A review by mka0204
Empire Falls by Richard Russo

3.0

While I'm glad I read this book, I don't know if I'll be reading more Russo any time soon. I would actually like to have given the book 3.5 stars, not just 3. I think it was extremely well written and the character development was wonderfully done...except...in some cases they were a bit over-done. As I neared the end of the book, I felt I could easily skip some of the 'back story' for the main character because 1) I already felt I knew him (and based on the subsequent events, I think I did); 2) I had already figured out some things about his life he hadn't; 3) the back story wasn't all that interesting. As one of the reviews on the back of the book said, 'No one does small town life better than Richard Russo,' and I agree. Keep in mind that nothing happens in small towns. And if something 'big' does happen, it sometimes feels contrived (as it did in this book). I'd be willing to give the book it's full 4 stars if it had left me wondering what would happen next with the main characters. But it didn't. I'm caught between thinking I already know what would happen and not caring. Leaving me with that feeling is why I think the book was over-developed. Wouldn't it have been more clever, more compelling, to leave me wanting more instead of completely (and skillfully) sating my curiosity about the folks in Empire Falls? I think so.