Slow Waltz in Cedar Bend

Waller likes to justify adultery. The theme of both Bridges of Madison County and this novel is the dissatisfaction and stultification that sometimes a woman has in her marriage. Then, a more strong and exciting man comes along to 'awaken' her. These books probably serve as wish fulfillment for women in similar situations who would never dream of doing what Waller's heroines do. I don't approve of the theme, but the writing is evocative and descriptive, raising my rating of the book as a whole by quite a bit.

A college professor is obsessed with a collegue's wife, they sleep together, she leaves her husband and goes to India. The new love follows her, discovers her secrets, they return home together, she leaves her husband and moves in with the new love. I'm glad the book was short because the story line was annoying from the point of view of the devastation caused by two emotionally deficit people which the author tried to paint as something beautiful.

The man is apparently good at his craft; writes well and all that.

Sample: Down the halls of the administration building he went, admiring the waxed oak floors, inhaling the vapors of incompetent power radiating from the walls and oozing from under darkened doors like smoke from a burning village where truth and beauty had once been found.

The main setting is a fictional college town in Iowa, with background in Custer, South Dakota, and large portions of the story taking place in India. His most descriptive writing was of India, a place I've never been, but could feel myself there in his words. He was thorough with his characters, too, but the only ones I cared for were her father and his mother; all the rest, including the main show more characters of the middle-aged college professor, and the wife of another professor, rubbed me the wrong way. But he seemed to save his most lavish descriptions for the sex scenes, of which there were plenty. Had I known its substance, I would not have picked up this book; adultery stories aren't my cup of tea. If that isn't something that bothers you, you may enjoy this book for its writing.

For myself, it gets a personally-didn't-care-for-it rating of 2 stars. show less

A college professor is obsessed with a collegue's wife, they sleep together, she leaves her husband and goes to India. The new love follows her, discovers her secrets, they return home together, she leaves her husband and moves in with the new love. I'm glad the book was short because the story line was annoying from the point of view of the devastation caused by two emotionally deficit people which the author tried to paint as something beautiful.

Michael Tillman met another man's wife at a university in Cedar Bend, IA and found himself heading into the strange, exotic world of south India, looking for her. Her name was Jellie Braden, and Michael Tillman wanted her from the first time he saw her. It brought with it the pain of choices and loss.

Enjoyed the book, but didn't think the reaction of Jellie's husband was realistic. Husband, Jim Braden, seemed to love his wife and accept Michael and Jellie's romance much to easily.

Waller has an art for writing. You feel the emotions and savor the environment around his characters.

This was a love story written from a man's point of view, which is something I haven't had the privilege of reading before. I absolutely adored the relationship between the lead characters, Michael and Jellie. It was a quick read but very enjoyable none the less.

A college professor is obsessed with a collegue's wife, they sleep together, she leaves her husband and goes to India. The new love follows her, discovers her secrets, they return home together, she leaves her husband and moves in with the new love. I'm glad the book was short because the story line was annoying from the point of view of the devastation caused by two emotionally deficit people which the author tried to paint as something beautiful.