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Rating: 
Summary: Some early work by Waller to keep the fans happy !!
Review: After having read Bridges of Madison County & Slow Waltz at Cedar Bend, I found this book quite lacking in depth. The stories are too personal for my liking, eg. where he describes his daughter moving out of home. I did not seem to find any "content" in that one - it read more like a father writing an essay for personal solace, than a piece of literature !! The inclusion of Waller's speech to graduates seemed oddly out of place. It was interesting, but hard to grasp whilst reading in bed - perhaps a graduating speach is best read at a graduation, not sold to the public like some cheap piece of commercialism. There are some gems in this collection however - The story about Roadcat was warm and touching, similarly the one about the Burma airpilot - these had hidden "messages" which kept me reading. On average, there are some goods stories to be found however you need to search through the book to get to them. The book should appeal to those who are familiar with his work and now seek something different from the author
Rating: 
Summary: Wonderful Read
Review: I enjoyed reading this biography of writings by Robert James Waller. I, too, felt he was very similar to Robert Fulghum in his approach to life; a reverence for all that is simple and beautiful in this world. After reading only his fictional works, I gained a deep appreciation of the author himself and am refreshed that someone with a PhD in business can have a soul.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful Read
Review: I enjoyed reading this biography of writings by Robert James Waller. I, too, felt he was very similar to Robert Fulghum in his approach to life; a reverence for all that is simple and beautiful in this world. After reading only his fictional works, I gained a deep appreciation of the author himself and am refreshed that someone with a PhD in business can have a soul.
Rating:
Summary: Beautiful, Absolutely Beautiful
Review: I was 15 years old when I was first introduced to this book and author. The essay "Slow Waltz for Georgia Ann" was the most touching story iv ever hurd. It was love, and reckless, and compation, and solitude all wrapped up into one. Every time I need something to make me smile I read this story. I have incouraged every one I have met, who also loves to read, to read this book. The cat, his daughter, the birds and the romance tie it all together to make this book, in my opinion, the greatest ever writen. If you were to pass this up without at least reading once you are a fool. I am 20 now and the original paperback that was givin to me 5 years ago is still laying on my nightstand next my bed.
Rating:
Summary: What an amazing biography!
Review: Reads a tremendous lot like Robert Fulghum, but beyond that...Through essays, the presumably all true story of a man who lived as if he was born with a detailed, incredibly accurate set of instructions and near-Godlike wisdom. Learns pool and billiards as an eleven-year-old kid and beats the town champ. Takes up basketball, making his high school team as a freshman and becoming a good major-school college player. Starts a loving marriage in college that remains super-strong over 25 years later. Plays guitar, and with his small combo is chosen for national TV appearances with Charles Kuralt and Robert Kennedy. Despite all his independent thought, establishes a solid - actually distinguished - career in academia. And, in the decade after this book, writes a novel that may have sold more copies - and tickets to its subsequent movie - than ANY in the 1990's! And guess what? NONE of this - not even a SCRAP of it, according to the essays - ever misled him or cost him anything! He didn't drop out of school to hustle pool, ignore academics to over-concentrate on basketball, discover his wife who he chose at age 22 didn't fit his ever-evolving life at age 50, go for a low-paying full-time music career, QUIT music altogether and lose the fun of playing recreationally, or constrict his thinking by getting it in line with the PC work setting of a university. Not only did he seem to be always doing the exact right thing at the right time, he avoided every trap there was. Amazing! Have never seen a life so comprehensively superb since Jennifer Beals' in Flashdance, and she was FICTIONAL! So, Robert James, we have two ways to interpret you. You can be one of the most premier renaissance men of our time, or an archly annoying "perfect" person akin to Martha Stewart. So, my challenge to you is - write an essay, telling us in detail, how in at least one instance YOU, not circumstances, luck or the people around you - have FAILED. Have you done it? Can you do it?
Rating:
Summary: Robert James Waller Is Inspiring!
Review: Several years ago I attempted to read "The Bridges of Madison County" but the mood wasn't right. Eventually, I attempted to listen to it on audiocassette (against my better judgement, as I truly prefer to read the books) and had the opportunity to hear the author read it the way he wanted it to be heard. Finally!! I understood what everyone was talking about! I then acquired all of his other books and slowly but surely tried to get through them between all of my other readings. I truly loved "Puerto Vallarta Squeeze" but put off reading his other books for almost two years. Recently, I sat down and read "Slow Waltz in Cedar Bend" and "Border Music" within a two-day period. I immediately knew that I had to read "Old Songs in A New Cafe" while the mood was still with me. From the moment that I opened the book I felt as though I was meeting a most incredible person. His essays were truly inspiring! I was impressed by his ability to express his emotions and his thoughts with such ease. While it is commonly surprising for a man to express such thoughts and emotions, there was only one person who came to mind while I read this book: MY FATHER. I thought of him so many times while I read about his romance with his wife and his feelings about his daughter growing up and creating a life for herself. Halfway through the essays, I spoke to my father and explained that the book (that he had purchased for me for Christmas 1995) would be returned to him immediately upon my completion because, of everyone that I know, he is the only one who could TRULY appreciate the enjoyment I received from this book. When he received the book and began reading the essays, he stated to me that Robert James Waller writes the way he thinks and would like to write. He also referred specifically to the essays about Waller's wife and daughter. I have often thought it incredible that authors like Robert James Waller and Nicholas Sparks ("The Notebook") were men because they write with such sensitivity about life and love and yet, it should not be so incredible, because I have a father who proves that many men also live that way! Thank you Robert James Waller for pointing that out!
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