This
book is a hands down classic love story. It even became one of the most classic
love story movies adapted on the big screen starred by cinema big-weights Meryl
Streep and Clint Eastwood. I’ve always wanted to read this book. I’ve somehow
penciled it in my mind, but it just didn’t materialize. And I’ve seen the movie
played in HBO a couple of times (years ago!) but I made a conscious effort to
skip it because I had to be honest, it looked pretty “country” and boring. All
I know about The Bridges of Madison County before reading the book was that
it’s a love story of two middle aged folks, which I wouldn’t assume really be
compared to a rush of a roller coaster ride.
Boy
was I wrong. The book proved me wrong!
If
the book is about a quiet love story of two middle aged folks in the country, I
was a bit surprised that it was not a bore at all. The novel was short
technically a novella of 154 pages in E-Book, but the words and pages were used
wisely. There were no lengthy histories of characters nor was there any
excessively flamboyant use of narration. It was straight to the point, concise
yet very poetic. One of the no-nonsense love stories I’ve ever read without
losing the sense of passion and raw emotion. Being straight to the point, the
book is very easy to read, but conversations between these two people and their
raw thoughts and emotions told in a 3rd person perspective supply
the poetic high and romance that we rarely see nor experience in this day and
age. The words of Robert Kincaid to Francesca captured me that no Edward Cullen
could utter. You’ll immediately feel affinity and support for Francesca who was
initially a complete stranger to the reader who transformed from being a simple,
country and plain housewife to an individual woman who has dreams and inner
strength. Robert Kincaid is not your typical prince charming either. He doesn’t
impose himself nor tries to sweep you off your feet. He just does with his
innate independence, gentleness, sincerity and intellect. Beneath his
character’s strength and passion, is still a man of control.
The story started off with Robert Kincaid’s journey as a
photo-journalist. From the get-go, we find that he is a unique individual and
very independent. In one of his trips to cover wonderfully constructed bridges
all over the country, he crossed paths with Francesca, a farm wife, who was
incidentally sitting on her porch enjoying her solitary day. Francesca ended up
assisting Robert Kincaid to get to the Roseman Bridge and thus the beginning of
their 4-day romance.
I have mentioned that the book was short, but from their initial
observation of each other and their first interaction, the reader could get to
feel the intensity of their attraction. But it’s not the interaction of
teenagers and those individuals only up for a fleeting romance. Their
attraction is deep and controlled. Probably this wouldn’t have worked well in
20 something characters when they still have the world at the palm of their
hand. What makes this romance interesting is that here are two middle aged
people who have a good sense of who they are and who have their own
responsibilities and their own ‘lives’ to lead. The gestures and scenes in the
book are magnified. I loved the scene when Francesca was in Robert Kincaid’s
truck having a cigarette. I knew they had to be together!
Robert Kincaid pulled a pack of cigarettes from his shirt pocket, shook
one halfway out, and offered it to her. For the second time in five minutes,
she surprised herself and took the cigarette. What am I doing? she thought. She
had smoked years ago but gave it up under the steady thump of criticism from
Richard. He shook out another one, put it between his lips, and flicked a gold
Zippo lighter into flame, holding it toward her while he kept his eyes on the
road.
She cupped her hands around the lighter
to hold the wind in abeyance and touched his hand to steady it against the
bouncing of the truck. It took only an instant for her to light the cigarette,
but that was long enough to feel the warmth of his hand and the tiny hairs
along the back of it. She leaned back and he swung the lighter toward his own
cigarette, expertly forming his wind cup his, taking hands off the steering
wheel for no more than a second.
With Francesca’s invitation for Robert to join her for supper and quiet
company, it already gives the reader a glimpse of how powerful she can be.
Francesca is a woman of ideals, responsibilities and morale, but she is also a
woman capable of having dreams and passion. You know she will sin, but the
reader would immediately fall for them so much that her husband (Richard) can
just very well be a figment or a trivial fact of her life. While beneath Robert
Kincaid’s independent and aloof persona, comes his gentleness and willingness
to be tied down.
And did I mention
that the most interesting part of this is that they were only together,
exhibiting deep physical relationship and care, for only four days. They met on
a Monday and ended their love affair on a Thursday. But what’s amazing is that
in those four days we know that they should be together and no time was wasted.
It was like finding your soul mate after years of searching and wondering but
after the fourth day, it is inevitable to say goodbye. Robert Kincaid asked
Francesca to tell him to make things right. He could be man enough to talk to
Francesca’s husband and take her with him. But Francesca is a woman of
responsibilities and sensitivity. She knew their affair might only last for
four days but her relationship with him will last forever without tainting or
giving any burden to her family or limiting Robert Kincaid’s independence. On the fourth day of their separation, they
carried heavy hearts and they both shed quiet tears, but probably that’s what
sets them apart. Their passionate affair, their whirlwind romance, romance of a
middle aged people, transcends time and space. They have the strength to endure
pain and sacrifice. Their view of love transcends physicality and
acknowledgement.
They never got
together again, but the readers know that after their four-day affair, they already
had each other forever. Francesca carried on being a wife and a mother
contented with memories, old photographs and that pink dress she wore on that
night they danced in her kitchen. While Robert Kincaid continued to be
vagabond, taking pictures and never forgetting her. Until their respective deaths, they knew that
they had each other and the memories of those four days of happiness and
passionate love were enough.
Before one starts to
read their story, there is a chapter in the book that serves as a form of a caveat.
The writer mentioned that for one to appreciate this story, one has to have an
open mind. Romantic cynics and realists might not be able to ingest the words
and accept that the memories of a four day romance were as real and as true as
it can be. This story will reflect the image of our relationships if we indeed
have found the Robert Kincaids and Francescas of our lives. It took them years
and almost forever just to find each other and yet to separate after four days.
But for them it’s enough for at least they know they have found the real love
they deserve.
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