Friday, November 17, 2006

Happy Friday

“It seems right now that all I‘ve ever done in my life is making my way here to you.”
~ from The Bridges of Madison County

Did anyone else enjoy this book (or the movie version, with Clint Eastwood and Meryl Streep)?

I’m going to break with what I think is majority opinion and confess that it didn’t really do anything for me. I mean, okay, I did appreciate the romance, because I’m a sucker for a love story, especially one that lasts a lifetime, but I don’t remember swooning over it the way some of my friends did.

Maybe it’s because I read it when I was in my early 20s and couldn’t really identify with a middle-aged hero and heroine. I also think something in the idea of a woman cheating on her husband, for some guy who just showed up on her doorstep one dusty afternoon, left me cold too.

Actually, now that I think about it, there was really little fallout about the fact that the story is centered on an extra-marital affair. Wonder what that says about readers’ concepts of love/romance/commitment…Hmm…

Anyway, I’m spending this weekend working on a final (hopefully, but who knows what that word really means, in the world of writing) revision of the first 15 chapters of Paradise, USA, which I’m going to have to send off to Virtual Tales soon. I’m also supposed to be thinking of ideas for my cover, which is exciting but a little unnerving too.

I suppose I should fit some time in to visit the grocery store as well, before everything that might appear on a Thanksgiving table is completely sold out.

See you Monday!

3 comments:

Marianne Arkins said...

I didn't find the movie at all romantic, for the reason that it was based on an affair... Why is that wonderful? It's dishonest and wrong. It's not a HEA for me at all. I'm trying to think if I've ever liked a book or movie where the hero or heroine cheats on their SO with their "true love". Hmmm... can't think of any. Guess that's a sticking point for me.

Good luck with Paradise, USA! I'm so excited for you. If the editors at Virtual Tales are good, you'll get it back with suggestions. My short story returned twice and the editor told me it was one of the cleanest she'd seen. Makes me wonder about what else crosses her desk!

How long before it'll be available? Have they said?

Allie Boniface said...

Not sure about the actual timeline, though I'm hoping to find out soon. I'll keep you posted!

Anonymous said...

I didn't make it through 15 minutes of Bridges of Madison County. I'm more of a Pale Rider fan and watched it again for about the fourth time in the last 15 years a couple nights ago.

Congratulations on Paridise, USA.