Bridge of Sighs by Richard Russo Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Bridge of Sighs
Book Review: A Real Disappointment
Summary: 1 Stars
I have loved Richard Russo's books in the past, but I was very disappointed in this book. It is slow and plodding with unlikeable and one dimensional characters. For me, the final blow was Sarah returning to her mother's apartment and what ensues from there through the end of the book. It seems like he didn't know how to pull the book together and opted for a "chick flick" ending. I cannot believe this was the same author who wrote "Empire Falls" - it does not compute. Richard Russo has lost his way - I hope he finds himself and his genius again.Book Review: A Well Written Plod
Summary: 4 Stars
A moody memory piece threaded with melancholy, Richard Russo's latest is ultimately a very good, enjoyable book, but one that never quite rises to the brilliance of his previous books. Lou C Lynch, whose name because of an unfortunate first day of school mishap, quickly morphs into Lucy, is our narrator and guide to the small upstate New York town of Thomaston. There isn't much that happens in this town which has it's divides both racial and economic, but as Lucy looks back, the story quickly becomes the age old love triangle between himself, his best friend, the tough street wise Bobby Marconi, and Sarah, the girl they're both in love with. I did enjoy the book, but I have to admit I found myself in no rush to finish it. It was if the sleepy town and Lucy had seduced me and I'd just stay in it forever. And that was the novel's biggest flaw. I found myself much more interested in Bobby's story and Sarah as well, who all get their time in the pages as the narrative shifts both in point of view and in time. Here was a protagonist that I felt frustrated by at his lack of true desire to anything except his town, and that his greatest ambition seemed to be to run his father's corner store and marry the girl of his dreams. All this doesn't mean I didn't like the book, I did. It just took patience, and like the secondary characters I wanted it to compel me more.Book Review: A bridge too far?
Summary: 3 Stars
First of all, no writer captures the small town Rust Belt northeast like Richard Russo. His fictional town of Thomaston NY is captured perfectly; the rougher west end, the more prosperous east end and the upper class "Borough". As with must of Russo's settings, this town has seen better days, with locals fondly remembering when the river ran red from the tannery. Pollution and cancer-causing substances also meant prosperity, that's the cruel irony.
The main character, Lou C. (Lucy) Lynch is the first person narrator of much of this novel. His childhood friend Bobby Marconi is the other major character, but Russo inserts a lot of depth into many of the other characters as well. It's interesting when Russo goes into the third person and the reader sees a totally different view of Lou Lynch's sunny unquestioning optimism. We see his mother, his friend and his girlfriend's world in a totally different light, and that's when the novel starts to pick up.
Unfortunately, there are too many side trips into different characters, and a lot of jumping between eras, from high school to the present to college. It gets a bit too ambitious, there are too many vignettes where the reader feels like they are being bashed over the head with the message "This is important to the grand theme of my novel". Russo's canvas is too large, because what was enjoyable to me about his other novels was that they were "slice of life" stories. Sometimes less is more. This is also by far his most gloomy novel, which isn't always a bad thing, but maybe a bit too depressing at times.
To Russo's credit, predictable plot developments were cut short with a lot of left turns. Some work, some don't, especially a certain development near the end of the book that comes way out of left field. (A trip to Long Island by one of the characters, which frankly made my eyes roll).
Overall it's a worthwhile novel but a bit too ambitious and scattered.
Book Review: A good meaty read
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a book to read slowly and to appreciate the author's insights and musings about life, people's motivations and understandings, misunderstandings, youthful puzzles, interpretations of love, changing cultural attitudes, etc. Although this takes place in a small town, the people are universal to everywhere.Book Review: A guy named Lucy
Summary: 5 Stars
Russo seems to be one of the last truly American writers. A Norman Rockwell painting with a distinct and necessary twist. And I was anxious to get my hands on his latest. After EMPIRE FALLS, six years seemed a long wait.
Following along the lines of Russo's signature offerings, we have Smalltown America, the deterioration of a lifestyle, and middle aged people coming to terms. Except these middle-agers were the young people back in the forever-young, don't-trust-anyone-over-30 `60s. And I think this shadow of declining youth and a sagging industry town that once bustled with prosperity gives this novel its melancholy feel. Nonethless, it's enjoyable reading, not to forget the droll touches that are so uniquely Russo. One important aspect, as in Russo's previous work, is the interplay between father and son.
These touches and more all make for a solid read, but I have to say, I don't believe it's Russo's best.(I so much prefer EMPIRE FALLS and NOBODY'S FOOL).