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Summary: Please, Mr. Russo....write more
Review: In 1994 I was forced to sit up (almost) all night at Laguardia Airport, waiting for a 6 a.m. flight and unwilling to pay for a hotel room. The only thing that kept me going was "Nobody's Fool" which I read in that one sitting. Later, I picked up his other books, thinking that the circumstances under which I fell in love with "Fool" may have enhanced my appreciation, but only found that his writing, clear, humorous, empathetic and true, is evidenced in all his books. Culminating in this last, wonderful book. Which leads me to ponder: why is it there are writers who just crank out page after page, book after book, and you simply don't care if they never write another word. And then there is Richard Russo, who you wish could find another 8 hours a day so he could give us a book a year. (Michael Chabon is another.)
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Summary: Reminds me of George Eliot
Review: After hearing about this novel on CBS Sunday morning, I thought I would try Russo. Now I will probably read all of his earlier novels. If you like a nineteenth-century realistic novel's pace, a richly textured background, thoroughly developed characters and a humor that arises from social observation of human foibles, some of them almost invisible without long familiarity with personalities, then you will love this (Austen and Eliot come to mind). And. . . a melodramatic but thoroughly earned climax that made me think of The Mill on the Floss.
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Summary: Russo on a Roll!!!
Review: Richard Russo is one of the best novelists of our times. Don't take my word for it. The review of this book in the New York Times Book Review Section said so and this is one of the few times I agree with "the paper of record." (My wife buys it - I don't)Having read Nobody's Fool and Straight Man, I had high expectations for this book to begin with. Add to that, it is set in the State of Maine, as am I. I know the town of Empire Falls. It is a microcosim of many Maine mill and factory towns. And I know some of the people Russo has brought to life to tell his story. What is most interesting to me is that he had the insight and ability to weave such an entertaining book out of the situation he describes. Miles Roby is the central character of this book. Miles has dreams. To move to Martha's Vinyard and run a business there instead of the diner he is running (but not owning) in Empire Falls. To get Charlene Gardiner into bed which is something he has been lusting to do since he was a teen and she was the four year older beauty of Empire Falls. She now works for him as a waitress and knows what he wants, but tells him he would be disappointed. And on it goes with wonderful characters populating Empire Falls, all doing their best to frustrate Miles's plans and schemes. Woven throughout the book is an explanation of the past; his relationship with his mother who has died and his father who refuses to; the hold that Francine Whiting has on his life as the town's richest citizen and control freak; and on it goes until at the end a resolution is reached which surely does not contain great surprise, but resolves things in a believeable and real fashion. That is Russo's strength. He writes about real people; puts the most wonderful dialogue in their mouths and just entertains you from beginning to end with his story telling. If he is not on your list of authors to read, he should be. If he already is and you don't have this book - what are you waiting for?
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Summary: Another Russo treasure!
Review: Years ago, while browsing a bookstore, I found a softcover book called The Risk Pool. Having never heard of the author, but intrigued by the blurb, I decided to give it a try. Was I ever glad that I did. Richard Russo's development of his characters was so rich, so complete that I felt I really knew them. When I finished the book it was so bittersweet because I was not yet ready to let them go. I then picked up his first book, Mohawk. I was very glad to have Risk Pool first because I was not nearly as enthralled with Mohawk. It had its moments but had I read it first I am not sure I would have bothered with The Risk Pool. But I already knew this author's potential and eagerly awaited his next novel. I have never been disappointed. Nobody's Fool was truly wonderful and again I found the characters becoming very real for me. The Straight Man too was great reading. With all the great things I have to say about Russo's earlier works, Empire Falls might very well be his best yet. So immediately we get not only to meet but to know several people, their idiosyncrasies, nuances, and personalities. By page 50, I was deep into their world and loving it. From there it just kept getting better. Having grown up in a big city (NY) rather than a small town, the world Russo writes about is foreign to me. His story telling ability brings me right in every time. An absolute must read.
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Summary: A good novel for summer reading
Review: Empire Falls could be the name of a city (this one is in Maine), a part of a river, or a complete sentence describing the end of one of New England's industrial empires. In Richard Russo's fifth novel, it is all three. With a scope broader than in earlier novels, Russo weaves a fabric of plot and character that is intellectually satisfying and richly enjoyable. He moves beyond his usual nostalgia for small-town life and takes on some of America's most troubling, modern issues, including school violence. Yet, for those of us who have loved Russo from his earliest days in Mohawk, it is also satisfying to have him return to his strongest images and best character types. The old people, who were so lovable in his early novels, are back. The shiftless drunks with a ready scheme and light touch are back. The middle age man going nowhere is back. And, best of all, the diner is back! Russo does have one major flaw -- he doesn't write fast enough. Now we will have to wait another coupe of years for his next book.
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Summary: Russo is Back
Review: I am a diehard Russo fan. Having said that, while I enjoyed "Straight Man", his last book, I thought it paled compared to his earlier works and lacked their depth of both story and character. With "Empire Falls", Russo has returned to the form which I believe makes him one of our best writers. This book demonstrates his compassion for his characters and their lives. He draws you in to their community and makes you feel a part of it. There is never a false sentence. As with his earlier books, especially "Risk Pool" and "Nobody's Fool", the town in question(Empire Falls) and the people who live there feel like places I've been and people I've known. He is a wonderful storyteller who manages to be extraordinarily entertaining without losing the credibility necessary to not only entertain, but to inspire and enlighten as well.
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Summary: the last word on small towns
Review: I've always enjoyed Russo, and delighted to see a new episode of life in Maine. But this book, so very different, has characters I will never forget. Russo writes men so very well, and yet he does what many contemporary authors cannot do: also write well in the other gender. It's a book to stay up late at nite, just to find out what happens in this person's life or the next one; who will survive, who will leave the town, what will happen to the "Grill", etc. A delight that touches the heart and mind.
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Summary: Bonza!
Review: Chomping through parts of America via quality fiction is one of my favorite hobbies as an ex-patriot American in Australia. I have enjoyed all of Russo's books and think my favorite Russo is always the one I have just finished. Empire Falls lived up to all of my expectations. I thought the characters to be real, appealing, strongly developed and inspiring of empathy. A very satisfying ending with strong pathos and humour throughout the pages. Thanks Richard!
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Summary: More pleasure from Richard Russo
Review: I have become a dediciated fan of Richard Russo, having started with Straight Man, which I recently read for the second time, then The Risk Pool and now Empire Falls. He amazes me with his ability to be at once very funny and poignant and I find his life observations touching. By the way, I attended a reading yesterday and meeting Mr. Russo only served to confirm that I am reading some very good books written by a very nice guy.
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Summary: Literate and compelling
Review: Richard Russo writes in intricate layers with likable heroes. His writing and characterizations are flawless in my opinion. I enjoyed every moment of this journey through the eyes of Miles and felt a little lost when I finished reading the book. Its always hard to start something new when you read a novel of this calibre.
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