all makes perfect sense. The streams of thought, mixed in with lively dialogue make this book an exceptional read.
I highly recommend you read this book before the end of the year.
Swisher has mixed the mundane, the surreal and the plain odd into a moving story with a perfect logic of its own. At times sad, often funny and sometimes totally bizarre, this is a thought provoking tale of loneliness, acceptance, deep friendship and love. Full of interesting insights into the unavoidable fact that the cost of playing it safe is the aching pain of loneliness.
The Lost City is a place where people with broken dreams can hide away from the harsh realities of the world and find acceptance. A place people can drink and dance, worship rocks and talk to lamp posts, heal their wounds and find genuine friendship, and can speak their mind, while being bombarded with life’s issues, both big and small.
Bridge saw horrors in Vietnam, was disillusioned by life as a hippy, has done being a cowboy, and is now a novelist, with an art gallery in the Lost City. He is afraid of change and has perfected protecting himself from being hurt or betrayed again. Problem is, he has fallen in love with Vivian, a large, kind-hearted, pot-smoking woman, who owns the local coffee shop, and he chokes every time he tries to tell her. Through his internal dialogue, the reader gets a real sense of his fears and his vulnerable self, he tries so hard to keep hidden.
The town’s inhabitants are well drawn in their oddities. My favourite character was Vivian and her dancing fairies.
“Vivian peeped through the window … Occasionally he would type a few words. Am I in your words? … Am I a comma that needs to be moved or a word that fulfils the complete paragraph?”
The narrative often seems dream-like (or drug induced!) but within the context it all makes perfect sense. The streams of thought, mixed in with lively dialogue make this book an exceptional read.
I highly recommend you read this book before the end of the year.
August 11, 2014
In the grand scheme of things, books have genres...nope, not this one. Bridge McCoy Learned To Say I love you, is about love, adventures, reinventions, and an inner desire for happiness in a crazy world. It is a unique, poignant, and humorous story, that cannot be defined, or boxed up.
Even if I am supposed to tell you about the plot, I wouldn't. The story is interwoven in unusual and sometimes, off the scale dialogue, and inner thoughts, that engaged me throughout, made me giggle, gave me cause for thought about our messed up lives, at times, and most of all, entertained me. I believe, therefor, that whomever reads this should, as I did, read without preconceptions.
The blind man who owns an art gallery called: All Art Is The Same In The Dark, Vivian, who likes pot, and the rest of the colourful characters crossing paths with Bridge, combine to make this a wonderful, innovative and highly unusual read, and I am very glad I picked it up.
Robert K Swisher, Jr Is also the author of: A Bucket Full Of Lies. I cannot chose between that and Bridge, all I can say is, that this author couldn't care less about what people think, when he writes. He does not need fancy words and long prose to convey his message to the reader. He is truly in a class of his own, and unlike Bridge, the aspiring writer, is a talented author and storyteller
Even if I am supposed to tell you about the plot, I wouldn't. The story is interwoven in unusual and sometimes, off the scale dialogue, and inner thoughts, that engaged me throughout, made me giggle, gave me cause for thought about our messed up lives, at times, and most of all, entertained me. I believe, therefor, that whomever reads this should, as I did, read without preconceptions.
The blind man who owns an art gallery called: All Art Is The Same In The Dark, Vivian, who likes pot, and the rest of the colourful characters crossing paths with Bridge, combine to make this a wonderful, innovative and highly unusual read, and I am very glad I picked it up.
Robert K Swisher, Jr Is also the author of: A Bucket Full Of Lies. I cannot chose between that and Bridge, all I can say is, that this author couldn't care less about what people think, when he writes. He does not need fancy words and long prose to convey his message to the reader. He is truly in a class of his own, and unlike Bridge, the aspiring writer, is a talented author and storyteller
February 28, 2015
Sometimes bitter, sometimes laugh-out-loud funny, often sarcastic, occasionally politically incorrect and always enjoyable; 'How Bridge McCoy Learned to Say I Love You' is a quirky tale about a quirky town in New Mexico that is inhabited by people who are, to say the least, eccentric.
There is, for example, Bridge McCoy himself; a writer of novels (seven of them published) and the owner of an art gallery who walks two steps forward and one back. His girlfriend Vivian, who owns a coffee shop, is a 185-pound former Hippie who loves to dance. She has fairies in a private room in the back of her coffee shop that she sometimes retreats to - well, they aren't really fairies but she thinks of them as such. There's a former Marine who also owns an art gallery and has 16 girlfriends; a former lawyer who is in love with a woman who worships rocks and... well, I could go on but I think you get the picture; folks in Lost City aren't run-of-the-mill people.
McCoy, a former cowboy and a former lot of other things, is at home there because he's also not run-of-the-mill; he talks to old lamp posts, for example, as well as paving machines, buildings, the art he sells and the books he writes... and they talk back.
The problem is that Lost City is on the cusp of change, much to the consternation of some of its inhabitants, who found their way there - sometimes on purpose, sometimes by accident - because change was something they wished to avoid. McCoy is the chief proponent of holding on to the status quo but even he can feel that life as he has known it - and suffered through it - is about to undergo a shift in circumstance despite his best efforts.
I enjoyed walking the streets of Lost City with author Robert K. Swisher and meeting the men and women - as well as the dogs and birds - who inhabit this place that really doesn't want to be another Santa Fe or Sedona but might just end up as another art-centered tourist trap. The characters are amusing and nicely drawn and the narrative flows smoothly from one chapter to the next with no side trips into unchartered territory where the reader can get lost. Swisher has crafted an interesting existentialist tale populated by people - and objects - that are as individualistic as they can be without being terribly self centered. That's not easy to do and I applaud Swisher not only for attempting to do this but in succeeding. I have to admit I was troubled by what seemed like an undue amount of typos in the text but I confess that they did not bother me so much that they lessened my enjoyment of this interesting story and its fascinating characters.
I have no hesitation in recommending it.
There is, for example, Bridge McCoy himself; a writer of novels (seven of them published) and the owner of an art gallery who walks two steps forward and one back. His girlfriend Vivian, who owns a coffee shop, is a 185-pound former Hippie who loves to dance. She has fairies in a private room in the back of her coffee shop that she sometimes retreats to - well, they aren't really fairies but she thinks of them as such. There's a former Marine who also owns an art gallery and has 16 girlfriends; a former lawyer who is in love with a woman who worships rocks and... well, I could go on but I think you get the picture; folks in Lost City aren't run-of-the-mill people.
McCoy, a former cowboy and a former lot of other things, is at home there because he's also not run-of-the-mill; he talks to old lamp posts, for example, as well as paving machines, buildings, the art he sells and the books he writes... and they talk back.
The problem is that Lost City is on the cusp of change, much to the consternation of some of its inhabitants, who found their way there - sometimes on purpose, sometimes by accident - because change was something they wished to avoid. McCoy is the chief proponent of holding on to the status quo but even he can feel that life as he has known it - and suffered through it - is about to undergo a shift in circumstance despite his best efforts.
I enjoyed walking the streets of Lost City with author Robert K. Swisher and meeting the men and women - as well as the dogs and birds - who inhabit this place that really doesn't want to be another Santa Fe or Sedona but might just end up as another art-centered tourist trap. The characters are amusing and nicely drawn and the narrative flows smoothly from one chapter to the next with no side trips into unchartered territory where the reader can get lost. Swisher has crafted an interesting existentialist tale populated by people - and objects - that are as individualistic as they can be without being terribly self centered. That's not easy to do and I applaud Swisher not only for attempting to do this but in succeeding. I have to admit I was troubled by what seemed like an undue amount of typos in the text but I confess that they did not bother me so much that they lessened my enjoyment of this interesting story and its fascinating characters.
I have no hesitation in recommending it.
July 29, 2016
In true Swisher style, the author rips right into it with gloriously well-rounded personalities, stunning descriptions, and some even more colourful characters.
Bridge McCoy is no ordinary middle-aged guy. He's just trying to make a peaceable living while his heart mends from his divorce. He's lived among dives, ghost towns and bars, and now he's looking for a place that will not change. Chancing on Lost City, an almost ghost town since the mine closed, he rents a store selling western art. But then he decides to become a writer because it's got to be better than working in a grocery store. And it is.
So Bridge bumbles his way to bachelorhood, making vow after vow. None of which he keeps for long. Like he vows he will never love again, or own another car. He promises the old and barely functioning lampposts he will do everything in his power to make sure this town does not change. But he's trying to avert change driven by the future in this small New Mexican town.
The not-so-poor author is almost contentedly living among the dust and the grime, but change is inevitable.
Bridge and his mate, Stoops, spend most of their time reminiscing over old bar music, alternating between Tequila and coffee. So he meets Vivian. She's a stickler for time in the This Isn't Heaven Café. From their friendship, Bridge realises he loves this woman. But can he tell her?
`Tell her you love her. Just tell her,' the advice given him over and over by Stoops.
But when you've lost the touch in saying `I love you', how do you find it again? And so Bridge's big love for Vivian continues...
I thoroughly enjoyed the cameos of Bridge's daily life; his strangely endearing gait: the colourful world of gays, tourists, artists and local characters.
Refreshingly touching and funny read.
I received an Arc in exchange for an honest review.
Bridge McCoy is no ordinary middle-aged guy. He's just trying to make a peaceable living while his heart mends from his divorce. He's lived among dives, ghost towns and bars, and now he's looking for a place that will not change. Chancing on Lost City, an almost ghost town since the mine closed, he rents a store selling western art. But then he decides to become a writer because it's got to be better than working in a grocery store. And it is.
So Bridge bumbles his way to bachelorhood, making vow after vow. None of which he keeps for long. Like he vows he will never love again, or own another car. He promises the old and barely functioning lampposts he will do everything in his power to make sure this town does not change. But he's trying to avert change driven by the future in this small New Mexican town.
The not-so-poor author is almost contentedly living among the dust and the grime, but change is inevitable.
Bridge and his mate, Stoops, spend most of their time reminiscing over old bar music, alternating between Tequila and coffee. So he meets Vivian. She's a stickler for time in the This Isn't Heaven Café. From their friendship, Bridge realises he loves this woman. But can he tell her?
`Tell her you love her. Just tell her,' the advice given him over and over by Stoops.
But when you've lost the touch in saying `I love you', how do you find it again? And so Bridge's big love for Vivian continues...
I thoroughly enjoyed the cameos of Bridge's daily life; his strangely endearing gait: the colourful world of gays, tourists, artists and local characters.
Refreshingly touching and funny read.
I received an Arc in exchange for an honest review.
July 2, 2014
How Bridge McCoy Learned To Say I Love You by Robert K Swisher Jr. is an extraordinary book. Bridge, is not a struggling writer. This book has a clever and unusual plot line. I say that with the upmost respect. The author has an uncanny ability to make the unnatural sound natural. His use of language is not fancy but precise as he adds something extra. There is a flavor to the writing that makes this quirky but intriguing read even that much richer.
Instantly I was transformed into someone else's life and right away the light switch turned on.
The author sets out clear visuals as the story smoothly sails on. The witty lines just keep coming. After a while Bridge feels like a long lost friend. Well, sort of. Let's not go overboard! Still, you get inside his brain. I felt for him and was amused by him. Understood his passion and pain.
I will not give away the storyline but I have to say I was entertained all the way through. The colorful characters came to life and the adventure that was “How Bridge McCoy Learned How To Say I Love You” by R K Swisher is a wonderful adventure.
Love is the word!
Quote ~
His mother had told him once that if you put more sex in his books he would sell more. Being a dutiful son, he had tried, but his sex scenes were always boring. He couldn’t get over the modern man’s plight of not knowing what foreplay was, which, in one way, was good - if men were more romantic, Chick Lit writers would have to get a real job. His sex scenes were always a wham bam thank you ma’am type of thing. The most romantic part being, “with the golden aura of love still in the air the couple went off to McDonalds and shared a double cheeseburger with everything and, a large fry, followed by an apple fritter and a smoke.”
Instantly I was transformed into someone else's life and right away the light switch turned on.
The author sets out clear visuals as the story smoothly sails on. The witty lines just keep coming. After a while Bridge feels like a long lost friend. Well, sort of. Let's not go overboard! Still, you get inside his brain. I felt for him and was amused by him. Understood his passion and pain.
I will not give away the storyline but I have to say I was entertained all the way through. The colorful characters came to life and the adventure that was “How Bridge McCoy Learned How To Say I Love You” by R K Swisher is a wonderful adventure.
Love is the word!
Quote ~
His mother had told him once that if you put more sex in his books he would sell more. Being a dutiful son, he had tried, but his sex scenes were always boring. He couldn’t get over the modern man’s plight of not knowing what foreplay was, which, in one way, was good - if men were more romantic, Chick Lit writers would have to get a real job. His sex scenes were always a wham bam thank you ma’am type of thing. The most romantic part being, “with the golden aura of love still in the air the couple went off to McDonalds and shared a double cheeseburger with everything and, a large fry, followed by an apple fritter and a smoke.”
April 10, 2015
This is one of the most remarkably unique and original stories I’ve ever read. It reminded me of those character driven comedies I love so much, but have not stumbled over in a while, things like the now defunct TV series, Northern Exposure. Only the characters in this book’s small town are far more colorful, quirky, and memorable. Perhaps in TV land they had to tone it down for the mass audience, something indie authors are not cobbled by, free as they are to pursue a niche audience with a gusto.
This is also one of the most double-over funny books I’ve read in a while; the author’s dry sense of humor is priceless.
Diana Febry’s review posted on Goodreads is quite excellent and worth a close look; I wish I could do it justice. I agree with her that surrealism, stream of consciousness, and biting dialogue, are just some of the narrative techniques on display here that contribute to the wild ride. The fusion itself requires something of a master writer to pull off; I don’t recommend this approach for newbies. But Mr. Swisher had earned a certain amount of street cred with me, coming off of his book, A Bucketfull of Lies, as I am. I have to say, as much as I enjoyed the last one, I thought this one was even better.
The story proceeds against the backdrop of an artistic community out West that I’m tempted to pull up roots for and head out to. Hopefully places like this really do exist. The veritable carnival of characters we’re exposed to in the book’s early chapters that get developed more as the pages turn provides the context in which a heartwarming love story unfolds. I won’t say any more and risk spoiling the fun. But I will say if character driven, romantic comedy dramas are your thing, you won’t want to miss this one.
This is also one of the most double-over funny books I’ve read in a while; the author’s dry sense of humor is priceless.
Diana Febry’s review posted on Goodreads is quite excellent and worth a close look; I wish I could do it justice. I agree with her that surrealism, stream of consciousness, and biting dialogue, are just some of the narrative techniques on display here that contribute to the wild ride. The fusion itself requires something of a master writer to pull off; I don’t recommend this approach for newbies. But Mr. Swisher had earned a certain amount of street cred with me, coming off of his book, A Bucketfull of Lies, as I am. I have to say, as much as I enjoyed the last one, I thought this one was even better.
The story proceeds against the backdrop of an artistic community out West that I’m tempted to pull up roots for and head out to. Hopefully places like this really do exist. The veritable carnival of characters we’re exposed to in the book’s early chapters that get developed more as the pages turn provides the context in which a heartwarming love story unfolds. I won’t say any more and risk spoiling the fun. But I will say if character driven, romantic comedy dramas are your thing, you won’t want to miss this one.
July 13, 2014
Divorce Survival for Dummies
1. Change your gait by walking two steps forward and one step backward.
2. After she says you'll die in poverty trying to make a living as a writer, sell books.
3. Open a gallery so you can sell paintings while you're racking up book sales.
4. Fall in love.
'Bridge and Vivian sat at a table and Terry, the waitress, came over. Terry had dyed her hair bright pumpkin orange and had on orange nail polish. The orange went well with her green pants, mauve blouse, blue eyeliner, and black lipstick. “Do you want me to cut Vivian off at six tequilas so you can take her home and jump her bones?” Terry asked Bridge with a
wink.
'“Eight,” Vivian said. Women are good at answering questions for men - deep down they don’t think men have vocal cords.
'“I take it you two want the usual,” Terry said, which could have been a question or a statement.
'“Yes,” Vivian answered, “but bring me two tequilas at a time.”
'When one does not have to talk, life is good, Bridge thought.'
How Bridge McCoy Learned To Say I Love You, by Robert Swisher, is a great book. The wonderful characters snag the reader's attention and the reluctant heart. For example, Pill took a bad trip in 1969. Now, he's building an ark in the wilderness and worrying about only six billion years left for the world.
My favorite Robert Swisher work remains A Bucket Full of Lies. It is a unique murder mystery, with a fourteenth-century monk as a guardian angel who is a major pain in the you-know-what.
Regardless, Mr. Swisher's works are highly entertaining mixes of humor and pop culture.
1. Change your gait by walking two steps forward and one step backward.
2. After she says you'll die in poverty trying to make a living as a writer, sell books.
3. Open a gallery so you can sell paintings while you're racking up book sales.
4. Fall in love.
'Bridge and Vivian sat at a table and Terry, the waitress, came over. Terry had dyed her hair bright pumpkin orange and had on orange nail polish. The orange went well with her green pants, mauve blouse, blue eyeliner, and black lipstick. “Do you want me to cut Vivian off at six tequilas so you can take her home and jump her bones?” Terry asked Bridge with a
wink.
'“Eight,” Vivian said. Women are good at answering questions for men - deep down they don’t think men have vocal cords.
'“I take it you two want the usual,” Terry said, which could have been a question or a statement.
'“Yes,” Vivian answered, “but bring me two tequilas at a time.”
'When one does not have to talk, life is good, Bridge thought.'
How Bridge McCoy Learned To Say I Love You, by Robert Swisher, is a great book. The wonderful characters snag the reader's attention and the reluctant heart. For example, Pill took a bad trip in 1969. Now, he's building an ark in the wilderness and worrying about only six billion years left for the world.
My favorite Robert Swisher work remains A Bucket Full of Lies. It is a unique murder mystery, with a fourteenth-century monk as a guardian angel who is a major pain in the you-know-what.
Regardless, Mr. Swisher's works are highly entertaining mixes of humor and pop culture.
August 6, 2014
How Bridge McCoy Learned To Say I Love You is the heartwarming tale of a cowboy turned writer who cannot find the words to tell his ex-hippie, coffee shop owner girlfriend the depth of his feeling for her. Set in a Southwestern art town, the book is filled with other such colorful characters, endearing and quirky in their own rights.
Masquerading as a lighthearted love story, this unlikely premise offers an astute commentary on the disconnected state of the times and also gives us a look into the fantastical mindset of a writer. Not PC but neither discriminatory (it pokes fun at everyone in equal measure) Swisher’s voice is subtle, deceptively humorous, and polished enough to transform the ridiculous into the sublime. The engaging narrative is peppered with little gems of wisdom along the way, straightforward yet profound insights I have come to think of as Swisherisms. The author does a consummate job of disguising life’s great truths in hilarious but thought-provoking sarcasm and, like a true philosopher, he raises as many questions as he answers.
I have loved the previous books I’ve read by this author, which had a gentler, more compassionate feel about them, but I also enjoyed seeing this different facet of such a versatile writer—cynical with an intelligent and biting wit, but delightful all the same. I never laughed out loud while reading a book as much as I did with this one, and I look forward to the next with keen anticipation.
Masquerading as a lighthearted love story, this unlikely premise offers an astute commentary on the disconnected state of the times and also gives us a look into the fantastical mindset of a writer. Not PC but neither discriminatory (it pokes fun at everyone in equal measure) Swisher’s voice is subtle, deceptively humorous, and polished enough to transform the ridiculous into the sublime. The engaging narrative is peppered with little gems of wisdom along the way, straightforward yet profound insights I have come to think of as Swisherisms. The author does a consummate job of disguising life’s great truths in hilarious but thought-provoking sarcasm and, like a true philosopher, he raises as many questions as he answers.
I have loved the previous books I’ve read by this author, which had a gentler, more compassionate feel about them, but I also enjoyed seeing this different facet of such a versatile writer—cynical with an intelligent and biting wit, but delightful all the same. I never laughed out loud while reading a book as much as I did with this one, and I look forward to the next with keen anticipation.
September 9, 2014
How Bridge McCoy Learned To Say I Love you is a modern day hippy love story with a twist. Bridge, the protagonist, is searching for meaning in his life after being scorned twice. Will he ever find love again? He finds a home in Lost City with other lost souls all striving to find the missing pieces in their dreary lives. There are a myriad of characters in this story: Bridge, an author with a cowboy past, MeJoe, a blind artist with a split personality, Vivian, owner of a coffee shop and Bridge's girlfriend, and an odd assortment of friends, Stoops, Plastic, Berry, Professor, Gloria, and Chris, a gay dispenser of coffee and master creator of hors d'oeuvres.
The author tells a hilarious tale showing how truly gifted he is with a wonderful sense of humor. He tells the story through the thoughts and feelings of Bridge McCoy who can't say, 'I Love You' to Vivian. Can he accept change in his life and learn to see outside his small world? Should Bridge wish for what he can't have or is it dangerous to want more?
This is a story like no other. It is entertaining and funny, with engaging and unforgettable characters that will stay with the reader. I found I missed these comical and well defined characters when I finished reading this 'tell it like it is' story.
I was gifted this book in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. I would recommend this humorous story if you enjoy the strange and unusual side of life.
The author tells a hilarious tale showing how truly gifted he is with a wonderful sense of humor. He tells the story through the thoughts and feelings of Bridge McCoy who can't say, 'I Love You' to Vivian. Can he accept change in his life and learn to see outside his small world? Should Bridge wish for what he can't have or is it dangerous to want more?
This is a story like no other. It is entertaining and funny, with engaging and unforgettable characters that will stay with the reader. I found I missed these comical and well defined characters when I finished reading this 'tell it like it is' story.
I was gifted this book in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. I would recommend this humorous story if you enjoy the strange and unusual side of life.
August 19, 2014
A love story with some great and eccentric characters
Anyone who has ever lived in a small town will recognise the characters in this book. It’s not that carbon copies of them all will be next door to you, but Robert Swisher captures perfectly the ambience of small town living, with the various eccentric characters that can be found there, who always seem to know your business before you know it yourself.
The hero of this charming novel is the, (happy to be failing) writer Bridge Mc Coy, who owns a small gallery and bookshop and who agonises over how the forces of the modern world and tourism might be ruining the town he loves. He also has a love interest in the delightful Vivian, although he has great difficulty in making his feelings known to his “lady fair”. A large part of the story is taken up with his failed efforts, in telling her he loves her and it makes an absorbing “will he, won’t he” thread throughout this delightfully meandering novel.
The other characters are all different types of small town oddities and their eccentricities add a colour to this simple, but very engaging, story, making it a bit like a Pieter Bruegel the Elder painting of Peyton Place.
I thoroughly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys feel-good reading with plenty of great characterisation. It so deserves the five stars I’m giving it.
July 3, 2014
**I received a free ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review**
Welcome to Lost City, where everything seems to a few years behind and Bridge McCoy wants it to stay that way. He's a writer who's desperate for his little slice of paradise to stay little and for change to never happen. Swisher has once again written an excellent book about a writer who can't voice the words "I love you" to the woman of his dreams. The whole point of the story is that eventually Bridge is going to have to find a way to tell Viven about his true feelings for her, before she decides that words speak louder than actions. Along the way the other members of the town show Bridge that change will happen eventually, and even though he is a strange man - walking two steps forward and one back all the time - he shouldn't change who he is for love, money or anything else. A real love story to be enjoyed by many. Highly recommended to those who love Swisher's work and any others too!
Welcome to Lost City, where everything seems to a few years behind and Bridge McCoy wants it to stay that way. He's a writer who's desperate for his little slice of paradise to stay little and for change to never happen. Swisher has once again written an excellent book about a writer who can't voice the words "I love you" to the woman of his dreams. The whole point of the story is that eventually Bridge is going to have to find a way to tell Viven about his true feelings for her, before she decides that words speak louder than actions. Along the way the other members of the town show Bridge that change will happen eventually, and even though he is a strange man - walking two steps forward and one back all the time - he shouldn't change who he is for love, money or anything else. A real love story to be enjoyed by many. Highly recommended to those who love Swisher's work and any others too!
July 14, 2014
Ducks Don't Fight! You'll understand this phrase when you read this book. This is probably the quirkiest love story I've ever read! The main character is a man in his 50’s who over the course of his life has experienced many roles. Bridge McCoy has been a soldier, cowboy, hippie, and in his latest role---a writer/art gallery owner. He has been on a life-long journey to figure out who he is. This is aptly reflected by the name of his art gallery, Why Am I Here. He has an unusual style of walking, Two steps forward and one step back.
This novel is full of funny people. There is a blind man named MeJoe who owns an art gallery called All Art Is The Same In The Dark. Vivian, Bridge’s love interest and owner of the coffee shop, Wake Up Or Die. These are just two in a group of interesting characters.
One of my favorite lines, “The world is ruined, we’re all ruined, and all because of fancy coffee!”
This novel is full of funny people. There is a blind man named MeJoe who owns an art gallery called All Art Is The Same In The Dark. Vivian, Bridge’s love interest and owner of the coffee shop, Wake Up Or Die. These are just two in a group of interesting characters.
One of my favorite lines, “The world is ruined, we’re all ruined, and all because of fancy coffee!”
December 17, 2014
How Bridge McCoy Learned to Say I Love You is a fun, quirky story about a man severely down on his luck and trying to turn it all around. Bridge's wife leaves him after telling him he's a bad writer and won't ever make it as one. He ups and moves to Lost City, where broken dreams seem to go to be mended, rather than die. He opens a gallery and finds his niche (one after another, with new romance possibilities).
I found the book an easy, quick read with a great writing style. I think that no matter who you are, you can relate to Bridge McCoy in one way or another. There was a lot I could recognize in him and empathize with. He is a well-developed character that I just wanted to win in the end. I would love to read more about him (and the rest of the characters of Lost City). This book is highly recommended, no matter which genre you read.
I found the book an easy, quick read with a great writing style. I think that no matter who you are, you can relate to Bridge McCoy in one way or another. There was a lot I could recognize in him and empathize with. He is a well-developed character that I just wanted to win in the end. I would love to read more about him (and the rest of the characters of Lost City). This book is highly recommended, no matter which genre you read.
February 13, 2016
"Very Frustrating and Agonizing To Read"
This is an agonizing, slow read for adults. It reminds me of "The Wizard of Oz" in adult form. There is so much repetition; i.e., two steps forward, one step back;I I I I Lo Lo Lo (as Bridge tries to say I Love You). The main character, Bridge McCoy, has a lot of issues he's dealing with, but not in an adult manner. Frankly, if the author rewrote this story for young adults, they would probably enjoy it and perhaps learn more about life ... that is, delete the sexuality innuendos, beer, and sleazy characters, which defines the entire community of Lost City. I endured reading almost half this story, but I did not find it entertaining and decided it was more fun to put a jig-saw puzzle together. This style of repetition writing is not for me.
This is an agonizing, slow read for adults. It reminds me of "The Wizard of Oz" in adult form. There is so much repetition; i.e., two steps forward, one step back;I I I I Lo Lo Lo (as Bridge tries to say I Love You). The main character, Bridge McCoy, has a lot of issues he's dealing with, but not in an adult manner. Frankly, if the author rewrote this story for young adults, they would probably enjoy it and perhaps learn more about life ... that is, delete the sexuality innuendos, beer, and sleazy characters, which defines the entire community of Lost City. I endured reading almost half this story, but I did not find it entertaining and decided it was more fun to put a jig-saw puzzle together. This style of repetition writing is not for me.
April 5, 2015
If you like straight, politically correct writing, then this is not the book for you.
The author uses his vivid imagination to portray a writer with an off-beat imagination. Bridge moves to Lost City after his wife leaves him. There he lives his life amongst artists and people who are a little different. Bridge McCoy and the other quirky characters grow to understand themselves better and find self acceptance.
This is a humorous book that will keep you engaged. It addresses many topics in an irreverent way, but with a gentleness that is enjoyable.
A strength of the book is the original style used by the author and his sharp witty dialogue. So if you’re looking for something a bit different, that will make you laugh, then try this book.
The author uses his vivid imagination to portray a writer with an off-beat imagination. Bridge moves to Lost City after his wife leaves him. There he lives his life amongst artists and people who are a little different. Bridge McCoy and the other quirky characters grow to understand themselves better and find self acceptance.
This is a humorous book that will keep you engaged. It addresses many topics in an irreverent way, but with a gentleness that is enjoyable.
A strength of the book is the original style used by the author and his sharp witty dialogue. So if you’re looking for something a bit different, that will make you laugh, then try this book.
March 1, 2015
I have to say that this is one of the most unique books I have ever read. The main character is something else, and I honestly can’t think of anyone like him. The author does a great job at making the strangest things work together, like creating an entire story around a man that takes two steps forward and one step back. Even though he’s a little off-center, he still reminds me of a typical man in many ways, including his inability to be vocal about his emotions.
I laughed a lot while reading this, and at times had trouble putting it down to go to sleep. I’ve already shared this book with my friends, and cannot wait to hear their reactions.
I laughed a lot while reading this, and at times had trouble putting it down to go to sleep. I’ve already shared this book with my friends, and cannot wait to hear their reactions.
July 21, 2014
This is not the first book I have read by this author. Robert K Swisher has a knack for bringing all of his offbeat characters to life. How Bridge McCoy Learned To Say I Love You is more of an adventure than a love story. With Bridge's unique way of walking—he two steps forward and one backward through this thing we call life. Bridge is not the only unique character in this book. It is full of entertaining—sometimes strange—but very colorful and loveable characters that will keep you laughing to the last page. I highly recommend this book.
September 3, 2014
The author is correct. After reading How Bridge McCoy Learned to Say I love you, I can honestly say I've never read a book like this one. Swisher throws his darlings into situations with aplomb and then sits back and watches them work their way through with humor and pathos. By the middle of the first chapter, the characters felt like people I know and sometimes love, and Swisher's ability to unfold their flaws and make me sympathize continued to the last page. I was enchanted.
October 25, 2014
The story centers around Bridge McCoy, a writer who lives in Lost City. He walks two steps forward and one step backwards. Swisher brings the story in slow and it needs to be that way. He showed wonderful characters, each one unique and different from each other. It is a great story about love and adventures, while bringing in humor. If you enjoy a good love story that builds up to it, this is highly recommended. "Don't be afraid of the deep end of the pool. There is always a lifeguard."
March 19, 2015
This is one amazing book. A tale of love lost and found in a place the main character hopes time forgot. A town filled with those looking to fall off the grid is facing something feared by Bridge, change. The entire matter is complicated by his love for a lady both loveable and fearsome. Everything and everyone comes into Bridge's sights. Yet, at the same time he sees the people he cares about quite clearly. Great read, it will keep you wondering until the last page.
December 31, 2014
This story is the day-to-day activity of the citizens of Lost City. Nothing in exciting or climatic happens.
There is a cast of characters, the star is Bridge McCoy, author and owner of a gallery. He meets with his friends and girlfriend, Vivian, everyday, in the same places and conversation is usually about the same thing.
There is a cast of characters, the star is Bridge McCoy, author and owner of a gallery. He meets with his friends and girlfriend, Vivian, everyday, in the same places and conversation is usually about the same thing.
May 17, 2015
I have to say I was amused by this story. Bridge is definitely a unique character, unlike what you find in most books. Easy read, kept me engaged.
April 12, 2016
DNF....just couldn't get into this book.
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