“Analysis destroys wholes. Some things, magic things, are meant to stay whole. If you look at their pieces, they go away.”
I, like many book lovers, try to read before I watch, but I saw this movie a few years ago, not realizing it was a book, and I’m almost thankful for that. I believe my overall impression and appreciation of the book was enhanced because the movie, while not bad, had set my expectations fairly low. Some personal bias I bring to the table: I have a hard time truly empathizing with relationships that come from affairs (and because this is the entire premise of the book, I don’t feel I’m spoiling anything for potential readers). With that being said, I had apathetic feelings toward the story and wasn’t racing to read the book. It is clear now that I made a mistake.
From Robert Kincaid, a photographer and the self-proclaimed ‘last cowboy’ to Francesca “Franny” Johnson, an Iowan farm-wife whose heart still carries the Italian flavor of her homeland, Robert James Waller provides such dimension to his characters it’s difficult to remember they live on a 2-dimensional page rather than down the street. Even having watched the movie and knowing what would happened, I found myself caught up in the vivid portrayals, deep emotions, and beautifully human conflict within the story.
Imagine the feeling of a summer night just as the sun sets and the cool starts to set in: warmed and embraced by the day, yet relaxed and revived by the evening air. That’s what this book felt like to read. Waller paints with such care and intention that it was impossible to believe I wasn’t in the kitchen with them, dancing to the radio turned low.
I was not ready for this book to end in the same way I wasn’t ready for the tears trickling down my face to become a stream. It amazes me that so much depth and poignancy can be contained in a book this short. If you’re looking for a short and sweet, yet deeply poetic read, here it is.
Personal rating: 8.5/10
Recommend? Whole-heartedly; it’s such a quick read
Re-read? Absolutely
Time: 1:51