This kind of certainty comes but once in a lifetime.

Do you have an open evening? You should probably read The Bridges of Madison County. If you can, read it on a porch somewhere with some sweet tea or lemonade (or an Arnold Palmer). Honestly, it won't take long to read--I finished it last night after checking it out from the library at about six.


The author, Robert James Waller, is also a photographer and musician (He seems to have a lot in common with Robert Kincaid. Imagine that, an author who writes an autobiographical character into his work.), and he released a jazz album, The Ballads of Madison County, to go along with the book.

Two years later, Clint Eastwood and Meryl Streep played the parts of Robert Kincaid and Francesca Johnson in the movie version, which I also recommend for a humid summer evening.

Bonus Fun Fact: John Wayne is from Madison County.