Rating: 
Summary: Wonderful time shifts...
Review: 4 and a half actually. Aware that few, if any, will wade through 200+ reviews to get here, I still must say that the most compelling aspect of this excellent novel for me is the author's uncanny skill in alternating chapters in time without causing confusion. The shifts are abrupt but after a few paragraphs, there you are, comfortably ensconced in the new "present". Briliant writing!
Rating: 
Summary: Great characters!
Review: Russo's characters are great in all of his books, but in this one, they are heartbreakingly real.
Rating: 
Summary: Entertaining but not life-changing
Review: Though I enjoyed reading Empire Falls and had more than a few laugh-out loud good moments, I felt the book's likable situations and characters were ultimately betrayed by the manner in which they were portrayed. It's good storytelling, but too obvious, too familiar, too heavy-handed to be really satisfying. I can't help but think that the author doesn't trust his audience with these characters and their stories; in order to make sure we all "understand" Miles, Janine, Tick, Walt, Jimmy, Zack, et.al., their mannerisms, thought processes, and emotions are at the very least telegraphed, and more often than not, spelled out. We are informed through the author's word-for-word dictation of Miles' defeatism and passivism, Janine's selfish shallowness, and Francine Whiting's stagey and deliberately doled-out wisdom; a more patient and craft-conscious author would do the same through subtle and thought-provoking observation. Russo's readers aren't allowed to make up their own minds regarding characters' motivations and consequences and the relevance of either; we are led by the hand like so many preschoolers to the desired outcome: Miles and his family = good. Whiting family = bad. Though not a bad way to devote a few weeks, there are better, more stimulating, challenging, and ultimately more satisfying books to be had.
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointment of the Year
Review: The disappointment of the year. Characters and plot were not compelling, convincing or just plain interesting, especially the female characters. For example, the young pre-teen daughter who did not want to eat, or the ex-wife who just lost 50 pounds, the handicapped half-wit in love with the main character, the rich eccentric old woman...I could not for one minute believe any of them existed. Sidebar on the old woman: if I had to read one more sentence of that old bat calling the main character (he was so unremarkable I even forgot his name) "my dear boy" I think I would have gotten sick. I am surprised so many people gave it such high marks...not to mention the Pulitzer prize...? Compared to the past few years of Pulitzer prize winners this was very poor. I even think the whiney-spirited "Hours" was better than this book.
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic!
Review: Russo has written a fantastic story about life in a small town and the loss of one's aspirations. Miles Roby is trapped as the manager of a café in Empire Falls, Maine-years before, he dropped out of college when his mother was dying and now he remains in Empire Falls as his daughter, Tick, is finishing high school. Miles' entrapment is, to some degree, of his own choosing-he has allowed himself to be manipulated by his shiftless father, his conniving ex-wife, his jealous neighbor and the town's wealthiest woman. He lives a life in which he seeks to satisfy others-and, as a result, he has never really found satisfaction or pleasure (with the exception of his love for his daughter). This is the first Russo novel I've read-and I was amazed by the lyrical writing. Russo reminds me of Anne Tyler (who also writes about the disappointments and inner lives of people who appear, on the surface, to be completely ordinary). I can't recommend this book highly enough.
Rating:
Summary: Empire Falls
Review: This Book makes makes wondeful characters who bring the small town of Empire Falls alife. It is full of wonderful twists and the characters are deeply rich. It did seem to drag at times though. But overall very good.
Rating:
Summary: Incredible
Review: Without a doubt one of the best pieces of literature I've ever read. Quite possibly the best work of American Fiction since The Old Man and the Sea and the first great novel of the 21st Century. while it may not be "the great American Novel" it certainly comes close.
Rating: 
Summary: Boring
Review: The book was well written, but the storyline never picked up. I found the end did get a little better, but not worth reading the entire book to get to it. This book was painful to read, but I kept at it with the hope that it would get more interesting, but alas, it didn't.
Rating:
Summary: terrific despite the melodrama
Review: Russo is a terrific writer. He is interested in character and relationships. He is a master of dialog, and writes with wit, insight and humor. I had first read Nobody's Fool. Empire Falls is a more serious work, as it comes to grips with evil (e.g. the police officer) and vulnerability, and its protagonist is a more "important" character, in that he embodies qualities and challenges more central to our culture. He also has a strong inclination to be passive and accepting, which may turn off some readers. Whereas in Nobody's Fool I felt some of the plot development was unnecessary, here I found some of it detracted from the novel. I am thinking of much of the narrative surrounding Francine Whiting and her daughter, which was melodramatic. Did Russo read too much Tennessee Williams before writing this novel?
Rating:
Summary: pays off late
Review: For all of the wonderful writing and character development in the first 80% of this book, the plot was rather slow. I understand the complaints of the people here who read only part of it and then quit. It wasn't exactly a page-turner. I persevered because of the good writing, and because the characters were interesting enough to me, plot or no plot. When the plot picks up, it does so in earnest. I read the last 100 pages or so in one sitting. I was amazed to discover how emotionally involved I was at that point. It semmed sudden, but just like one of the characters in the book so astutely observes, things don't happen suddenly; they change very slowly but only seem sudden. These characters had been slowly endearing themselves to me over the course of the first four fifths of the book, so that when things got exciting I was moved. I disagree with other readers about the ending. I thought it was great, and wrenching. Russo does not cheat or inject melodrama. It feels very real, and it's not as neat and tidy as others here are implying. The confrontation the reader has been waiting the whole book for goes not at all as planned, and seems very unsatisfying the reader. But isn't that just how the protagonist felt? Was the reader, just like the protagonist, expecting the villain to simply melt in a puddle of water? Definitely, and the crushing dissappointment is poignant and true. I think I would have felt cheated if it had gone any other way. Finally, I disagree with others who say this book doesn't deserve the Pulitzer. I've read many Booker and National Book Award and Pulitzer books, and I'm glad that this book is one of them. Unlike many other award-winners, this one puts on no airs. There is nothing pretentious or unneccessarily erudite about this book, like so many others I've read that seem to be written for the sole purpose of making the reader think kighly of himself for having read them. This book, like most of the characters, are interesting and wonderful wihtout showing off. None of the protagonists wear tweed blazers with patches on the elbows, though, if you do, this book may not satisfy your need to feel superior. If you pick up this book, and I think everyone but the most pompous snobs should, you must finish it to appreciate it. It's a beautiful book.
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