FREE ESSAY ON BOOKREPORT WALLER THE BRIDGE OF MADISON COUNTY

BOOKREPORT WALLER THE BRIDGE OF MADISON COUNTY

Book Report-Part 1
I will tell you the name and the author of the book and who the main characters are in
this paragraph. Robert James Waller wrote the book, The Bridge of Madison County. There
are two main characters in the book. One of the main character's names is Robert Kincaid
and the other is Francesca Johnson.
In this paragraph I will tell you about Robert Kincaid and a little about his
personality. Robert was a photographer for National Geographic and sometimes just for
himself. He photographed in the outdoors. He thought that courage and strength was a big
part of human life (nature.) He didn't think that computers and robots are something big.
He said, "there were things we could do, were designed to do, that nobody or no machine
could do. We run fast are strong and quick, aggressive and tough. We were given courage.
We can throw spears long distances and fight in hand-to-hand combat. Eventually,
computers and robots will run things. Humans will manage those machines, but that doesn't
require courage or strength, or any characteristics like those. In fact, men are
outliving their usefulness..." (100, 101 Waller) I really think that what he said is
right. I think that by that he means that soon people will just forget what they are here
in the world for and what work is. Everyone will become lazy. If everyone becomes lazy
than ones everything is dead or you have to do something by hand no one will want to do
it. Robert calls himself one of the last cowboys. Cowboys are usually old fashion type
and not too civilized. That's what Robert is.
In this paragraph I will tell you about Fracesca Johnson a little about her personality.
She was a farmwife. She lived on the farm and didn't work. One day, in the summer, she
came out on her porch and was drinking iced tea. She was very exhausted from all her
work. All of a sudden a truck drives by. And a man, who was Robert Kincaid, asked her for
directions to one of the bridges that he was supposed to photograph. She offered him some
iced tea and told him that she can go with him and show him if he doesn't mind. He said
yes. After showing him the bridge she asked him for dinner. Ones more he said yes. After
a while she fell in love with him. Since her husband and children were away she stayed
with him for the time. A lot of things happened in between. He even asked her to travel
around with him. She wanted to, but she couldn't. She said, "Yes, it's boring in its way.
My life, that is. It lacks romance, eroticism, dancing in the kitchen to candlelight, and
the wonderful feel of a man who knows how to love a woman. Most of all, it lacks you. But
there's this damn sense of responsibility I have. To Richard (her husband, not mentioned
previously), to the children. Just my leaving, taking away my physical presence would be
hard enough for Richard. That alone might destroy him. On top of that, and this is even
worse, he would have to live the rest of his life with the whispers of the people here.
'That's Richard Johnson. His hot little Italian wife ran off with some longhaired
photographer a few years back.' Richard would have to suffer that, and the children would
hear the snickering of Winterset (the town they lived in) for as long as they live here.
They would suffer, too. And they would hate me for it. As much as I want you and want to
be with you and part of you, I can't tear myself away from the realness of my
responsibilities..." The things that she said tells me a lot about her. I think that she
is a truthful type person. She knows what her responsibilities are. She knows what's best
very well. She is very loving and caring about a lot of people and especially about her
own children. She is basically picturing the future. I like that she pictures the future
and thinks a lot especially before acting. In general I think that she is a good person
and if I would have a chance to become her friend I would.
In this paragraph I will tell you the theme or most important part of the story. Michael
and Carolyn were Francesca's and Richard's children. After their parent's past away they
wanted someone to write a book about them. The story starts like this. First, Michael and
Carolyn get together with the writer and tell him things about their parents and where he
could get more information on them. Then the book starts, as the writer is writing it by
telling about Francesca, (Richard) and Robert. The book doesn't tell much about Richard
at all. It just tells that he left for a while with the children to a fair in Illinois
and that it was boring for Francesca with him. Richard also is her second husband from
Canada and from the army. The main part of the story is when Francesca dies. Before she
died she wrote a letter to her children, Michael and Carolyn, telling her about the
affair with Robert and why she didn't leave them. She also told them that she wants to be
criminated near the bridge because Robert was criminated and his ashes were scattered
there too. One day before Francesca died a package came to her. In there was a letter
from Robert and the attorney, his chain with the engraving "Francesca", and his silver
bracelet. From that day on she never took the chain and the bracelet off. She told them
that she kept journals throughout her life and the journals were based on Robert and her,
for them to be able to find out more about them they should read the journals (3
volumes). They found out why their mother didn't leave them even though she loved him a
lot (as much as she loved her own children, hence she was with him only for a about 5
days) and they were very grateful for that in return by writing a book about them. This
was the main part of the story and how the book evolved.
Part 2
"The military asked him back in 1943. He went with the marines and slogged his way up
South Pacific Beaches, cameras swinging from his shoulders, lying on his back,
photographing the men coming off amphibious landing craft. He saw the terror ion their
faces, felt it himself. Saw them cut in two by machine-gun fire saw them plead to God and
their mothers for help. He got it all, survived, and never became hooked on the so called
glory and romance of war photography." (13, 14 Waller) I noticed that a lot of books and
movies about war or the army have soldiers pleading for their mothers and I saw a movie,
G. I. Jane, that reminded me of this whole paragraph.
"Robert Kincaid pulled a pack of cigarettes from his shirt pocket, shook one halfway out,
and offered it to her. For the second time in five minutes, she surprised herself and
took the cigarette. What am I doing? she thought. She had smoked years ago but gave it up
under the steady thump of criticism from Richard. He shook out another one, put it
between his lips, and flicked a gold Zippo lighter into flame, holding it toward her
while he kept his eyes on the road." (33, Waller) I was surprised to see her take the
cigarette after it was so hard to quit smoking.
"Quiet? Could something smell quiet?' She was thinking about the phrase, asking herself.
He was right. After the pork chops and steaks and roasts she cooked for the family, this
was quiet cooking. No violence involved anywhere down the food chain except maybe for
pulling up the vegetables. The (vegetable) stew cooked quietly and smelled quiet. It was
quiet here in the kitchen." (54, Waller) At first I was wondering what the book meant by
"quiet cooking (or smell)" and now I understood what it meant. It means that everything
was just how Francesca liked it before (she doesn't like meat that much). 
"Dust flying, Camel lit, truck bouncing, past the white frame house facing north, past
Richard Johnson's mailbox. No sign of her. What did you expect? She's married, doing
okay. You're doing okay. Who needs those kinds of complications? Nice evening, nice
supper, nice woman. Leave it at that. God, she's lovely, though, and there's something
about her. Something, I have trouble taking my eyes away from her." (74, Waller) I can
really understand why he can't take his eyes off of her. It's just like getting a new
pair of shoes and you get this strong feeling that you must get them. 
"He brought in the cooler first, lifted out a beer for her, and opened it, while she
found two tall glasses that would serve as mugs. When he went back to the truck for the
cameras, she took her beer and went upstairs, noted that he had cleaned the tub, and then
ran a high, warm bath for herself, settling in with her glass on the floor beside her
while she shaved and soaped. He had been here just a few minutes before; she was lying
where the water had run down his body, and she found that intensely erotic. Almost
everything about Robert Kincaid had begun to seem erotic to her." (89, Waller) I began to
think that by the way they talk about each other is very intense both of them seem to
like each other a lot. 
"We're giving up free range, getting organized, feathering our emotions. Efficiency and
effectiveness and all those other pieces of intellectual artifice. And with the loss of
free range, the cowboy disappears, along with the mountain lion and gray wolf. There's
not much room left for travelers, I'm one of the last cowboys. My job gives me free range
of a sort. As much as you can find nowadays. I'm not sad about it. Maybe a little
wistful, I guess. But it's got to happen; it's the only way we'll keep from destroying
ourselves. (101, Waller) I noticed that he really cares about the environment. He wants
everything to be saved. The nature and old parts of the world. He doesn't want technology
be the only one that exists. 
"`Sure is good to be home." Then looking at her, "you okay, Frannie? You seem a little
tired or dreamy or something'."
"Yes, I'm just fine, Richard. It's good to have you back safe and sound."
"Well, I'm turnin' in; it's been a long week at the fair, and I'm bushed. You comin',
Frannie?" 
"Not for a little bit, It's kind of nice out here, so I think I'll just sit awhile." She
was tired, but she was afraid Richard might have sex in mind. She just couldn't handle
that tonight.'" (121, Warren) I can't believe that she actually thought that he might
have sex in mind. Earlier in the book it said that Richard wasn't that type of a person.
I understand why she didn't want to go. First of all, she didn't get over Robert yet (she
never did). Second of all, she probably won't feel comfortable doing it with him the
first night after Robert.
January 7, 1987
Dear Carolyn and Michael,
...I think its time for me to get my affairs in order (as they say)...After looking
through the safe deposit box and finding the large manila envelope addressed to me with a
1965 postmark, I'm sure you'll eventually come to this letter. If possible, please sit at
the old kitchen table to read it. You'll understand that request shortly... (150, Warren)
I realized that she really wasn't scared to tell them that and as long as they know
everything will be all right. Like I said earlier, I think that she is a very truthful
person.
(This is thought by the, "Nighthawk" Cummings, his friend.) But, man, I'm haunted by that
sory he told me about him and the woman. So, every Tuesday rnight I get out my horn, and
I play that tune I wrote for him. I play it here, all by myself. And for some reason I
always look at that picture he gave me while I play it. Somethin' about it, don't know
what it is, but I can't take my eyes off that picture when play the tune. O kist stamd
jere, apbit twilight, makin' that ol' horn weep, and I play that tune for a man named
Robert Kincaid and woman he called Francesca. (170, Waller) I realized that the
"Nighthawk" was a real friend. He will never forget Robert. 
Bibliography
Robert James Waller wrote the book, The Bridge of Madison County