MADreads

Master novelist..but way too long

March 11th, 2008 Liz - Central Library

Now really: I have LOVED Richard Russo a very long time.  I discovered him back when Four Star Books was open (and many people probably have no idea Four Star ever had books.)  Back then, it was the late ’80s, Mohawk and Risk Pool were his only two novels, and they were 400ish pages.  Both focused on run-down towns with struggling folks.  His prize winner Empire Falls was another struggling town that had lost its industry.  Ditto his new novel, Bridge of Sighs.  But this time, the multi-generational sweep of family and connections seems to be more the driving force of the narrative.  Really, its almost like an Ivan Doig novel set in upstate New York.

Generations have lived on the same street and one family has run the same corner grocery (albeit through many changes) for years.  The friends and family that spin off Lou Lynch, the nicest young man you’ll ever meet, propel a narrative that shifts back and forth in time and location.  I think we’ve all known a Lou– someone so nice that you look for the fakery (or assume they just have a low IQ.)  Having his goodness at the heart of the book helps mitigate some of the gloom that usually permeates Russo’s dying-industrial town novels.

But… it was just too darn long.  Too many characters, too much time to cover.  Too much delving into the inner workings of nearly every character.  Edited to 2/3rd’s its size, this would have been an excellent book.  As is, only good.  And I expected more.

Entry Filed under: Literary Fiction