BUYING THOSE ‘BRIDGES’

Pauli Carnes’ review of “The Bridges of Madison County” is a travesty of justice. Not only is the book a paean to love, not lust, as Carnes would have us believe, but it is beautifully and sensually--oh, pardon me, we can’t have any of that in our lives, can we, Pauli Carnes?--written.

She claims women are aroused by “the idea of sex.” Puh-leeze! I think I speak for the majority of women I know when I say we are aroused not only by a person’s core being but by the sensuality of the human form--male and/or female--not just the “idea” of it.

And in response to her fear that this book is demeaning to the average husband, I say if you hooked up with someone who doesn’t inspire you at least a little as the hero of “Bridges” does Francesca, then you settled too soon for too little.

LAUREL A. GILLIS, BURBANK