Rating: Summary: A Thousand Country Roads, a book that wasn't Review: We knew that Robert and Francesca had not met since the four days; however, I expected the book to promote some emotional connection to "Bridges". I enjoyed the beginning of the book but felt that, without any connective commitment, another manuscript was cut and pasted at the last minute. The author admitted he wanted to write about Sinclair... too bad he didn't do that. Thankfully, Clint Eastwood was able to do with the movie what the "epilogue" could not do, preserve the reasonance of the story.
Rating: Summary: Welcome Back, Robert James Waller! Review: I was a huge fan of Waller after I read Bridges for the very first time back in 1993. I can't ever remember getting so swept up by a novel before! I suppose not since Gone With the Wind, even though that would be like comparing apples to oranges. After that, I wanted to know everything about this virtually unknown author, Robert James Waller. I also looked forward to reading more of his books that I had hoped would be just as magically spellbinding as Bridges. At the same time I did extensive research on Madison County only to discover that one of the six bridges is named the Imes Bridge (same as my last name). That intrigued me! I'd never been to Iowa but suddenly that became my dream. I wanted to visit the unobtrusive little town of Winterset and see the antique covered bridges for myself. I wanted to see the rolling farmlands he described, the famous 'blue-eyed grass', the dusty country roads and the quiet farmhouses that were so lucid in my mind -- in other words capture the setting and relive the engaging tale of a short-lived romance that changed the lives of two people in just four short days during a hot August in 1965. In short, I never made it to Iowa and probably never will. But needless to say I was disappointed by Waller's subsequent offerings. "Slow Waltz" was OK, but the two books that followed were just plain awful. I became disillusioned. What had happened to this extraordinary writer genius who even inspired me to write after so many years of wanting to fulfil my lifelong dream of becoming a published author? Then a few Sundays ago my husband (knowing that I used to be Waller devotee many years ago)showed me a newspaper article about a new book that had recently been published...an epilogue to Bridges! How could that be, I said? We all know what happened in Bridges. They both died. How could Waller expound on that story? Curious, I immediately bought a copy of A Thousand Country Roads as soon as it hit the bookstores. The first spare afternoon I had to myself, I curled up on the sofa and read it from cover to cover. Several hours later with tears streaming down my face, I closed the book... once again touched by yet another great story by my long forgotten author-idol, Robert James Waller. If you liked Bridges, you will LOVE A Thousand Country Roads. You will love it for its poignant sub plots all leading up to what transpired during the years after Robert and Francesca parted and went their separate ways. Once again you will fall in love with Robert who is his own man and not dictated by the rules of our plastic society and material world. You will share his sentiments as he rambles down the familiar country roads of Iowa in the same truck, Harry, accompanied by his beloved dog, Highway, to re-visit the Roseman Bridge one last time before he dies. And despite knowing they won't meet again, you will still experience a chilling moment of anticipation when Robert and the widowed, Francesca nearly have a chance meeting, missing each other by a matter of minutes. Nighthawk, the old jazz musician is back (why they left him out of the movie is beyond me). Last but not least you'll especially be inspired by the course of events that bring Robert face to face with another woman from his distant past and a son that he never knew existed. Get out three hankies towards the end. Welcome back, Mr. Waller, and thanks for bringing us another masterpiece!
Rating: Summary: Good closure Review: I liked Bridges better, but I was so excited to read this book and find out more about Robert Kincaid. I think the reason I didn't quite like this book as much as Bridges is because I already knew that Robert and Franscesca would not meet again, so it couldn't contain the same passion as Bridges; however, this book did bring closure about Kincaid and let me know more about his life which is something I have thought about since reading the first book. In a few days I am heading out to Winterset for the third time and it will be even more special to me now than it was after reading Bridges.
Rating: Summary: A Challenge for Us "Bridges" Fans Review: I had to buy A Thousand Country Roads. Simply had to find out "the rest of the story." I tore into this book and flipped page after page, but it seemed to lack the spark that Bridges had. I guess that was to be expected, but I still wanted more drama and to feel that same longing that consumed me in Bridges. I am glad that I picked up Country Roads, and I believe it was worth the time I spent reading even if the anticipation of receiving it was more fulfilling than the actual story. The best thing to come out of this was that I took a previous reviewer's challenge and read this novel next to Shade of the Maple, whose cover says it is "the most intimate novel since The Bridges of Madison County." I beg to differ. It is more intimate and better than Bridges. Heresy to some, I know, but find out for yourself. Plus the author is donating $1.00 from every sale to breast cancer research. If half the people who pick up A Thousand Country Roads also pick up that novel, we'd raise a lot of money, and I can guarantee a lot of people will have found a new favorite author. In summary, if you liked Bridges, you owe it to yourself to read A Thousand Country Roads.
Rating: Summary: Loved it, but..... Review: Lovely book and beautiful writing, however, I just didn't get the emotional high from this one, as compared to Bridges. Still overall, a wonderful read which I highly recommend to anyone who is a Bridges lover. I have many questions which remain unanswered about Francesca, Robert and the main characters. Overall feeling is somewhat of a void where I had hoped great emotional highs would be.
Rating: Summary: THE MORTAL AUDIENCE Review: Robert Waller understands human emotions, and knows that there is an audience out there who love and are loved. He knows that everyone in that audience is mortal, and must anticipate the day when their binding love is broken by death. For this audience, there may be nothing more painful, notwithstanding the prospect of resuming that love in an afterlife which, after all, remains uncertain.To appreciate this novel and "Bridges", one must be positioned to enter the body of the character. Once in that body, all the emotions that go along with that person can be felt. There will always be a few that don't care for this type of book. They would do well to examine their feelings if they can find them at all.
Rating: Summary: Loved It, But..... Review: No one will ever be able to write another Bridges, but I had hoped this would be closer than it is. I loved this story and the writing as far as it goes, but I have many unanswered questions about the lives of Robert, Francesca, Carlisle and also Wynn. After thinking about the story for a couple of days now, I find myself unsettled with it. It is a very short book and could easily be read in a few hours, but I took my time and tried to feel it as I went along. But it was difficult to feel this story as I did Bridges. It didn't get my emotions going in the same way. I find myself with an emptiness that is unsettling. Overall, I definitely recommend reading A Thousand Country Roads, but don't expect the kind of great emotional high one still feels from Bridges. It just isn't there this time.
Rating: Summary: Better than Bridges Review: I read Bridges, and thought that while it was a good read, it was a bit much for me - I'd give it two or three stars. Waller does have a lot of talent, but sometimes the writing is overwrought - almost a parody of itself. I was pleasantly surprised when I read A Thousand Country Roads, however. I read the book in one sitting - in fact I could not put it down. I must admit that I am a man (not that there's anything wrong with that), so I would tend to be biased towards this book, which focuses on Kinkaid, than on the other, which is more about Francesca. I just found this one more interesting and deeper. I have to agree with what Waller has said about this book - it really does close the door on Bridges, giving the reader a sense of finality. Since he made it clear in Bridges that Kinkaid and Francesca never meet again, the fact that he pulled off closure here was a real feat to me. I recommend it!
Rating: Summary: You won't be disappointed Review: Let's cut to it -- A Thousand Country Roads is not a repeat of The Bridges of Madison County. It's a story within the story and a pretty good one. Not quite as good as the original, but still very much worth reading. Better than Waller's books that followed the mega hit. It's like laughing at a joke you've heard a million times because someone told it differently. Go ahead. Don't be afraid to read this book.
Rating: Summary: Disappointing - Lacks Depth and Emotional Payoff Review: A Thousand Country Roads is the epilogue to one of the great romantic novels of our time. Mr. Waller should have left well enough alone. Lacking originality, A Thousand Country Roads merely plays on the popularity of the original story and the fact that we are all interested to know what happened in those intervening years to Francesca and Robert Kincaid. Two vivid conclusions shine forth from a reading of Country Roads. First, not only does this epilogue lack depth or intimacy, it also reveals the fact that in retrospect the original work-though moving-lacked depth as well. The prose is stilted, the actions contrived and we are left with the empty musings of an old man. We wait and wait, and yet there is no emotional payoff in this novel, nothing to move us. And so the author leaves us empty. Second, during the time between these two novels, male authors such as Nicholas Sparks in The Notebook and Kirk Martin in Shade of the Maple have taken relationship dramas to a new level, gracing us with great depth and meaning. And we are moved deeply. I wish I had not ruined Bridges by reading A Thousand Country Roads. I will stick with Sparks and Martin from now on.
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