The Bridges of Madison County

Rating:
Summary: Bridges of Madison County
Review: I loved this book - the romance, sadness, tragedy, Iowa - everything. Yes, it deals with adultery - not the best thing in the world, but your heart just breaks for the lovers. Or at least mine did. And I saw some of the bridges, the countryside and even the house where the movie was made. I could just FEEL the story. And okay, I admit it, I asked where Francesca was buried. Guess the story had me so completely believing that it was real life - but it felt like it was real life! You just want so badly for them to have been together - and happy.

Rating:
Summary: Beautifully evocative and romantic -- AN ACCURATE REVIEW
Review: I picked this book up searching for inspiration to help me with writing my romantic fiction. I was very pleased with it.

The Bridges of Madison County tells the story of Francesca Johnson, an Italian World War II wife of an Iowa farmer, and Robert Kincaid, a nomadic photographer traveling through town on an assignment for National Geographic. Their chance meeting ignites a romantic four-day affair that stays with them for the rest of their lives.

This isn't a suspenseful novel; the plot is given away immediately in the book. It's a study of beauty, of wondering, of questioning why some things happen the way they do.

Robert James Waller tells the story slowly, and few could do better. Rather than dragging out each action and frustrating the reader, Waller savors each moment, allowing the reader to bask in the beauty of this romance.

Something unique that Waller does is tell the story as if it had been told to him by Francesca's children, and he includes an "author's note" and an "interview" with a jazz musician. He does it very well; in fact, I thought that they were real!

The characters are so well constructed. The reader sympathizes with both Robert and Francesca, in spite of her commiting adultery, Francesca's two children, and even Francesca's absent husband as well.

I highly recommend this book. In addition to being beautiful (there's that word again!) and a unique story, it's a quick read to boot (192 pages). This would be an excellent selection for a book group. Read this book, and you'll be swept up in a fleeting yet beautiful affair that was strong enough to last a lifetime.

Rating:
Summary: OK, I admit it....
Review: I stayed with this sappy book.... but it really was a loser. The family book discussion lasted only about 20 minutes.