Bridges of Madison County

Somehow, though I read a lot of novels, I was never inclined towards reading a romantic one - I always attribute it to my first try on romantic novels, a novel by Mills & Boons. That first try completely held me from even just glancing through the romantic section of any libraries or bookstores.. This repulsion towards romantic novels has been with me, until few months ago, when I read Bridges of Madison County.

Of course, given my mills & boons experience, it was not my choice to read it - but a gr8 review by one of my friends & the availibility of the book with him, inclined me towards giving another try. This one book has changed the complete outlook I had about romantic novels.. Not everything is like Mills & Boons ! ;)

Yeah, the novel sounds as if its going to be a historic or geographical(??)journey on some bridges in the Madison county, but the book is nothing abt it... Its a true story abt beautiful love & sacrifice...

Robert, a photographer happens to meet Francesca, a house wife, on his assignment to photograph the bridges of Madison county. She offers to show him the bridges & thus starts their brief love affair lasting only four days...Not because it was just an affair, but because of the choices they make...Memories of these beautiful 4 days keeps them together for the whole life time...Its unbelievable that such a beautiful relationship can bloom in 4 days & be with you for a lifetime....

Out of the numerous emotional moments in the novel, few which I liked the most are -

When Robert says "When I think of why I make pictures, the reason that I can come up with just seems that I've been making my way here. It seems right now that all I've ever done in my life is making my way here to you"

&

When both of them decide to elope & have mixed feelings about it - Francesca argues that they should not, as because of guilt she would cease being the woman he loved, she says "I want to keep it forever. I want to love you the way I do now the rest of my life. Don't you understand... we'll lose it if we leave. I can't make an entire life disappear to start a new one. All I can do is try to hold onto to both. Help me. Help me not lose loving you"

Absolutely a great novel, Don't miss reading this one! This is one of the few novels, which you would never regret reading & which will leave an lasting impression...