Richard Russo's 1988 novel, "The Risk Pool," offers yet another remarkable example of how this exceptional author has the ability to take a story set in small-town America and transform it into a novel with magical and, at times, profound qualities.

Russo accomplishes this mainly through the deep and humane development of a diverse range of captivating characters. He creates a narrative that is both funny and poignant, lovingly presenting the entire spectrum of human emotions. Of course, Russo has achieved this feat brilliantly in other novels as well, most notably in the Pulitzer Prize-winning "Empire Falls" and "The Bridge Of Sighs." However, it can be argued that he surpasses these efforts in "The Risk Pool."

The novel tells the story of father and son, Sam and Ned Hall. Sam is a wild drunk who seems to have rejected everything worthwhile in his life, while Ned is a studious and reserved boy. Their antagonistic struggle for survival in Russo's fictional town of Mohawk is at the heart of the story. Russo's portrayal of the vulnerable Ned's ambivalence towards his father, especially after his mother's estrangement and breakdown, is truly outstanding.

Yet, in terms of the narrative ambition of "The Risk Pool," Russo doesn't confine himself to just his two central protagonists. He has crafted a veritable Dickensian cast of brilliant characters. This includes Sam's nemesis, Drew Littler, the son of his 'girlfriend' Eileen, with whom he constantly battles for physical and emotional dominance. There's also Sam's pal, the negro Wussy, an apparent ne'er-do-well and waster, but a magnificently drawn literary figure whom young Ned takes a liking to.

"The Risk Pool" reminds me, in various ways, of several of my favorite books and authors. In the way Russo captures the essence of youth, it calls to mind "To Kill A Mockingbird," Donna Tartt's "My Little Friend," and Mark Twain's writing. In terms of the depiction of ambition and the seemingly unachievable mansion-on-a-hill dream, it evokes "The Great Gatsby." And in the way Russo has assembled such a brilliant cast of characters, with a mixed-up but ambitious youth at the center, it is reminiscent of Dickens' "Great Expectations." High praise indeed.

I have an intense love for Russo's novels

Mr. Russo,
As I delved into this book, it felt as if I was intimately acquainted with each and every character within its pages. The experience of reading this novel was truly extraordinary. It was so captivating that I found myself reluctant to reach its conclusion. In fact, I don't think I'll be able to pick up another book for quite some time. This one will surely linger in my thoughts for the next few days.
There was a particular female character whose absence at the end left me with a sense of longing. However, considering that you are a Pulitzer Prize-winning writer, who am I to question your creative choices? I can only assume that you had your own artistic vision and reasons for the way the story unfolded.
Overall, your novel has left a profound impact on me, and I look forward to reading more of your works in the future.

This is probably my favorite Russo book. Granted, I have only read three of his works, namely Empire Falls, That Old Cape Magic, and The Risk Pool. Among them, this one truly stands out.

I reside in upstate New York, quite a distance further west than the Mohawk Valley. However, it is close enough that when the once flourishing but now dilapidated town is described, pictures of Leroy or Olean immediately come to my mind. Although my life was nothing like that of Ned Hall's, I could easily identify with the people in his life and the fears that he nurtured.

And you know what? By the end of the book, just like Ned, you come to love Sam. Despite all his faults, he held down a job and, for the most part, supported his son, imparting some crucial life lessons along the way. His strength of will was truly admirable, something that seems to be characteristic of Sam's generation, diminished in the baby boomers, and faded in my generation, and sorrowfully absent in the post-college crowd today.

As he lies in a hospital at the end, reluctant to "trouble" his son with his ailments, you empathize with him and the cards that life dealt him during and after the war. Most terrifyingly, there is a part of your mind that can envision that if your cards turned out the same as his, you too could have easily ended up like Sam Hall.

I'm currently engaged in the process of rereading every single book written by Richard Russo. He holds a special place among my favorite authors, and really, why wouldn't I do this? This particular one was his second book, and as I read, I catch glimpses of characters that seem to hint at those who will appear later in his works. At least Rich and I both think so! Russo is truly a master when it comes to creating characters. These characters, when brought together, construct a story in such a vivid way that it makes you feel as if you truly know these people and have actually been to that small town he描绘的. Often, his stories might seem to have lulls, but then suddenly, you understand the reason behind everything that's happening. While this isn't my absolute favorite among his books, it's still an excellent read.

In case you're interested, my top favorites from his collection are "Nobody's Fool," "Empire Falls," and "Straight Man." I also have a great affection for his short story book, "The Whore's Child," as well as the memoir he penned about his mother, "Elsewhere." Each of these works has its own unique charm and offers a different perspective into the wonderful world that Richard Russo has created.

This book started off rather slowly for me. It didn't possess the same level of humor as "Nobody's Fool" and "Everybody's Fool". Sam Hall, the irresponsible father of the narrator Ned, failed to engage my interest initially.

However, this is one of those remarkable novels that manages to construct its own unique world. It is a community of characters who are trapped in a small town in northern New York state. And gradually, this world won me over.

The conflict within Ned, whether to stay and potentially become like his father, a man he both loves and is frustrated by, is truly compelling. It makes you wonder about the choices we make in life and how our relationships shape us.

Regardless of your own background, this novel has the power to draw you in and make you lose yourself within its pages. It offers a profound exploration of family, identity, and the human condition. It is a story that will stay with you long after you have turned the final page.

I absolutely adored this book! Writing a review for it almost feels like a futile gesture. So, I'll just rely on the default strategy of those who struggle with writing: a crappy stream of consciousness. (ha!)

QOTD

“Trouble with you is,” my father told her, “you think you got the pussy market cornered.”
- Risk Pool, Richard Russo

Richard Russo's writing style is like Goldilocks' porridge... it's just right. The small, ordinary things that occur in the story are fascinating. The huge, crazy plot twists are believable. The writing is intelligent and humorous. Russo's writing style is a pure joy to read. The description of Mohawk, NY and its inhabitants is simply wonderful!

Ned Hall is our first-person narrator. He is engaging and likable. The book is divided into two distinct halves: Ned's childhood and then his life as an adult. I was quite upset to leave young Ned behind at the halfway point, but I managed to get over it. Ned's adult adventures are also great.

Gender is, I don't know, exaggerated throughout the book. Ned's mother is overly protective and fragile. I don't think her name is ever mentioned in the book, whatever that implies. Ned's father, Sammy Hall, is super-macho and half-crazy, a “rockhead”. He is a heavy drinker, irreverent, distant, unavailable, and a leader among the barflies in Mohawk. As crazy as Sammy Hall is, he is mostly self-destructive and comfortably falls into the category of being a “good guy”.

Risk Pool is mostly guy fiction. Ned's strained relationship with his father really hit home for me. Sammy Hall's communication with his son is usually just one word: “Well?” followed by a smack to the back of the head. To Ned, his father is both a superhero and a menace, and someone he desperately wants to connect with and understand. I'll take a risk and say this is a very common father-son dynamic. (cha!)

The four seasons in Mohawk are Fourth of July, Mohawk Fair, Eat the Bird (Thanksgiving), and Winter. Winter with a capital W. Ha!

QOTD

“Well” he said, squatting at the water's edge.
I shrugged. It was his favorite question, and I never knew what he meant by it.
- Ned and his father, Risk Pool

I definitely need to queue up some more of Richard Russo's works. This was a great read!

This is an outstanding novel that I relished to a great extent.

I was slightly apprehensive about a return to Mohawk. After all, I had truly savored his initial visit there. However, this installment not only enhanced the town but also surpassed the previous novel in several aspects.

One can clearly observe a writer perfecting his skills. The characterisation, scene setting, and story telling in this novel are a delight to behold.

The story is understated and serves as a magnificent exploration of ordinary lives in an ordinary town, which the author has endowed with extraordinary vitality.

I adored it.

At first, I simply found this story captivating

and couldn't help but wonder how I could have any liking for someone who seemed like a jerk, namely the father, Sam. However, by the conclusion of the story, I came to realize just how profound this book is on multiple levels.

Initially, I believed the story was going to center around Ned and his mother, as she had been the one who raised him for the most part. But it wasn't so. Instead, it delved deeper into the relationship between Ned and his father, and the profound impact his father had on Ned's life, despite not being present for the majority of the time. One might be misled by the fact that the book was written around those few occasions when Sam was around. Ned lived with his dad for only two years, and the other times he was in his father's presence could be counted on just two hands. Yet, Sam was far more significant to Ned than his mother. Was it due to gender? Or perhaps because of certain genetic traits that made them have a special connection? This truly saddened me as I had been under the illusion that being the custodial parent,承担起抚养孩子的艰难任务, would foster a deeper bond between that parent and the child. Is this usually the case, or was it just because the mother in this story was so dysfunctional that it didn't work out that way for Ned?

In the story, it was repeatedly mentioned that the characters would grow up to be just like their same-gender parent, with girls resembling their mothers and boys taking after their fathers. Although it seemed that Ned broke this pattern, perhaps because he was so acutely aware of it.

And what about Drew? That could indeed be an entirely separate discussion!

It wasn't a book that I couldn't put down; in fact, it took me a couple of months to read it. Hence, it didn't receive a 5-star rating. However, it definitely made me think deeply, which is precisely why I gave it 4 stars. I would absolutely love to hear your thoughts on this book!

Thomas Wolfe once said that you can't go home again, while Richard Russo poses the question of why one would even want to.

Russo is an outstanding storyteller. He weaves tales with beautiful language, an off-kilter outlook, and startling metaphors.

For instance, he describes "joining instead the great multitude of wandering Americans, so many of whom have a Mohawk in their past, the memory of which propels us we know not precisely where, so long as it's away. Return we do, but only to gain momentum for our next outward arc, each further than the last, until there is no elasticity left, nothing to draw us home."

Russo's writing is truly compelling. After reading his work, the next book I picked up was immediately disappointing. It simply didn't possess the same intimacy that Russo's writing has. His words have a way of drawing the reader in and making them feel as if they are part of the story.

It's no wonder that Russo has such a dedicated following. His unique style and ability to capture the essence of the human experience make his books a joy to read.

I can't wait to see what he comes up with next.

A very effective attempt at crafting the Great American Novel unfolds before us. Set in a dying rustbelt town, it presents a vivid picture. There's a wastrel father, a delicate yet crazed mother, and a plethora of local characters. The story delves deep into ruminations on the American Dream, success, and masculinity.

It adheres to the standard semi-autobiographical path, maintaining a perfect tone of wry humour and nostalgia. Only on rare occasions does it tentatively dip a toe into the traps of long lost loves and the Gothic, but it manages to escape admirably.

Absolutely nothing in this narrative will come as a surprise. However, its charm lies in the fact that it feels like being wrapped in a fuzzy blanket of Americana on a cold New England day. It offers a sense of comfort and familiarity, transporting the reader to a bygone era and a place that is both real and imagined.

I just couldn't get into it.

Every time I tried to engage with it, my mind would wander.

I found myself constantly looking for distractions, anything to take my attention away from it.

Maybe it was because it didn't hold my interest, or perhaps I just wasn't in the right frame of mind.

Whatever the reason, I just couldn't seem to focus on it.

I would start off with good intentions, but within minutes, I would be lost in my own thoughts.

I tried to force myself to get into it, but that only made it worse.

It felt like a chore, something that I had to do but didn't really want to.

I guess I'll just have to wait until I'm in a better mood or find something that really grabs my attention.

The book was okay, but it was overly long-winded and too detailed.

Certain passages I found rather dull. However, I always finish the books I buy. It rarely happens that I put a book aside unread, unless it's really bad.

While reading, my nephew's expression often came to my mind: "The sadness of family ties" (which I think is very well put). Indeed, you have to deal with your family.

And although you may sometimes turn away from your family, the similarities and the influence remain present. This becomes even clearer as you get older.

A nice part of the book for me was the son's realization, a university-educated publisher, that he is very much like his alcoholic father who just does what he feels like, without caring about what the environment expects of him.

Still, I remember that I found Russo's Empire Falls much stronger. That book is in my library among the books that I will never give away.

Damaging Years, on the other hand, is going to the book exchange shelf.