Empire Falls | Richard Russo | Russo deserves his Pulitzer for this outstanding novel!

Empire Falls | Richard Russo | Boyt's Best Book of the Year

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Empire Falls

	Empire Falls Richard Russo Vintage, 2002 - 496 pages average customer review:based on 480 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Russo deserves his Pulitzer for this outstanding novel!

Russo's writing style is realistic. The characters are complex. There's no "good guy" or "bad guy". He does such a nice job describing this Maine town and its people that while I was reading this book I felt like I was living in the town.

Like many realistic authors, Russo does take a Hollywood turn towards the end (to make the story more exciting I suppose). Perhaps a bit far fetched but still plausible ending. If you enjoy this style of writing I also recommend the following authors/novels:

Anything by Ian McEwan
House of Sand and Fog
Snow Falling on Cedars

Overall, I highly recommend this great work of fiction.

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Boyt's Best Book of the Year

'07 will go down as a good year for books for this reader. I've read more this year than I have in a long time. Of the 13 books I've read this year (I like to take my time) this one was the best. I identified with the characters, laughed out loud and found it hard to put down. I haven't the desire to go deep on this review, but I feel there is a better work of contemporary fiction out there. Russo has all the right stuff: a location rich enough to be a character, bigger issues, personal/internal conflict and a plot better than most rental cars. I have one petty gripe. Russo's style is too dependent on plot halting digressions. Now I digress frequently and enjoy a digression's ability to slow us down and appreciate more deeply the contents of what one is reading. Russo uses it too frequently. I'm a pretty patient reader, but when it's two more pages of the character's angst over their dillema, when it buttresses something that just doesn't need any more support . . . well it begins to look like padding. The novel is rich enough that really it's okay. His voice's sincerity allows it. If he tried to add some Hemingway, it'd sound forced.

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Wonderful Story

Empire Falls starts slow and builds, grabbing your interest until you feel you're a part of the neighborhood. I finished reading this book today and after putting it down, I hope Mr. Russo will write a sequel continuing the story of the town. It's that good.

Happy I read it.

The heading may not sound like a raving endorsement, but it is. It was a great book and a compelling read. I read a lot of books and this one kept me going to the end. Russo has become one of my favorite authors.

I loved it...

Anyone who has ever lived in a small town will appreciate this book. It's a wonderful story, really worth reading.

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