Empire Falls by Richard Russo Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Empire Falls
Book Review: ....but worth the read.
Summary: 3 Stars
I would probably give this book three and half stars overall. I enjoyed getting to know all the characters and the town of Empire Falls. I was sucked into the story almost immediately. Miles Roby is the happiest sad man I've met. His daughter, Tick is amazing. Now that the book has ended, I wish I could have them both over for coffee and catch up. Mr. Russo sure knows how to bring you as the reader into a small town, not just as an observer, but one who actually lives there. Many times I wanted to go to Callahan's and commiserate with Bea about what a mistake her daughter was making by marrying the "Silver Fox". I wanted to hug Miles for always wanting to do the right thing and I wanted to wring Janine's neck for thinking that just because she re-discovered sex and lost weight that she had truly changed. There are a couple of slow spots in this book and because of the sometimes overly desriptive writing, the book kind of meanders (which I suppose is part of small-town life) to a satisfying finish. Pulitzer Prize Winner? that's questionable. However, this is a really good portrait of life in a small town and a fine piece of literature.
Book Review: 20-something Chicago woman
Summary: 3 Stars
I read this because my book club selected it. Russo's writing style was enjoyable and he describes the small-town characters well, but it wasn't really my type of book. Meaning, I can identify with 20 and 30 something female authors a lot better than a 40 something man. The next best charatcers I had to identify with: teenage daughter and 40 something woman. It's not my kind of book, but I will suggest it to a 40 something man I know who is going through a divorce.Book Review: 3/4 of book DAMN GOOD
Summary: 4 Stars
Empire Falls is a very well written and interesting novel set in small town maine, which right there should be one reason I shouldn't enjoy the novel, but I did. Since I'm more of a fan of gritty fiction and this novel's subject, although not completely mainstream,is usually too mainstream for me. However Russo makes you want to read about these people, it flows very well and although the book is thick it doesn't get boring. My only criticism is the ending, it seemed to get a little melodramtic and after that seemed to try to tidy itself up a bit too quickly. However, all in all a damn good read.Book Review: 4.5 stars....Russo makes his characters breathe...
Summary: 4 Stars
I enjoyed this book much more than I should have. I knew Russo had some stiff competition, seeing as his novel "Nobody's Fool" is one of my favorites and somehow didn't earn him the Pulitzer. While not nearly as funny as "Nobody's Fool", "Empire Falls" manages to be a book that takes itself seriously yet avoid melodrama. The main character, Miles Roby, is a brainy, sympathetic, sensitive, pushover. I shouldn't have enjoyed reading about this character, but Russo has a gift that few authors curretly writing possess. He makes all of his characters fully fleshed out beings. The are completely three-dimensional and members of a world that (for too brief a time) fully exist in the readers' minds and hearts. In true Russo style, the book does not so much conclude as it ends, and it leaves you wondering what will happen to these people that you've grown fond of.
Other characters include an in the closet priest, a catankerous, crusty old man, a pretentious body builder, a neurotic, depressed ex-wife, an ostracized, violent high school student, and a corrupt cop. If you think these characters don't sound like someone you can 'get close to', think again. Russo even gives the truly un-likable Jimmy Minty a sympathetic ear.
The plot...well, there isn't too much of one, as is true with most of Russo's books. It is a portrait of small-town life, which no one does better than Russo. But it manages to be gripping, all the same. I loved reading this book, and only wish it could have lasted longer.
I give this book 4.5 stars, because I still think "Nobody's Fool" is half a star better.
Book Review: 4.9 stars and I still feel that I needed to round down
Summary: 4 Stars
Let me start by saying that I really enjoyed this book. I really enjoyed the character developement and that is the kind of reader I am. I felt many times that I could sense how the characters might have handled each situation and later in the book, I was surprised by the events, but not the characters' reactions to the situation. I love when a book ends the way that Empire Falls did(Still a few things that you want to know about the characters, so that you are allowed to ponder what they might do next). This book is funny, charming and surprising. I loved it.