The Bridges of Madison County

By: Robert James Waller

Narrated by: Kelli O'Hara, Steven Pasquale

Length: 3 hrs and 50 mins

Publisher's Summary

The legendary love story and the major motion picture starring Clint Eastwood and Meryl Streep. This is the story of Robert Kincaid, the photographer and free spirit searching for the covered bridges of Madison County, and Francesca Johnson, the farm wife waiting for fulfillment of a girlhood dream. It shows listeners what it is to love and be loved so intensely that life is never the same again.

©1992 Robert James Waller (P)2013 Hachette Audio

Critic Reviews

Narrators Kelli O’Hara and Steven Pasquale bring out the beautiful simplicity of this love story about a photographer who shows up in a small town in the Midwest and meets a married woman. As the narrators alternate chapters, both offer performances that reflect the natural development of the love affair that develops. The gentle narration keeps the story focused on themes of self-fulfillment and true love, rather than on issues of morality. O’Hara and Pasquale complement each other’s performance with consistent renditions of Richard’s steady speech, reflecting his contemplative nature, and the foreign-born Francesca’s slight accent and soft voice. The dual narration adds to the effectiveness of this quietly stirring romance." (AudioFile magazine) 

"An erotic, bittersweet tale of lingering memories and forsaken possibilities." (Publishers Weekly) 

Like a beautiful photograph

Just like its subject matter, this book or, better yet, novella leaves you thinking of it like a beautiful photograph, yearning to learn more about its subject. It is written with gorgeous, lyrical prose. The two main characters are incredibly human. I wish that the author did describe the bridges a bit more - which have become the iconic remainder landmark of this book's output.

I was super excited that the narrators are the original Broadway cast members of the new musical version of the story. Both Kelli O'Hara and Steven Pasquale are incredibly talented. All we are missing here is hearing them sing. I'm going to go listen to the cast recording next. :-)

Never Go Wrong With Love

Awesome love story! Robert and Francesca had their life span together in four days. Children understood their mother falling in love with Robert.

The Readers’ Performances Are Slightly Better Than the Story

Hate how the story tries so hard to make itself romantic. Why can’t it just be two people connecting, falling in love, and then having great sex? Instead, the we don’t get any deep conversations between the two of them, but we do get plenty of details about what the book believes is the best sex in the history of sex. The mother even leaves a boastful letter to her children about how great the adulterous sex was, including a list of places where they f*cked in the house. Unbelievable.

Kincaid is a narcissist. He actually says sh*t like, “I am the last cowboy,” and “I am the peregrine.” I half-expected him to say, “I am God.”

The movie was heaps better.

Love

When I think of what love is, I think of the contents of this book. I could listen to this book every day and never get tired of it. It speaks to me in a way that no other love story ever has.

I couldn't love it more!

I'll admit I'm a huge fan of this movie and decided to download the audiobook so I could relive it whenever I wanted. I've listened to it probably at least a dozen times. I sometimes have trouble sleeping and putting this on and listening for a while (sometimes listening to the whole thing on nights when sleep just eludes me completely) - is so soothing. The story is beautiful and the narration is just perfect. I highly recommend it.

Beautiful stort

I've never read a book quite like this. It's an extremely beautiful, haunting love story

Cheating...

I had no idea this book was about cheating...wouldn't have read it if I had known that.

It was meh

It was a lot shorter than the other audiobooks I have, 4-5 hours. It was kind of boring in the beginning and I thought I had purchased the wrong book because of the way the first chapter started combined with the narrators voice. I thought it was just okay honestly.

Real Love

A beautiful story about falling in love at the wrong time to the love of your life. A story that causes you to ponder if a live that strong was strong enough to withstand the consequences if they had chosen ro stay together. A classic like no other.

Beautiful Love Story

I enjoyed this book as much as I've enjoyed the movie, which is one of my favorite movies that I've watched at least 10 or more times. Makes me cry everytime I listen or watch because it reminds me of my own love story which is similar to this one.