A Thousand Country Roads: An Epilogue to The Bridges of Madison County

A few years ago I came home from work and found my wife sobbing on the front porch of our house. Did some one die I wondered, our dog ran away? No, she had just finished Bridges. Some days later I picked up the book and like her found it to be compelling. I was even one of those who sought the National Geographic issue hoping to find the photo essay on the bridges of Madison County. To my embarassment, the libraraian deflated my balloon. I suppose, like Carlisle, I was hoping to catch a glimpse of elusive photographer from Bainbridge Island. For days I was dismayed and heartbroken for the two lovers. But, like most broken hearts, time dulled the ache and finally it faded.As many readers, I found a review for A Thousand . . . . and immediately ordered it. It acutally sat on my night stand for a week. I wasn't sure if I was ready to pry back into the lives left shattered by the departure in Iowa. Maybe, I wondered, it was just best to leave it alone. Would they just meet again and live happily ever after - way to simple. After all, Waller could have done that with Bridges. But, deep inside, I begged for Francesca and Robert to have a chance. Perhaps they would have grown apart - the chemistry gone. Perhaps they only needed a chance meeting to reunite the two lovers. In that vein I felt that Waller kept the dream alive as Kincaid and Highway set out on their odessey.Where Bridges avoided the trials and tribulations of the subplot, Country Roads led us down a maze that exposed the troubled, yet intriguing world traveler all the while keeping the engine running on the trusty old pick up as it pointed east toward the farmlands of southern Iowa. Like most readers, my heart began to race as the meeting between Francesa and Robert seemed possible. But, with the quick hand on the keyboard, Waller eluded us all. Had he drawn this out, I might have felt robbed - angry with him for setting us up only to see Kinciad drive away in the pouring rain. It was at this point that I noticed many pages left unturned - some roads still to be traveled. Would Carlisle really track down his father with the dogged dtermination that he shared with him I wondered? How would Waller paint a potenitally awkward meeting. Finally, Carlisle's burning of his father's photographs seems to draw a somewhat tidy conclusion to the novel.

Great book to read

This book is mesmerizing...classic reading of the works of Robert James Waller. Although it seemed to focus more on Robert Kincaid- and his life after the four days he spent with Francesca Johnson, you have to remember their daily lives. Robert Kincaid was a photographer who roamed the world and his work brought him in contact with many people. Francesca Johnson was a dutiful housewife and mother. The consequences of Robert Kincaid's actions eventually appeared in his life. New people emerged. As for Francesca Johnson, how much excitement or how many earth shattering events would have come to her life after Robert Kincaid? With a deceased husband, children now adults with families of their own, and a daily walk to Rosemon Bridge from the farmhouse, life was probably mundane for Francesca Johnson. She chose her family all of those years ago. Yet, she took the biggest risk of her life during her four days of intimacy with Robert Kincaid. She also came alive. She knew she would never be loved like that again in her lifetime. Francesca Johnson did not have the life experiences that would afford her the same opportunities as Robert Kincaid. This is probably why Francesca Johnson's life was not as prominent in the book as Robert Kincaid's. Excellent reading...oh, how I love Robert James Waller! Would love to visit Winterset!

I am a huge fan of "Bridges of Madison County." The book has touched my own life rendering me back into moments of my own life. No I did not have an affair... but I do know the lingering effects of having to make the right decisions when deep within you, it is not what you want. The unending longing you will endure the rest of you life. A empty space within your heart that can never be filled. It is a terribly long life from teen to retirement.Roads brought it all together and made you cry all over. It brought closure to bridges and quite possibly to myself.Bridges over roads, roads onto bridges - a complimentary set that is a must have for anyone who has ever had to make the decision to let go.

The book is in a box to keep it clean.The autograph is by a marker pen which isn't as good as a pen.The book is numbered which is good.

This is a good continuation of Waller's 'Bridges of Madison County'. It answers questions that remain about Robert Kincaid and Francesca Johnson. Like the other two books in the Kincaid story, one has difficulty throughout wondering who's mind or point of view is being described. Overlooking that, this is an interesting read. Exploring Robert's background and mindset takes the reader on an interesting journey.

I ordered the book before it even came out to stores. I was so excited to hear of the magic that I though would be followed after leaving Madison County. I was surprised, and more was just so let down in my heart. The story rarely mentioned the romance of Franchesca and the pain she endured for the ramainder of her life as we saw and read in the book and movie. It was more reflection of the previous love life of Robert Kinkade and the child that he regretted not getting to know better. It mentioned how he ocasionally would go back to the outskirts of Madison County, but never a phone call or card for so many years.I was highly disappointed in the story and threw it away for I didn't want my Children finding it and maybe my daughter reading it for such a dull ending. To me this story embedded my life and I took such meaning in it. I am offended at how it ends. I would not purchase it again if it were free and I only pay postage. It is not worth it. In the end, it makes you think that Robert regretted the years he had given up by staying true to Franchesca.I guess that is true to life though, in many ways. A woman, or some men will waste their life on a person who still moves around and has other friends and relationships and uses a person of his past as an excuse to never commit to anyone else.

I have read The Bridges of Madison County which was excellent (as was the film) I didn't know that this book existed until a couple of months ago - read it in one sitting ! This book is all about memories, passion and going back - how two people live the same memories which never leave them !Very moving, lump in throat stuff - absolutely brilliant - a keeper for me !

Great sequel to Bridges of Madison County Some unexpected surprises with a few twists and turns. Really enjoyed the narrator and the way the story developed.

Delightful sequel to Bridges of Maddison County.

A thousand country roads is the follow on from the bridges of Madison County, the film has been an all time fav of mine as has the MP3 talking book and the epilogue was the icing on the cake.

I just so loved and was involved with the original story, The Bridges of Madison County, I think it was always going to be a hard act to follow for me. But I am glad I did read it and it would probably have held its own if it had been the first of the books. A very reasonable 2nd hand copy that arrived promptly, thank you.