Bridge of Sighs by Richard Russo Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Bridge of Sighs
Book Review: Another great novel from Richard Russo
Summary: 5 Stars
I'll start by admitting I am partial to Russo. I've enjoyed all of his novels: through Empire Falls each one was better than the one before and Empire Falls, easily one of the best novels in the last 50 years, seemed the culmination of his gifts and was well deserving of it's Pulitzer. How one follows such a novel is beyond me, and I was a little worried as the novel began, basically because I was not enjoying the narrator, Lucy. But as the novel continued, the `method to Russo's madness' became apparent. As other perspectives begin to filter in, you begin to understand who Lucy is and why his perspective is such. Well before halfway through, I was enthrall once again and while it might not be quite the novel Empire Falls was, it still ranks for me as one of the better novels of the last few years and by the end I was very, very moved.
Some of the negative reviews seemed to be irritated the book was so sad. I agree with others that such a perspective is a bit obtuse. The novel is certainly not as funny as some of his books - not Straight Man, of course, in many ways an outright comedy, and not even Empire Falls, which was often a riot. While not at all what I would call somber, Bridge of Sighs is much more introspective than any of his other books and, yes, in some ways very sad. But life is very hard for most people and Russo is an amazingly heartfelt chronicler of real life. As in all of Russo's work, both a love for humanity and an appreciation of what a struggle life often is shines through. He remains my favorite novelist writing today. His prose is also always beautiful and he can give a turn of phrase that will take your breath away with its surprise or its insight. This is once again a magnificent novel.
Book Review: Astonishingly good, slowly paced, and filled with wit
Summary: 5 Stars
I have been a Russo fan since seeing the film adaptation of Nobody's Fool and going out and reading all of his novels. This is easily his best thus far in my opinion. I love the odd little moments where Lou definitively tells you that there is a world that is precisely like this world running parallel where all the things you wish to happen are happening, although it is realistic and not outlandish. People who have died are still alive there, although aging normally etc. It does play into the hands of the melancholy and cerebral, and I can say, rather redundantly, that Russo has his Dickensian moments. The most interesting thing about this novel for me is it's ability to force me to slow down and ponder like Lucy Lynch. I could not read this book quickly, no matter how I tried. It is a subtle touch, but it is a perfection, to manipulate the reader this way. It makes that world all the more real and all the more melancholy, yet still enjoyable. Yes, it's flawed, but so are emeralds and that adds to their value. This is a truly fantastic novel, the best American fiction I have read in the last ten years. Step into the labyrinth that is Thomaston and enjoy the sense of happy melancholy that Lucy Lynch lives with and shares. This truly is a masterful piece of literature.Book Review: Been A Long Time Crossing Bridge of Sighs
Summary: 5 Stars
"The sun don't shine
The moon don't move the tides,
to wash me clean
Sun don't shine
The moon don't move the tides,
to wash me clean
Why so unforgiving and why so cold
Been a long time
crossing Bridge of Sighs"
Robin Trower, 'Bridge of Sighs'
Richard Russo has written a novel of a small town, Thomaston, NY, and the lives of three main characters that intertwine throughout. The story is told from the outlook of Lou C Lynch or Lucy as he is called. He begins the story by writing a novel of his life as he sees it. There is Lucy, from a loving family but with differing opinions from each parent; Bobby from an abusive family that shapes his life, and Sarah, the only child of a divorced family. Characters enter and leave and give us their perspectives of life in small town NY to Long Island to Venice. We are privy to class strata in each vicinity, racism and societal images. The shape of our future we come to believe may focus on our optimism or pessimism and how we view life. Do we leave small town America and strike out on our own, or do we live our lives in the same town of which we are born? In either locale, Richard Russo tells us, "This, is "the narrative of our family, its small, significant journey. Is this not an American tale?"
This is a long involved novel, overwhelming at times. As the story moves along, Bobby takes over the narrative and at age 60, as a successful artist living in Venice, he reviews the time of his adolescence and how the memory shaped or mis-shaped the views he held. Sarah, after being married for 40 years takes time of reflection to tell her tale. She says, "Odd, how our view of human destiny changes over the course of a lifetime. In youth we believe what the young believe, that life is all choice. We stand before a hundred doors, choose to enter one, where we're faced with a hundred more and then choose again. We choose not just what we'll do, but who we'll be."
Richard Russo has given us much insight with these characters, and it is up to us to make of it what we will. The view of Bobby, as the artist brings us to 'The Bridge of Sighs'. Does our view of life impede us, bring us down before we can move on? It depends, I think from our personal view on the bridge.
"The Bridge of Sighs (Italian: Ponte dei Sospiri) passes over the Rio di Palazzo and connects the old prisons to the interrogation rooms in the Doge's Palace. The view from the Bridge of Sighs was the last view of Venice that convicts saw before their imprisonment. The bridge name, comes from the suggestion that prisoners would sigh at their final view of beautiful Venice out the window before being taken down to their cells." Wikipedia
This novel left me with a feeling of sensibility and ease. We may leave our home and traverse the world, but in the end most of us can return to the place we know and the people we love the best. As Lucy says, "We will leave this small, good world behind us with the comfort of knowing it'll be here when we return."
Highly, Highly Recommended. prisrob 10-13-07
Straight Man: A Novel
Empire Falls
Book Review: Boring,Boring,Boring
Summary: 1 Stars
The only redeeming thing I can say about this book is that it makes my life seem very exciting. In fact most people I know have led more eventful lives than the characters in this book. Perhaps that's the authors intent, otherwise I don't get it.Book Review: Bravo Russo
Summary: 5 Stars
There is such a genuine feel to Richard Russo's writing, that every character comes to life on the page. Yes this book may be more sentimental than its predecessors, but that comes from the personality of the characters themselves. It is another moving tale of life in small town and how the stomping grounds of youth leave an indelible imprint on our loves and our lives. I haven't been so emotionally immersed in a book in a long time, and I loved every word of it. His prose and insight are astounding, and worth a second read to really relish his achievement. Bravo Russo!!