Old Songs in a New Cafe: Selected Essays

by Robert James Waller

From Robert James Waller comes a wonderful collection of 19 essays--all of them as romantic, reflective, and timeless as readers have come to expect from the author of The Bridges of Madison County--a celebration of life and loss, of what things still can be.

Excavating Rachael's room --
Slow waltz for Georgia Ann --
Incident at Sweet's Marsh --
A canticle for roadcat --
Romance --
A rite of passage in three cushions --
The boy from the Burma hump --
Ridin' along in safety with Kennedy and Kuralt --
Jump shots --
The turning of fifty --
I am orange band --
Drinking wine the New York way --
In Cedar Key, Harriet Smith loves birds and hates plastic --
Brokerage --
Running into Perry --
The lion of winter --
One good road is enough --
Southern flight --
A matter of honor

Genres: Essays, Nonfiction, Short Stories, Memoir

172 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1994

About the author

Robert James Waller was an American author also known for his work as a photographer and musician. Several of his books have been on the New York Times bestseller list including 1992's The Bridges of Madison County, which was the top best-seller in 1993. Both that novel and his 1995 novel, Puerto Vallarta Squeeze, have been made into motion pictures.

Reviews

[Chris · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am of mixed mind in deciding how to rate this book. The stories are mostly good and well written. They offer an interesting look at the Iowa Waller knew as a boy and the Iowa of the late 1980s when most of these essays were written. His love for his home state and the outdoors comes shining through. But there are also things that bother me. These are, in fact, old songs. Each essay was previously published, mostly in the Des Moines Register. Their publication in this book is clearly the author and publisher trying to cash in on the huge popularity of Waller's The Bridges of Madison County. But there's nothing particularly wrong with that. It's that the essays always seem self-serving. Waller shows himself as an accomplished musician, a poet, a photographer, the kid who beat the local pool champ, who became a master of the basketball jump shot but walked away from the college career because it no longer interested him, who played the "Wabash Cannonball" for a Charles Kuralt "On the Road" piece that led to a gig playing for Bobby Kennedy on his whistlestop tour in 1968, who became the dean of a college business school, which seems the most improbable of all. If nothing else, the man has led a charmed life. There's also his oft-mentioned love for his wife Georgia Ann and his thankfulness for her putting up with his many flights of fancy over their decades together. All of which had me thinking, "Here's a guy who sounds a whole lot better on paper than I'll bet he is in person." So I Googled him. Sure enough, with all that money, he and his wife moved to Texas, he began an affair with their gardener, dumped Georgia and married the new woman. It makes me look at these essays with a more jaundiced eye and perhaps from enjoying them as much as I might have.

[lorelei · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful and simple writing, some of the essays were better than others,
One star off because after writing the most beautiful declaration of love in this book the author cheated on her and left her for the younger woman…
Still, may he rest in peace

[John Ratliffe · Rating 4 out of 5]

This collection of shorts is vastly overshadowed by his blockbuster, Bridges of Madison County, but nevertheless well worth a read just for the homespun, poignant stories, mostly autobiographical or from personal contacts, I assume. He leads off with 'Excavating Rachel's Room', which deals with his thoughts about his daughter leaving home to find adulthood--many of us can relate to that, and you will be moved by his thoughts and wishes for his daughter. I especially enjoyed 'The Boy from the Burma Hump', which deals with flying in Asia, something personal to me. I also read a couple of his other works, but found them less deserving than this one. His creation of the male character in 'Bridges' apparently really sticks with people, as anecdotes say that people still show up at National Geographic wanting to see the Robert Kincaid photo exhibit. Kincaid of course was a totally fictional character, but very real in so many readers minds. You may note that Robert James Waller died a couple years ago in Fredericksburg, Texas.

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked 'Old Songs' up at Goodwill on a whim, and was pleasantly surprised. Waller's writing is lovely; his personality and passion easily shine through. On the one hand, I'd like to give this book five stars for his talent and ability to engage me on topics for which I would not normally care. However, I'm only giving him four stars after researching him and discovering that Waller had a seven year* affair before confessing his adultery to his wife. Tragic and disappointing as his indiscretions are, I don't find myself judging him as much as I found the information to be distracting, as I often found myself comparing the chronology of his essays to whether or not he may have also been with his mistress at the same time. My reasoning might not be Waller's fault, exactly, but oh well. If you want five stars, don't cheat on your wife.

*Little info was available on Waller, who I initially Googled for wanting to know more about this writer I'd been enjoying so much. Consensus says his affair went on for seven years, but I don't assume to know this for sure.

[Lauren Frank · Rating 5 out of 5]

Waller shares some Thoreau attributes in his reverence of the natural world.
This collection of stories acts as a friend to any going through different, difficult transitions in life. Through talking of relationships with friends and animals alike, Waller coaxes his newest friend, the reader, to take away a sense of peace and acceptance through one story or another. I hope you love it as much as I did.

[Jennyb1227 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVE this book! Anything I wrote would be a spoiler, so all I will say is that is it a must read!

[Roger · Rating 4 out of 5]

This collection of Robert James Waller's autobiographical writings is a random, chequered affair. It includes subjects far and wide, people and places he has known and visited, animals, poetry, reminiscences and singular events that left a mark on him, or warmed his soul in some way. My favourite was probably A Canticle For Roadcat, about his treasured friend Roadcat, a stray Maine Coone kitten that wandered into his life one day and decided to stay for good. There is wisdom here and some sentimentality, but also some nuggets of beauty to savour. Certainly worth a read, if only for the more poignant stories.

[Wendy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some of his best writing.

[John Sperling · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's been a while since I read these stories, but I remember how much I love them.

[Christie]

My 2nd favorite book of all time. MUST read this one, must.

[Willie Kyne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Came across this book by chance and was caught by its poetic name and cover - one of those instances that makes it feel as if everything is destined to happen for a reason.

Waller’s writing style and views on existence and leading a romantic life were like reading my own thoughts put onto paper. In reading these essays I feel that I have discovered a true kindred spirit. “A Canticle for Roadcat” stands out as one of the most thoughtful and heartfelt of the collection.

I wish I could open this book and find more pages each time, but I will have to settle with revisiting some of these essays one day. Perhaps when in need of some comfort and reassurance, like that of an old friend.

“Like an old rider of the surf, I can already see the next wave coming. It looks fine and fair. It looks worth the effort.”

[Joy Kidney · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I read this book decades ago, two stories have stuck with me: A Canticle for Roadcat (which was also published in The Reader's Digest) and The Boy from the Burma Hump. They are still my favorites, Burma Hump even more so after learning about Uncle Bill Neal's thirteen missions over The Hump during WWII.

Having returned to Iowa from a few years away, I noted Waller's appreciation for Iowa, especially the small-town-ness of it and his rural roots. The essay/stories, nineteen of them, were first published in The Des Moines Register, which published my first ones, and also his book called One Good Road in Enough.

His high school typing teacher came to one of his book signings. He reflected that she probably had as much to do with getting the book written as anyone. An engaging collection of observations and reflections and memories.

[Angie Dickerson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the very BEST collections of short stories I've ever read. Waller sinks his teeth into reality, takes hold of your emotions and never lets go! This is one of the few books I DO NOT pack in boxes with my other 100's when I move - I carry this one with me in my carry on - I've had it for over a decade. It's pages are starting to show their age. The first short memoir in this masterpiece collection, "Excavating Rachel's Room" makes me cry every time - it really does a job of pulling on my heart strings. Waller is a master of the emotional stuff. Period. My husband still thinks we went over to the pond at university to help rescue the ducks after reading, "Slow Waltz in Cedar Bend." Masterful, I say, simply masterful!

[Sonia Richter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this collection. Waller’s voice is intensely sentimental, but not to a fault. His love for nature and animals is as genuine as his love for people he has known, raised, or encountered. If the stories are at times self-aggrandizing, it’s made up for in the uniqueness of their topics. My favorites were “Excavating Rachel’s room” and “a rite of passage,” and “I am orange band” is a great account of the weight of extinction.

[Sandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have had this sitting near my nightstand possibly for a few years. I finally decided it was time to read it. Some of these short stories were hard to read such as the one seen through the eyes of a bird, another that was about the extinction of animals. I loved the last one that talked about his father and how honest he was with the chickens.

[Caroline Bear · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this collection. I picked it up at a goodwill cause it looked interesting and was outside of what I usually buy. Occasionally there were essays I found boring or pointless but most of them have stuck with me. I definitely think I’ll read this again and buy more of his books in the future.

[Kirk Weikart · Rating 4 out of 5]

Waller has a laid back and comfortable rhythm to his writing. His stories are sometime humorous, sometimes poignant, but always entertaining. His personality is already missed in books, photos and music.

[Ryan Agnew · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first few essays were phenomenal, very romantic and emotionally moving, but the rest of the book went downhill for me. I'm glad I read this book as it was able to let me into the mind of another person for a few hours.

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lyrical in parts. Superb writer, in my opinion.

[Talea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sentimental in nature and about nature. I related to him easily.

[Kellie Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the otter one and the lady who saves birds one and the Walter Cronkite one. I liked them all really. The essays are wholesome. I also like the pool one.

[Kathy Krieg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good Stories, some better an others, excellent writer.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I usually don't read short stories, but love this book of essays by Waller. His writing is captivating, and his humor terrific.

[Jeanette Porcello · Rating 4 out of 5]

First three essays were my favorite - esp the second!

[Emily Vastis · Rating 4 out of 5]

So glad I read this! Amazing collection of essays that really made me reflect on life, the passage of time, and humanity.

[Linda Morris · Rating 4 out of 5]

(Audio version, read by author. I love his novels and liked this group of essays.

[Ruth Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Y

[Chantelle ellesbooksandbakes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Most of these essays were fun, but the only ones that will really stick with me are Excavating Rachael's Room and A Canticle for Roadcat, both of which were pure works of art.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great memoir written in short stories tells of his life as a child in Iowa and his music and family and expressing concerns for birds and climate through the stories he writes.

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok collection of ok stories