Georgia’s review of The Bridges of Madison County > Likes and Comments
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I agree. The movie is better. Although I prefer the books.
Processed cheese--what a great description. A food-like product.
Georgia, Your last paragraph is priceless. All that will ever come to mind now, in relation to this book will be Velveeta ... or Kraft Slices. You really made me laugh, thank you. (And yes, to Clint Eastwood in my kitchen any day of the week!) But still ... I haven't read it, thank goodness, and those Kraft slices may even haunt the movie now. Ha!
I agree with your sentiments and description of the book. It’s definitely cheesy, smarmy, and poorly written.
It was my most hated book for over 25 years until I quit keeping score.
When it was the hottest book in the world, the author was in demand for interviews. I saw him on two talk shows. One of them included his wife.
The interviews were awful and set my opinion of the book in concrete. The author admitted that the main character was based on himself (he even named him Robert), and when the interviewer asked his wife whether the love interest was based on her, she went silent and looked embarrassed, while Waller said nothing. He showed no concern for his wife’s feelings at all.
Throughout both interviews, the word “narcissist” kept coming to mind.
I felt the novel had a very male point of view and as if the author had a certain agenda.
About the movie: I thought Meryl Streep was good as per usual.
Vlatka wrote: "I agree. The movie is better. Although I prefer the books."
While the actors carried the movie, this writer has no finesse with the book. Nothing comes across as real.
Fred wrote: "Processed cheese--what a great description. A food-like product."
I had to be honest even at the risk of hurting any who loves the book. My point is that this writer comes across as dishonest. That's a breach of trust with the reader.
I can certainly appreciate what you've said. Not sure why I rated it the way I did since the story isn't the sort I resonate with and the film was mediocre at best. Writing is art and individual tastes vary
I wasn't going to say anything when you posted you were reading this but I was going to say, "oh, no!" I read it when it first came out (and I was a lot younger) and hated it then. Just. Bad. Writing.
Julie wrote: "Georgia, Your last paragraph is priceless. All that will ever come to mind now, in relation to this book will be Velveeta ... or Kraft Slices. You really made me laugh, thank you. (And yes, to Clin..."
Instead of stars, how about we could give out cheese ratings from now on? Julie, I need a good camembert, provolone, or feta after that one.
Georgia wrote: "Julie wrote: "Georgia, Your last paragraph is priceless. All that will ever come to mind now, in relation to this book will be Velveeta ... or Kraft Slices. You really made me laugh, thank you. (An..."
This really made me laugh -- again! Yes, I'll see you two parmesan rinds, and raise you a double cream brie. ;-) I think we'd get a lot more reviews.
DianneDS wrote: "I agree with your sentiments and description of the book. It’s definitely cheesy, smarmy, and poorly written.
It was my most hated book for over 25 years until I quit keeping score.
When it was ..."
DianneDS wrote: "I agree with your sentiments and description of the book. It’s definitely cheesy, smarmy, and poorly written.
It was my most hated book for over 25 years until I quit keeping score.
When it was ..."
Most hated book for over 25 years?! And you gave nothing away until now. Dianne, you should play poker. You'd make a killing.
Maria wrote: "I wasn't going to say anything when you posted you were reading this but I was going to say, "oh, no!" I read it when it first came out (and I was a lot younger) and hated it then. Just. Bad. Writing."
Shout out, next time! Save me, Maria! Yet, there is a point in reading the bad, too. It's a reminder of what is so good about the best writing. It transports us. The world that we enter feels real. The author disappears like a magician. His pen like a magic wand melts into a silk scarf.
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Vlatka
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May 23, 2026 03:05AM
I agree. The movie is better. Although I prefer the books.
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Processed cheese--what a great description. A food-like product.
Georgia, Your last paragraph is priceless. All that will ever come to mind now, in relation to this book will be Velveeta ... or Kraft Slices. You really made me laugh, thank you. (And yes, to Clint Eastwood in my kitchen any day of the week!) But still ... I haven't read it, thank goodness, and those Kraft slices may even haunt the movie now. Ha!
I agree with your sentiments and description of the book. It’s definitely cheesy, smarmy, and poorly written.It was my most hated book for over 25 years until I quit keeping score.
When it was the hottest book in the world, the author was in demand for interviews. I saw him on two talk shows. One of them included his wife.
The interviews were awful and set my opinion of the book in concrete. The author admitted that the main character was based on himself (he even named him Robert), and when the interviewer asked his wife whether the love interest was based on her, she went silent and looked embarrassed, while Waller said nothing. He showed no concern for his wife’s feelings at all.
Throughout both interviews, the word “narcissist” kept coming to mind.
I felt the novel had a very male point of view and as if the author had a certain agenda.
About the movie: I thought Meryl Streep was good as per usual.
Vlatka wrote: "I agree. The movie is better. Although I prefer the books."While the actors carried the movie, this writer has no finesse with the book. Nothing comes across as real.
Fred wrote: "Processed cheese--what a great description. A food-like product."I had to be honest even at the risk of hurting any who loves the book. My point is that this writer comes across as dishonest. That's a breach of trust with the reader.
I can certainly appreciate what you've said. Not sure why I rated it the way I did since the story isn't the sort I resonate with and the film was mediocre at best. Writing is art and individual tastes vary
I wasn't going to say anything when you posted you were reading this but I was going to say, "oh, no!" I read it when it first came out (and I was a lot younger) and hated it then. Just. Bad. Writing.
Julie wrote: "Georgia, Your last paragraph is priceless. All that will ever come to mind now, in relation to this book will be Velveeta ... or Kraft Slices. You really made me laugh, thank you. (And yes, to Clin..." Instead of stars, how about we could give out cheese ratings from now on? Julie, I need a good camembert, provolone, or feta after that one.
Georgia wrote: "Julie wrote: "Georgia, Your last paragraph is priceless. All that will ever come to mind now, in relation to this book will be Velveeta ... or Kraft Slices. You really made me laugh, thank you. (An..."This really made me laugh -- again! Yes, I'll see you two parmesan rinds, and raise you a double cream brie. ;-) I think we'd get a lot more reviews.
DianneDS wrote: "I agree with your sentiments and description of the book. It’s definitely cheesy, smarmy, and poorly written.It was my most hated book for over 25 years until I quit keeping score.
When it was ..."
DianneDS wrote: "I agree with your sentiments and description of the book. It’s definitely cheesy, smarmy, and poorly written.It was my most hated book for over 25 years until I quit keeping score.
When it was ..."
Most hated book for over 25 years?! And you gave nothing away until now. Dianne, you should play poker. You'd make a killing.
Maria wrote: "I wasn't going to say anything when you posted you were reading this but I was going to say, "oh, no!" I read it when it first came out (and I was a lot younger) and hated it then. Just. Bad. Writing."Shout out, next time! Save me, Maria! Yet, there is a point in reading the bad, too. It's a reminder of what is so good about the best writing. It transports us. The world that we enter feels real. The author disappears like a magician. His pen like a magic wand melts into a silk scarf.
