“The Bridges of Madison County”
Written by Robert James Waller
Reviewed by Diana Iozzia
“The Bridges of Madison County” is a remarkable
novella about very unremarkable people and their small romance. We learn about
Robert Kincaid and Francesca Johnson, two people who serendipitously meet when
Robert visits her farm to ask for directions. Francesca’s husband and children are
away for the week, and the two develop a mature affair. One of the most
beautiful and most difficult elements of the affair is that Robert is the type
of person Francesca has always wanted: a vibrant, interesting photographer
whose joie di vivre is infectious. They are both in their fifties and have a mutual
attraction and respect for each other. However, they know that Francesca must
not leave her family for the wild nomadic Robert. They part ways, and for the rest
of their lives, miss and love each other.
This is a very simple, pretty, and maddening story.
This is one of those stories in which the one that got away never will come back.
It’s a bit heartbreaking, but I also feel very strongly for Francesca’s
husband, who does not know his wife pines for Robert.
I enjoyed this story, the characters, and the
beautiful, poetic language. The prose and dialogue are so realistic, so vivid,
it feels like you are sitting across the table from these characters. As a fan
of the musical, I knew I had to read the source material. I recommend this book
for those who like simple, romantic books that have a small amount of plot but
a lot of emotion.
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