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tex2flo's review against another edition
3.0
All towns have their secrets, but in small towns they have to be spread amongst fewer people.
This was an interesting, but not compelling story for me--just a bit to black-and-white, good versus evil with every character firmly on one side or the other. That didn't keep me from wanting to get to the end, but it did keep me from reading past my bedtime to do so.
This was an interesting, but not compelling story for me--just a bit to black-and-white, good versus evil with every character firmly on one side or the other. That didn't keep me from wanting to get to the end, but it did keep me from reading past my bedtime to do so.
mowrym19's review against another edition
4.0
Perhaps a 4.5
I'm not sure who this book will speak to more: those like me who take any chance they can to get out of their small town, or those who find themselves unable to leave (whether they want to or not).
I'm not sure who this book will speak to more: those like me who take any chance they can to get out of their small town, or those who find themselves unable to leave (whether they want to or not).
epowww's review against another edition
3.0
I kept waiting for the pace to pick up and/or for something interesting to happen. The ending was unexpected but didn’t completely redeem the book for me.
jbs7's review against another edition
5.0
Last listened to this in 2005. Enjoyed it just as much this time around. A remarkable story written by Russo and read by McLarty in a way that you felt each of the characters was right there with you. A failing town in rural Maine. The characters who stuck around and what it is that keeps them going. Something there for everyone to relate to.
simonlitton's review against another edition
3.0
Moderately interesting chronicle of small town life and a guy who allowed himself to be trapped into staying when he should have got out.
Female characters don't fare well, being either nubile objects of desire or harridans whom their husbands fantasise about murdering. And I thought the melodramatic climax didn't sit well with the gentle pace of the rest of the story.
It's good on a certain kind of American ennui, and class divisions, but nothing here feels especially new or fresh.
Female characters don't fare well, being either nubile objects of desire or harridans whom their husbands fantasise about murdering. And I thought the melodramatic climax didn't sit well with the gentle pace of the rest of the story.
It's good on a certain kind of American ennui, and class divisions, but nothing here feels especially new or fresh.
lindseyohara's review against another edition
4.0
Russo is fantastic! It took me a bit to get into this story but once I did, I was done for. Miles is such a sad soul, it's like everything he touches turns to crap, but his dry sarcasm had me pausing the book to laugh out loud. Can't wait to read more of him.
amillerjohnson's review against another edition
3.0
I am a little surprised Empire Falls won the Pulitzer Prize. I thought it was good, but I wouldn't have pegged it as a Pulitzer winner.
rosemarie_rung's review against another edition
4.0
It was a big prolonged in parts near the beginning, but I think that is somehow the price paid to get deep into a character's psych to help understand their decisions and actions. The characters are exceptionally shared with the reader, helping to craft a story that deepens a connections to working town Maine.
lisabowmas's review against another edition
2.0
I found Empire Falls slow going at first but the pace picked up significantly. Overall, I enjoyed it, but the amount of violence at the end and suicide references throughout put me off. I do want to check out Russo's other work after reading this.