The Bridges of Madison County

Rating:
Summary: Not my thing...is it yours?
Review: I hesitantly add my own thoughts to the burgeoning chorus here, knowing that I'll be in the "read all xxx reviews..." section in a month or two, but I thought I might add a few things besides the polar "I loved it!"/"I hated it!" reactions that are so common. Granted, I despised this book; it is poorly written, with cardboard characters and wooden dialogue, and its only virtue is its brevity. Still, while overwhelming popularity of this little trifle is perhaps testimony to its utter banality, at the same time it must be connecting with all of these readers _somehow_. I am certainly willing to entertain the notion that I am out of touch with the aesthetic senses of >20 million readers; whether you are one of those who are capable of being sucked in by this book is therefore not something I can predict. In any case, a thought occurred to me during my reading: the by-now well-known plot of this book has an Iowa farm wife (and mother) meeting a traveling photographer and "free spirit" and having her first and only passionate love affair, only to end it when she chooses to stay with her family. This is the story that has millions in tears of romantic grief. One wonders if that would be the situation if the gender of the protagonists were reversed--that is, an Iowa farmer meets a traveling female photographer and experiences his first passionate love affair, but decides to stay with his plain (and oblivious) wife. Wouldn't the same readers who fawn over this novel now think of the farmer as a philandering jerk? Of the photographer as a homewrecker? Perhaps I'm just missing the timeless quality of forbidden romance, or perhaps Mr. Waller just didn't do justice to his characters, but that is exactly how I viewed Francesca Johnson and Robert Kincaid.

Rating:
Summary: Over-rated drivel
Review: This waste of time gets no rating whatsoever from me. (However, I had to select a rating from the list; too bad ZERO stars hadn't been an option.) I find it hard to believe ANYONE could like this book. Those people who did like it apparently are from the trashy-love-novel fan club. An absolutely awful book...

Rating:
Summary: Don't give him your hard earned $$
Review: The most hyperbolic, narcissistic, patronizing nonsense I think I have ever read. It gave me pain to read it but I did just to be fair. I read a parody (The Ditches of Edison County) first and thought it patently unfair--the original couldn't possibly be that bad. Unfortunately, it was much, much worse. I don't like to deride an author's work, but this book is so obviously a money making machine to be marketed to a notoriously poorly read mass market that I don't think it qualifies as real writing.

Rating:
Summary: A BOOK YOU WILL REMEMBER FOR A LIFETIME!
Review: In all my fifty years, this is by far the most spectacular,touching and memorable book I have ever read. If you could give more than a five star rating, this book would deserve it - there are simply not enough "stars." It will touch your heart and remain with you forever. True love - that all consuming love, truly does touch us once and only once, no matter how many lifetimes we live. One of the most sensuous books every written.

Rating:
Summary: A BOOK YOU WILL REMEMBER FOR A LIFETIME!
Review: In all my fifty years, this is by far the most spectacular, touching and memorable book I have ever read. If you could give more than a five star rating, this book would deserve it - there are simply not enough "stars." It will touch your heart and remain with you forever. True love - that all consuming love, truly does touch us once and only once, no matter how many lifetimes we live. One of the most sensuous books every written.

Rating:
Summary: Where do I begin?
Review: I am trying to think of what to say. I have enjoyed this bookso much. I first read it in 1995, 3 days before the release of the movie. I read the first half of the book, then tried hard not to read the end before I saw the movie. I thought about the book all day, and read the end that night. Since 1995, I have been to Iowa 2 times to visit the Bridges of Madison County. I hope to go back again someday. If you are young, you will not understand this book, and won't like it. Perhaps you will feel left out of the loop, and will write a bad review. To all those people who haven't expierenced love to this degree, I say too bad. Robert Waller writes what I've felt, and does it beautifully.

Rating:
Summary: Where do I begin?
Review: I am trying to think of what to say. I have enjoyed this book so much. I first read it in 1995, 3 days before the release of the movie. I read the first half of the book, then tried hard not to read the end before I saw the movie. I thought about the book all day, and read the end that night. Since 1995, I have been to Iowa 2 times to visit the Bridges of Madison County. I hope to go back again someday. If you are young, you will not understand this book, and won't like it. Perhaps you will feel left out of the loop, and will write a bad review. To all those people who haven't expierenced love to this degree, I say too bad. Robert Waller writes what I've felt, and does it beautifully.

Rating:
Summary: Ugh!
Review: I guess we could all spend a little time wondering "what if", but as far as this book goes - get real! We are to believe a farm wife just falls hopelessly in love with someone driving into her lane. I don't think so! I gave this book to my friend who is a generation older than me (mid-60's) who was a farm wife in central Iowa. I warned her it was sappy and stupid. She called, crying, asking if she could keep the book - it was SO wonderful. So, go figure.

Rating:
Summary: It touched the deepest part of my heart
Review: Well, obviously not many people like that book. Sure ! It's notthat easy to devote your life to a person, to a feeling, to a moment that lasts forever... actualy, it's very hard.And even harder is to realise that such kind of love exists.But it's the first step... Remember, the real things are not the things.

Rating:
Summary: It touched the deepest part of my heart
Review: Well, obviously not many people like that book. Sure ! It's not that easy to devote your life to a person, to a feeling, to a moment that lasts forever... actualy, it's very hard.And even harder is to realise that such kind of love exists.But it's the first step... Remember, the real things are not the things.