Customer Reviews

Slow Waltz in Cedar Bend

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

I saw Robert Walker interviewed on a Sunday news program immediately following the publication of the now famous THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY. His narrative describing the emergence of the novel fascinated me. He spoke as if the characters were somehow inside him crying for their story to be told. I had to read this book. Next thing I knew, BRIDGES made the best sellers list. This was in the early 90's. The book became a common topic of conversation among my friends. In fact, one friend and I spoke of the book a great deal. It is a book to make one think and discuss.

A year or so later, I came across SLOW WALTZ IN CEDAR BEND - quite by accident. When I made the connection with THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY, I immediately purchased the book, read it, then shared it with my friend with whom I had long discussions about Walker's first novel. Frankly, I liked SLOW WALTZ IN CEDAR BEND much better than THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY. I remember seeing myself in the main character. This character, Michael Tillman, mesmerized me.

Twelve years later, I was looking for a book on tape to keep me company on a long lonely drive, I bought SLOW WALTZ IN CEDAR BEND forgetting that I read the novel 12 years earlier. During the second reading (or listening), I found that I enjoyed the author's writing and his imagery, but didn't find any connection between the main character and me. In fact, I didn't realize that I had read this novel before until I got to the part where Michael Tillman finds Jellie Braden on an Island in India. Reading this book for a second time was a fascinating experience. I continued to enjoy Walker's writing style, but the novel had a much different emotional impact on me. I suspect that my two experiences were the result of the author's crafty skill with the written word.

For those, who read SLOW WALTZ IN CEDAR BEND when it first some out, I recommend to read it again. In fact, I think I'll listen to it on my next trip.

I liked the book from the very beginning, reading it in one "shot". It is an excellent love story, very sensitive, with beautiful descriptions of the characters and events. The campus-life descriptions bring many memories, and the love scenarios are touching. The two parallel lives of Jellie Braden are beautifuly described, and Mikel is a real "character" (maybe like the author...?, definitely like his "budy"/"prototype" Robert Kincaid). I liked the flow of events, the jump between present and past, the description of life in a small campus-town, the life in India, and especially the love-related events. I liked the description of the "ever increasing" relationships between the two main souls - Jellie and Mikel, especially the "swans in the pool" scenario and the follow-up....where the "slow waltz" is becoming a real love.

But, I felt that the author went "one bridge too far", with the end of the book. It could have as well been finished one chapter "earlier", after Jellie and Mikel were re-united in India.

I enjoyed reading the book, and definitely rate it as one of the good ones I ever read.

How many short, silly novellas can one author turn out with wafer-thin plots and cliched characters that struggle not to fall into bed with each other, knowing all along that's exactly what they're going to do? This book was almost as bad as Bridges...but not quite. But then, not much could be.

Quite literally yes! I do have a copy in every room. There are certain passges that I love to re-read again. The moment in Beanos and the respectful waitress turning the volume up so an intimate conversation between Michael Tillman and Jahlay can ensue. The Thanksgiving Dinner at The Bradens where you feel you are in the room with the characters witnessing a potential affair develop between them both but, somehow, you feel you are the only one who sees it. There are so many passages that I love about this book that, by their very power, they could be miniature essays in their own right. The fact that they all come together to make an all-round belter of a romantic novel makes the book a classic in my opinion. If Zen and the Art.... Catch 22...The Catcher in the Rye...are books you feel you should have due to popular opinion, then listen to me and buy this as it is in a class of its own in this genre.

This is the sort of book you'd take on a 2-hour plane flight. Mildly distracting, completely predictable, "fiction lite." I'll give it a little credit for depicting "mature" people rather than 20somethings in a tangled love/lust affair, but overall it's something to read and forget. Michael Tillman is the perfect romantic hero--a loner, intelligent, slightly rebellious within the system, an animal lover, a biker, lean and comfortable in his jeans and disdain for the academic life. His object of desire, Jellie Braden, is beautiful (of course) with lovely legs, hair, and other assets, and in possession of a mysterious and exotic past that only increases her allure for a "rebel" like Tillman. *Sigh* Really, who couldn't see the ending coming about five miles away? Don't expect great literature here.

The story was ok, but nothing great. I found the writing to be no great shakes, and frankly, a bit corny. I wanted to tell Michael to just get over it, and everytime I read the word Jellie, all I could think of was a great big bowl of jello.

I read the whole thing on an airplane ride home--for that, it served its purpose. If you're looking for good literature, though, don't waste your time.

I started reading this book with a preconceived notion that this story would be exactly like Bridges of Madison County (I almost was not let down); I was sure of another tear jerking unhappy ending, so I was happily surprised when I got to the end of this story. I rated this book with three stars. I would have rated it two and a half; you can only rate by whole stars, because I liked it as much as I did not like it. I wasn't sure if I would like this story when I first started reading it but who doesn't love a good love affair, especially if it involves infidelity and a few good sex scenes? If you can overlook the infidelity, you can tell that the author seems like a hopeless romantic and that this story comes from his heart. How refreshing to know that someone from the male gender can be such a romantic! It was a little difficult to really get into reading this book at first, so thank God! it wasn't too long. After getting farther into the story, the more interesting it became. The duck rescue was a very touching. I really enjoyed how Michael went to India to prove his love for Jellie, and how his elderly mother encouraged him to chase after his love (that part also touched my heart somewhat). I also liked how the author tried to make this story seem real to the reader. He used good foreshadowing. I liked how the scenery was always changing. The accident was good because the plot kept you guessing. I had a few tears at this point. One thing I really wish was that if Jellie's name was pronounced Jah'lay, then that should have been how it was spelled. I wonder what the author was thinking when he came up with that name.

While this book does not bring forth the strong, charismatic emotion as "The Bridges of Madison County," it does contain the same gentle flowing writing style and vivid drama. From Iowa to spectatular India, the author weaves a tale of love and loss with a blend of strong down-to-Earth characters and a sense of mystic wonder. "Slow Waltz in Cedar Bend" is not a deep, intense read, but it is still enjoyable and can easily be read in an evening. I have been hoping it would eventually become a movie, but to date, I do not believe that has happened. The setting would make for some breath-taking photography, particularly those scenes shot on location in India. Waller's writing style is somewhat similar to that of Nicholas Sparks; however, Waller writes with more passion, realism and conviction.

this is the book that should have been made into a movie instead of Bridges. Imagine the scenes that could have been shot at the lake in Tukadee(sp?)! The area in the Black Hills was beautiful too. Also, there was more drama, i.e. Michael's accident, the duck incident, when Jellie and her daughter appeared at the hotel. I found it a more intriguing and believable story. In my opinion, the best of all his books.

footnote to amazon.com: why don't you mention that both Bridges and Slow Waltz are available on CD? I own both.

...I already deemed Waller's first novel, "The Drudges of Madison County," the worst book in the solar system. What to say about this one? Well, the dialogue was, as expected, overwrought (is it just me, or would anyone else out there burst out laughing at some of the things Michael says to Jellie while they're knocking booties?). Michael's various shenanigans (taking off before finals, giving his students grades based only on the semester's work, pissing off the dean, making goo-goo eyes at the dean's wife...) would get him fired at my university, darn tootin'. While we're on the subject of universities, raise your hand if you found Pat Sanchez offensive. I mean, how many times am I going to have to read about a Spanish character who has "fought her way up from the barrio?" And why are they all named Sanchez? I don't know a single person with that last name and I live in Los Angeles! Then again, if you want well-drawn, unique characters; a stirring plot; and a subtle yet strong message, maybe you should try reading the label on your package of Kraft Singles. Not only is it a compelling read, but the contents are much more satisfying than this doggerel.