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A review by devindevindevin
Straight Man by Richard Russo
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.