The Bridges of Madison County by Robert James Waller

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 3^rd 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.