Since I got pregnant I’ve been fighting a mean case of
fatigue. It’s gotten better in the last month, but when it comes to my reading
I’ve found I’m struggling to tackle new books that intimidate me. Instead I’ve
been drawn to rereading old favorites. That’s included the Harry Potter series,
Jane Austen’s Emma, and now Empire Falls. It’s been wonderful to return to
books where I already know the characters and I can sink into the story easily.
Empire Falls
by Richard Russo
★★★★★
Empire Falls was my first introduction to the writing of
Richard Russo. I've since read more of his work including some that weren't my
favorite, Straight Man and That Old Cape Magic, and one that I loved, Bridge of
Sighs, but none of those have hit me in quite the same way that Empire Falls
did.
Empire Falls is a small, fictional town in Maine. One
rich family has ruled the roost for decades, while the small businesses slowly
decay. The story is mainly told from Miles Roby's point-of-view. He's a simple
man who runs the town's diner. His wife is divorcing him; his father is
constantly belittling him, his brother is disappointed in him, but his
relationship with his teenage daughter remains the one thing that sustains him.
At the time I didn't realize it was a Pulitzer-Prize
winner. I didn't know it had already been made it into a miniseries (featuring
Paul Newman in his last live action role). It was just a book. Sometimes the
simplicity of reading something with no expectations or preconceived notions
allows you to evaluate it with more honesty. It allows you to let it impact you
in whatever way it will, as opposed to assuming you'll love or hate it based on
what you've already heard.
One of Russo's greatest talents is his ability to craft
characters that are so complex and believable that you forget they aren't real
people you know. They are all layered and their lives are so interconnected
with each other that it's sometimes hard to see them as individuals instead of
just as a community. Their personalities are so defined by the way others view
them and what is expected of them. There are no true villains or heroes. They
are all flawed. There are some you love more than others, but it's certainly
not because they're perfect.
BOTTOM LINE: My simple summary of the plot does not do it
justice. The book is wonderful not because of the plot, but because of the
characters and you can't summarize those. Rereading the book made me fall in
love with it all over again. Empire Falls’ residents ache with longing for
their dream deferred. They are so beautifully written that you feel like part
of the community after only a few pages.
"A lively intellect, so much admired in a man, is
seldom tolerated in a woman-or am I mistaken?”
"People who imagine themselves to be self-made
seldom enjoy examining the process of manufacture in detail."
