Well,

I put off writing this review of Richard Russo’s Straight Man for far too long. As a result, many of the details that I relished while reading are now fading and lurking somewhere in the recesses of my mind. However, I won't allow that to prevent me from sharing what I do recall.

Russo’s protagonist, Henry “Hank” Devereaux, Jr., is an English professor at a third-rate college nestled in a rural corner of Pennsylvania. He is now in his fifties, but when he was hired, he was a promising and bright young man. He was a successful novelist with a first book that received rave reviews and the son of a famous English professor/critic father. But Hank has become mired in the mundane rhythms of department and college life. He is married to Lily, a teacher of low-level high school students. People might be misled into thinking that he is the dominant half of this couple, but that couldn't be further from the truth. Lily is not only more successful in her profession, but she has also taken the time to truly get to know people well, starting with their own two daughters.

As Hank fills his work hours with departmental nonsense, he abandons his own writing career. His one novel was published long ago, and he has not continued writing seriously. Instead, all he does these days is pen snarky little satires of college life, which he publishes in the local newspaper. He maintains an observer's stance regarding all that transpires. We see this clearly in how he talks to himself about what is happening around him. Whenever anyone else characterizes him in a certain way, he says that he doesn't consider himself, for example, a religious man, but he can play that role. He repeats this line at various crucial points throughout the novel. We see that he doesn't consider himself Cecil B. DeMille or an innocent or a misogynist or a coward at different junctures. But he always claims that he could play those roles. And he does, along with many others that he is unaware of playing. He is the department member who is selectively oblivious to the various machinations and power plays going on around him. He is the well-loved husband who under-appreciates his wife, although he always loves her. He is the father who is not up-to-date on his daughters’ lives. And finally, he is the son whose father didn't appreciate him and who is never as good a writer or professor as his father was. But he is a better man, although it takes him a long time to figure that out.

Russo is an outstanding author in this regard. He constructs an under-achieving yet sympathetic main character. At the same time, the way he tells his story keeps all of his readers laughing throughout. He truly understands the seedy and trivial underbelly of academia. Read this highly amusing satire of academic life, which also reveals a deep love for the human heart. Complex, funny, bittersweet, and sympathetic: this novel is a winner.

A bitingly funny novel without ever being mean-spirited, Straight Man is an outstanding send-up of the foibles and inanities of academia.

Most of my experiences in higher education have been from the student's perspective. However, I have also taught English Composition, attended numerous fiction writing workshops, and interacted with enough idiosyncratic faculty and administrators. This has made me heartily amused (and somewhat frightened) by the accuracy of Russo's depiction. He not only portrays the characters vividly but also captures the ridiculous (and sometimes plain sad) situations that occur within the ivy-covered walls of the university.

Social satire is the essence of this novel, and there is an abundance of it. But the real strength lies in Russo's richly developed character studies. For instance, the delicious flirtation between the protagonist Hank and the beguiling Meg is executed perfectly. However, the real masterpiece is the quietly astonishing relationship between Hank and his wife Lily. Lily is out of town for most of the novel, thus being metaphorically off-stage. Nevertheless, Russo creates such a deep and textured portrait of their marriage, filled with keen understanding. I was truly impressed.

He leads his life as the head of the English Department at a university in western Pennsylvania. Married, he is the father of grown children and the owner of a house and a dog. The fifty years of his life have been dedicated to the meticulous honing of stubborn vengeance, the satisfaction of tripping others up. The culmination is not the progress of himself or his family but the endless monotony of self-destruction. These are the consequences with which he shapes himself, along with a sealed isolation that protects him from those around him.

We must discuss the writing style of this book. It is both necessary and important. There is no style, in a sense. This is not a studied Oullipian attempt at writing under imposed limitations, nor an effort to be subversive or clever. Russo writes with earnest simplicity, telling a story. Without the flourish of grand phrases or the twists of stylistic experimentation, he allows the story to unfold smoothly, at its own pace. (A difficult and courageous act for a writer to have faith in a story that it will be sufficient without extraneous help.)

It reads interestingly and easily. I didn't read it studiously slowly, treating the book as a text, while looking over my shoulder and whispering to myself, "Hey S., that was a solid interpretation. Good going, son, you're piecing together a theme." I simply listened to a storyteller telling me a story.

Afterward, I realized there were numerous gems not hidden but that I missed since I was rightfully engaged in reading at a hearing-a-story level. He is not coy. These notations of deep concern and importance are events that emerge from the process of original and true storyteller.

At times, being labeled as a lunch-pail working man's writer has been misleading and may mislead readers. The confusion lies in subjugating earnestness, the straightforwardness of the narrative that does not explore the poetics of flare and the archeological placements of metaphor with a particular class. This unfairly limits its mission as well as both sides of the discussion. It is thus and more.

I missed many gems, but I would not read it differently for the first time. The solution comes in rereading it. An example that I stumbled upon - I will not give details and try not to ruin things for potential readers - is when we share a tragedy with another, often we make a silent pact that as a unit of two, we will forget it. What it entails in the fine print, never read, is that each will go through numerous lifelong strategies to create a safe distance from one another. Even someone close may need to be sacrificed from any form of intimacy to keep pain at bay.

All through this book, it is quietly shown how our lives are shaped by the silent pacts we make with others and with ourselves. Pacts we never knew we signed, much less were notarized and perused endlessly by a team of hidden lawyers. It is a cautionary tale, yet Russo undercuts it all with a biting humor. Most amazingly, and this is what elevates this story and him as a writer, it is told by and about the narrator, again a person whose life is crafted by an obsession for vengeance without knowing why or who the vengeance is truly aimed at. In another writer's hands, this could result in an arid flatness. Yet, Russo makes him, the story, endlessly fascinating while quietly embedding it in the folds of the reader's mind. This takes writerly skill beyond most. He deserves a greater abundance of recognition and a label on the cover of this book warning readers not to be fooled by the earnestness of its simplicity. Treasures can easily be walked past and never found.

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The main character of this book, William Henry Devereaux Jr., affectionately known as Hank, is a 49-year-old English Professor and interim-Chair in the English Department of West Central Pennsylvania University. This is a mediocre public university situated in Railton, PA, a town likely in the west central part of the state. Most of his fellow professors, like Hank, have been teaching at this school for many years, originally seeing it as just a lower step on their academic career ladder.

The story is filled with plots and events that revolve around university issues. There are various inter-relational conflicts and romances among department members. The professors are also in a state of fear due to rumored major cuts in academic positions. Additionally, there is the possibility of Hank's position as interim Chair being recalled. To top it off, Hank comes up with an inventive and humorous plan involving geese to try and extort his desired departmental budget from the administration. Author Richard Russo refers to these as “academic lunacy stories” that he had been storing up for years.

Other storylines deal with more personal issues. Hank's wife Lily is dealing with her father, a drunk and surly retired police officer, while also desiring to be named the next principal at the local high school where she teaches. Hank's daughter Julie has her own marital and new house predicaments. His best friend has romantic escapades, and there are many other characters with their own romantic situations. Russo masterfully creates vivid portraits of Hank's many academic protegees, family, friends, and other personal relations. It is truly an entertaining and well-crafted cast of characters.

There is a great balance between the academic and personal storylines. All these events and people are engagingly related and described by narrator Hank, who peppers his narration with constant witty, wise, and humorous observations on human behavior. His often juvenile actions and reactions to comments and events add to the entertainment. I don't think there is another primarily literary book that has made me smile and laugh as often as this one does throughout its almost 400-page length. I thoroughly enjoy this book and Hank's character.

I first read and loved this book when I was about the same age as Hank. I really identified with and empathized with him. Now, at 69, 20 years older than Hank, I can still identify and empathize with him. I guess I haven't matured much. But as a result, I was able to appreciate and enjoy this book just as much as the first time. It's a wonderful book and a definite 5-star read.

For me, this was a reread of a favorite novel before watching the premier of the AMC miniseries version, “Lucky Hank.” This event could potentially change my visuals of the book forever. ‘Lucky Hank’ is the pseudonym Hank uses when writing academic satire columns for the local paper, and it's also a derogatory moniker for him when used by his departmental nemesis, Professor Paul Rourke. It's probably a better name than Straight Man for a TV series based on the book.

This was an OK read.

Perhaps I am becoming cynical.

This seemed to me like a family sitcom set in the academic world.

I did manage to get a number of chuckles out of it.

And it is well put together, but it will probably fade from my memory quickly.

Maybe I have difficulty identifying with a clueless, middle-aged, male English professor.

I think I would have preferred this if it were told from the perspective of his wife.

It could have offered a more interesting and perhaps more relatable view of the family dynamics and the professor's actions.

From the wife's perspective, we might have seen the challenges she faces in dealing with her husband's cluelessness and how she tries to manage the family in the academic environment.

This could have added more depth and complexity to the story, making it more memorable and engaging.

Overall, while the read was enjoyable enough, it left me feeling that there was more potential that could have been explored.

William Henry Devereaux, Jr., the current chair of the English Department in a small Pennsylvania town, is rather astonished to find himself in this position. It was never among his aspirations, and he has a definite plan to do a lousy job so that they'll leave him alone as he simply isn't interested. However, the only redeeming factor of this position is the highly competent secretary who comes with it.

The book commences at a department meeting where a colleague, in frustration, hurls a book at him. The coil binding catches Henry on the nose, in a rather dramatic fashion that they even have to search for a wire cutter to sort out the mess. Henry's wife is away for the week, and this newfound freedom makes him a bit wild. At one point, he drinks too much and ends up on television, holding a goose over his head and threatening to harm it if his budget for the next semester isn't forthcoming. Meanwhile, his daughter comes home expecting some parental support, which Henry is biologically incapable of providing.

The story is extremely funny, making me burst out laughing at the antics of some of the faculty members, especially when combined with Henry's reluctant and ineffective life skills. None of these people, when they were hired ages ago, thought they would still be there 30 years later. In their minds, they expected to be on their way to achieving great things. So, there is a touch of bittersweet reflection, but mostly their lives are filled with the day-to-day minutiae, competition among themselves, and warfare against the university administration as a whole.

Interestingly, Henry's waterworks also play a crucial role in his life.

Overall, it is a charming, endearing, and very funny portrayal of humanity.

I have been experiencing difficulties in sleeping lately. As a result, I am rereading "Straight Man" for what seems like the umpteenth time. Without a doubt, it firmly remains within my top 5 favorite books of all time.

William Henry Devererux, to me, is the epitome of a perfect comedic character. He goes about his life completely oblivious to the seriousness that others perceive. Instead, he employs his sarcastic wit as both a weapon and a sort of protective cocoon. In the real world, he would likely drive me insane, but as a fictional character, I simply can't get enough of him.

"Straight Man" is one of my all-time favorite books and is among the few that I have reread numerous times. It never fails to make me laugh. William Henry Devereux, the chair of a small college English department, is, in my opinion, the funniest character created by Russo. I was absolutely certain that it would be adapted into a movie. If I had the power to cast, I would have chosen Richard Dreyfuss to play Hank. However, alas, no one bothered to ask for my input.

To my great surprise, Richard Russo's satire truly had me in stitches. The way he used the word "asparagus" was simply hilarious.

He is indeed a brilliant wordsmith and storyteller. His ability to craft such engaging and humorous tales is truly remarkable.

Frankly speaking, it is rather embarrassing to admit that it has taken me this long to discover his outstanding brilliance. I feel as if I have been missing out on something truly wonderful all this time. Now that I have finally come across his work, I can't wait to explore more of his writings and see what other gems he has in store for his readers.

I highly recommend Richard Russo's books to anyone who enjoys a good laugh and a well-told story.

Read for book club! I was initially extremely excited for this one. The reason being that it sounded both quirky and funny. In fact, I think it compares really favorably to Pnin. In terms of the drolly tongue-in-cheek voice and academic humour, it stars an aimless professor who is just kind of sauntering contemplatively through life, and there isn't much happening in the book.

However, even my status updates from Pnin said that I was glad that book was so short. This is because I couldn't tolerate that sort of meandering vibe for too long. And while Pnin was only 200 pages, this one is 400. Moreover, Pnin himself had more significant drama in his past than Prof Devereaux does here. I think I've come to the realization that I simply don't have much patience for the existential ennui and midlife crises of middle-aged white men, especially those who lust after every young woman who crosses their path.

All of the women in this novel, aside from Hank himself, were far more interesting to me. His wife, his daughter, his secretary, literally anyone! In fairness, the writing is actually quite clever and funny. I found myself chuckling a few times. But the reading experience was still strangely slow-going. In ways that I couldn't quite put my finger on until I discussed it with Zoe and realized it was probably just that I didn't care much about Hank as a person.

That being said, the book did finally pick up speed for me towards the end, once things of consequence started to occur. There are two segments in the novel where you get to read the autobiographical essays or anecdotes that Hank writes for the local paper. I actually found myself much more drawn into those little vignettes. His relationship with his father seems like the cornerstone of the whole novel. Walking in Henry Devereaux Sr's shoes, rebelling against him, trying to live up to his professional legacy, carrying a grudge against him for abandoning his wife and son, always living in his father's shadow. These were the parts that touched my heart the most. But I also feel like they're underdeveloped and there could have been more resolution on this front.

Anyway, it gets 2.5 stars, rounded up because I did like the writing. And because it felt like it got stronger in the later parts of the book (once things start happening with Julie, and Hank's father shows up), which left me with a more positive feeling towards it.

So very disappointed!

I have been a great admirer of other books written by Russo. However, this particular one was truly excruciating.

Initially, I had somewhat comfortably settled on rating it as a 2.5 to 3-star book for me. I was even considering rounding it up to 3 stars simply because of my deep love for his previous works.

But then, the Angelo monologue came along. I understand that it was intended to be excruciating, but it was just too painful to endure.

To be honest, I didn't feel any sympathy or empathy for a single character in this book.

In fact, I had a strong urge to punch Lucky Hank. At the very least, I wanted to shake him and tell him to grow up and stop being so immature.

This book really failed to engage me on an emotional level, and it has left me quite disillusioned with Russo's latest offering.

What a delight it is!

I found myself laughing at almost every page. Russo's humor is truly unique, consisting of all dry wit, understatement, and deadpan hyperbole.

Despite this light-hearted approach, he manages to plumb the depths of characters and families, delving into their deepest feelings.

I especially love his relentless mocking of academia. It brings to mind Alexander McCall Smith's _Portuguese Irregular Verbs_.

Russo's writing style is engaging and entertaining, making it a pleasure to read.

His ability to balance humor with depth and emotion is truly remarkable.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a good laugh and a thought-provoking read.

It's a book that will stay with you long after you've turned the final page.

After carefully looking over numerous reviews of this book, I discovered that the common problem among the one and two star reviewers of Straight Man was either a dislike of the main character or a lack of understanding of the humor.

I'm not entirely sure how much this should concern me. However, I found that my own sense of humor is uncannily similar to that of the main character, and I was laughing consistently throughout the novel.

The title refers to a straight man in a comedy, the one who sets the stage for a great punchline. I can easily tell you a way to determine if you will enjoy Straight Man. Read the prologue. If you find yourself smiling or even laughing out loud, then by all means, continue reading. If you find no humor in it, simply close the book and move on. The prologue is far from the funniest scene in the book, but it does indeed portray the type of humor that is interwoven throughout.

If you attended a liberal arts college, you may find an added layer of humor as that is the setting of the story. I enjoyed this book so much that I will probably reread it at some point in the future when I'm in need of a good laugh. Highly recommended.