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devindevindevin's review against another edition
4.0
I tend not to read literary fiction. If it doesn't have monsters or pictures or detectives, I don't pick it up, and If I do, I get bored and quit (see Dodgers, see And then we came to and end). Maybe it's a character flaw in me. I don't know.
This book was recommended to me by an old professor of mine though, and I'm glad I give it a shot. Russo has humor that's pure joy to read. And, unlike other literary fiction I've tried, this has a plot. A causes B causes C. Even if that wasn't the case, if it was just about WHD JR walking around and living his life without consequence like he thought he could, I'd still have enjoyed the ride because the characterization and wit in it.
What I enjoyed most about the book is that the prose isn't trying to conceal a lack of plot. It doesn't read like some MFA thesis turned novel where each sentence is crafted perfection, made by committee, concealing meaning behind some flowery noun/verb combination. It's the thoughts that matter most in this book, and those ideas are clearly communicated. Which sounds like the definition of a book, but it seems like most books ignore that. Not this one though! I got more Russo lined up now. I've been seeing Empire Falls on bookshelves my entire life, and that's next.
This book was recommended to me by an old professor of mine though, and I'm glad I give it a shot. Russo has humor that's pure joy to read. And, unlike other literary fiction I've tried, this has a plot. A causes B causes C. Even if that wasn't the case, if it was just about WHD JR walking around and living his life without consequence like he thought he could, I'd still have enjoyed the ride because the characterization and wit in it.
What I enjoyed most about the book is that the prose isn't trying to conceal a lack of plot. It doesn't read like some MFA thesis turned novel where each sentence is crafted perfection, made by committee, concealing meaning behind some flowery noun/verb combination. It's the thoughts that matter most in this book, and those ideas are clearly communicated. Which sounds like the definition of a book, but it seems like most books ignore that. Not this one though! I got more Russo lined up now. I've been seeing Empire Falls on bookshelves my entire life, and that's next.
muhlissenel's review against another edition
funny
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
rjkamaladasa's review against another edition
5.0
[Warning: a few vague spoilers ahead, don't worry it won't spoil the story]
Quite easily one of the funniest books I've read. The story is about a middle-aged English Professor, which I have very little in common with, but I found myself easily drawn in to the character. What I like about this book is that it's not dramatic about dramatic events. It doesn't emphasize the acceptable social reactions to a given situation like freaking out when you find out your son-in-law is cheating on your daughter. The protagonist is actually happy when his best friend hits on his wife. And I don't think this a far fetched scenario either: when you're married to a woman whom you love for so long, insecure feelings like jealousy are bound to be irrelevant. The climax close to the end of the book which has something to do with his career, is a really metaphor for life's great question: do we really know what we want for ourselves?
Quite easily one of the funniest books I've read. The story is about a middle-aged English Professor, which I have very little in common with, but I found myself easily drawn in to the character. What I like about this book is that it's not dramatic about dramatic events. It doesn't emphasize the acceptable social reactions to a given situation like freaking out when you find out your son-in-law is cheating on your daughter. The protagonist is actually happy when his best friend hits on his wife. And I don't think this a far fetched scenario either: when you're married to a woman whom you love for so long, insecure feelings like jealousy are bound to be irrelevant. The climax close to the end of the book which has something to do with his career, is a really metaphor for life's great question: do we really know what we want for ourselves?
pumpkinmama's review against another edition
2.0
This did nothing for me. Wondering if part of that was the narrator - I think he made the protaganist sound like more of a dickhead, and I'm guessing he'd come across better on the page. I just quit listening cos I just didn't care.
greensalbet's review against another edition
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
The Straight Man is a humorous tour de force about the lives of a group of English professors in the dying department of their small liberal arts college in Railton, Pennsylvania -- the state's rustbelt.
William Henry Deveraux Jr. (Hank) has been named the reluctant interim chair of the English department. For several years, his staff have been contentious, disgruntled over small salary increases, and they target Hank for these troubles. Hank is a rebel. He chooses humor over playing the game of academic politics with grace and diplomacy. By the middle of the book, he has so infuriated his colleagues that that want to vote him out. At the same time, Hank's personal life is a mess. Both Hank's father and father-in-law are in trouble, in need of help from him and his wife, Lxxxx. His oldest daughter and her husband are in over their heads financially, and the future of their marriage is unstable.
Add to this the fact that Hank is aging, and forced to adjust, and accept, new physical limitations of his body. He is plagued by urinary troubles -- when he is able, and unable, to release fluids from his body. He senses his career is also nearing its end and to avoid to the inevitability of this shift, he drinks to numb himself. But throughout all this chaos, Richard Russo keeps his readers laughing by showing both the foibles and pettiness of his characters along with their kindness and magnanimity.
William Henry Deveraux Jr. (Hank) has been named the reluctant interim chair of the English department. For several years, his staff have been contentious, disgruntled over small salary increases, and they target Hank for these troubles. Hank is a rebel. He chooses humor over playing the game of academic politics with grace and diplomacy. By the middle of the book, he has so infuriated his colleagues that that want to vote him out. At the same time, Hank's personal life is a mess. Both Hank's father and father-in-law are in trouble, in need of help from him and his wife, Lxxxx. His oldest daughter and her husband are in over their heads financially, and the future of their marriage is unstable.
Add to this the fact that Hank is aging, and forced to adjust, and accept, new physical limitations of his body. He is plagued by urinary troubles -- when he is able, and unable, to release fluids from his body. He senses his career is also nearing its end and to avoid to the inevitability of this shift, he drinks to numb himself. But throughout all this chaos, Richard Russo keeps his readers laughing by showing both the foibles and pettiness of his characters along with their kindness and magnanimity.
marcird's review against another edition
3.0
I laughed out loud multiple times the first 30 pages, but was disappointed when the rest of the book wasn't as funny. To his credit, I found Russo to be a totally brilliant writer and storyteller. It's an intriguing story for anyone that can relate to the life and drama of academic living. The protagonist makes for a compelling character.
llouise16's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide and Sexual harassment
cynicalworm's review against another edition
5.0
While waiting for this book to free up at the library, I read two of Russo's other books. Both, including the one that won a Pulitzer, were duds.
Heading into this one, I wondered whether I was majestically stubborn or stupidly optimistic to enter a third Russo world. I'm glad I did.
Delightfully funny with beautiful sentences, and the perfect amount of self loathing and what-could-have-beens.
Heading into this one, I wondered whether I was majestically stubborn or stupidly optimistic to enter a third Russo world. I'm glad I did.
Delightfully funny with beautiful sentences, and the perfect amount of self loathing and what-could-have-beens.
noah_durnell's review against another edition
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
blgeddes's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
3.0