The Bridges of Madison County
by Robert James Waller
In the film version of The Bridges of Madison County, two adult children find their mother’s diary after her passing. It cuts back and forth between their reaction to learning of their mother’s secret past, and the past itself.
The novel is just the past. To me, the parts of the film with the grown-up children are just as important, if not more so, as the love affair between Francesca and Robert; Francesca’s devotion to her children is her defining characteristic, and for the audience to see how they turned out is integral to the story. Had the movie been made first, and the book came later, it would have been more interesting. The idea of reading Francesca’s diary either as her children found it, or as a third-person reproduction would have been intriguing, and a great marketing campaign. But knowing that Robert James Waller had never imagined a continuation of Francesca’s children lessened the novel’s impact for me.
That being said, if you’d like to read the novel behind Meryl Streep’s and Clint Eastwood’s onscreen chemistry, it is a good companion to that portion of the film.
Be sure and check out Hot Toasty Rag's review of the 1995 film adaptation here!
The novel is just the past. To me, the parts of the film with the grown-up children are just as important, if not more so, as the love affair between Francesca and Robert; Francesca’s devotion to her children is her defining characteristic, and for the audience to see how they turned out is integral to the story. Had the movie been made first, and the book came later, it would have been more interesting. The idea of reading Francesca’s diary either as her children found it, or as a third-person reproduction would have been intriguing, and a great marketing campaign. But knowing that Robert James Waller had never imagined a continuation of Francesca’s children lessened the novel’s impact for me.
That being said, if you’d like to read the novel behind Meryl Streep’s and Clint Eastwood’s onscreen chemistry, it is a good companion to that portion of the film.
Be sure and check out Hot Toasty Rag's review of the 1995 film adaptation here!