Sometimes I find myself wondering why I don't spend every single day engrossed in the works of Richard Russo.

He has this remarkable ability to make writing seem effortless. The sense of place he creates is so vivid that you can almost feel as if you are right there in the small town he描绘s.

The characters he populates his stories with are flawed and human, making them incredibly relatable.

And then there's the driving plot, which in many ways may seem like nothing is happening, yet it has this irresistible pull that keeps you turning the pages, eager to see what will unfold.

If you have a penchant for small-town novels, then you should pick up one of his books immediately.

Even if you don't typically enjoy small-town novels, I highly recommend giving his work a try. You might just be surprised to discover what you've been missing all this time.

Richard Russo's writing is a true gem that deserves to be savored and explored.

This book is set in an upstate New York town that is on the verge of dying, just like many of its characters. The story unfolds over a period of six years, beginning and ending at the Mohawk Grill.

It is Richard Russo's first book. I have read "Empire Falls" and "Bridge of Sighs". "Empire Falls" won the Pulitzer Prize and in some ways, it is similar to this novel. I came across this book at a library sale. The reason I purchased it was because a lady I know had raved about how enjoyable and funny Russo's books are. This book is indeed interesting and a great read, never once boring. The characters and the setting are vividly described. Richard Russo and Kent Haruf are among the best when it comes to writing about blue collar lives and towns.

Harry, the owner of the Mohawk Grill, looks out for a strange man named Wild Bill, who wanders around the town, dirty and unkempt. Harry provides him with food and shelter. At one time, it is said that Wild Bill was a normal teenager. No one knows what happened in his life to turn him into a homeless outcast.

There are two elderly sisters. The oldest is eighty and the youngest is sixty-five. From a large family of daughters, the middle four have passed away. Milly lives with her daughter and son-in-law in a wealthy home. Mrs. Grouse lives with her husband, Mather (a good old New England name), her divorced daughter, Anne, and her grandson, Randall. Her house is modest and small.

Anne is a beautiful woman. Her cousin, Diane Wood, is several years older. Anne's ex-husband is a clown who never works and drinks too much. He does so many foolish things that it is irritating to read about, not funny. These characters all drink a fair amount. Anne has always been in love with Dan, her cousin's husband. Dan loves his wife, but his mother-in-law is irritating. Anne marries Dallas Younger, who is young and stupid. Their marriage doesn't last long.

Mather Grouse is very different from the men working in the tanning mills that are closing down. His only bad habit is smoking. He worked at his job, liked cold beer (but only had one), didn't become friends or cohorts with any of his co-workers, and did his job well. He is so quiet.

When the old hospital was being demolished, people stood around watching this one exciting event in the town.

There are so many interesting characters and so many interesting places, all of it so blue collar. Some people steal from the tannery, and a bookie comes around taking cash from those who hope to do well. There are so many rough, tough, uneducated characters.

Russo brings up the closing of the tanneries due to pollution of Cayuga Creek. This was popular news about pollution in this part of the country several years ago.

I have a certain degree of familiarity with the Mohawk Valley between Utica and Schenectady. Therefore, this book holds a special resonance for me. The "Mohawk" village in the novel is surely Gloversville, which once had a prosperous leather industry until the mid-twentieth century. Mohawk is one of many small towns on the periphery, where not much is happening except that young people are leaving in search of better opportunities. (There is an actual village named Mohawk, and it is very similar to Gloversville.)

Russo effectively captures the lives of the town's residents. They understand that their situation will not improve; in a sense, they are imprisoned by history and family ties that they know they will never be able to break free from.

Anne Younger, a bright and attractive woman, failed to follow her father's advice to leave Mohawk for more prosperous places with greater opportunities until it was too late. She married Dallas Younger, a high school star who was self-centered and unreliable. Their marriage did not last, and after a period in the big city, Anne returns to Mohawk with her young son, Randall. Anne lives with her father and mother, Mather and Mrs. Grouse. Mather is a reserved and principled man, retired from the tannery, somewhat stern and friendless. Mrs. Grouse is a bit fussy and difficult. Anne has been in love with Dan Wood, the husband of her cousin, for years. Dallas has little connection with his family, is often drunk, and is involved in gambling.

Wild Bill Gaffney is the son of Rory, a domineering man who is also retired from the tannery where Mather worked. Wild Bill is mentally retarded due to an incident that is vaguely described and which we later learn was a severe beating by Rory. His uncle, Rory's brother, is the town cop who seems ineffective and is held in low regard by the townspeople. Harry Saunders runs the Mohawk Grill, a gathering place and social hub in the town.

While the story mainly focuses on depicting the lives of the characters in this declining town, many of whom have low moral character and are shiftless, there is a plot line involving Randall. Randall grows up and leaves for college, but after a few semesters, he drops out and returns to Mohawk, planning to somehow avoid the draft (this is around 1972). Randall gets involved with BG, a girl a few years younger who is staying in a trailer behind Rory's house. Rory has been stealing hides from the tannery and enlists Randall to take them downstate. Randall plans to double-cross Rory but ends up in a situation where Officer Gaffney (who has been going crazy) shoots Rory, Wild Bill, and then himself. Randall is charged with murder, but his story, supported by BG, is so convincing that the charges are dropped. At the end of the novel, Randall runs away to avoid being drafted.

Anne's cousin, Diana, dies, and Anne could finally fulfill her and Dan's longing for each other. It is not clear whether this will happen, and it seems more likely that the lives of the people in Mohawk will continue as before. What makes Russo's novel so excellent is his portrayal of the characters. They are trapped by circumstances that they cannot or will not attempt to control. Their lives are tied to the fate of Mohawk, and not much positive is likely to happen to them or the town.

Another excellent book by Russo.

This particular one indeed has a dark aspect. It is set in a small New England town that is closely associated with the leather trade. The town has been in a state of decline for years, up until the early 1970s, which is the era in which the book is set.

There are numerous stories intertwined with the local families and characters, a feat that Russo accomplishes extremely well. In a Russo book, there is seldom much maliciousness, even when the characters are rather eccentric. However, this book features a truly despicable bad guy named Rory Gaffney.

Russo narrates the tale in a fragmented manner, moving in and out of different time periods. The main characters include Mather Grouse, his daughter Anne Grouse, and her son Randall Grouse. Overall, it is a good read that keeps the reader engaged with its complex characters and intriguing plot.

Mohawk

tells the captivating story of the events that unfold in a small town. In this town, the lives of everyone seem to be intertwined in mysterious and often perilous ways. The narrative mainly centers around three distinct families - the Grouses, the Youngers, and the Gaffneys. There is a menacing secret that both the Grouses and the Gaffneys are竭力 to conceal, but it ultimately comes to light in an unforeseen manner. While the plot is extremely well-structured and filled with suspense, the true delight lies in Russo's remarkable characters. Russo is a virtuoso at crafting believable and engaging characters. I thoroughly enjoyed the time I spent getting to know them and I truly cared about their fates. However, the only aspect that held me back from awarding Mohawk a five-star rating was the somewhat drawn-out ending. Russo meticulously tied up every single loose end, which for some might be the ideal way to conclude a story. But for me, on this occasion, it felt a bit excessive and unnecessary.

I was extremely interested to read this as Richard Russo's Empire Falls is truly one of my favorite books within recent memory.

Unfortunately, when compared to that remarkable work, Mohawk somewhat suffers. I am well aware that it may seem unfair to compare an author's first novel with their fifth. However, the two books share an astonishing number of similarities, making it almost impossible not to draw comparisons.

All the classic Russo hallmarks are present here: a dying blue collar town, a sense of chronic regret that pervades the narrative, the heavy familial shackles that seem to hinder personal growth, incredibly detailed explorations of the characters, and of course, a diner.

Yet, it simply isn't as effective or captivating as it is in Empire Falls. The central conflict between the Grouses and the Gaffneys feels rather underwhelming.

Nevertheless, I did find some enjoyment in it. I can clearly see what Russo was attempting to do here, and perhaps because I am such a dedicated fan of his work, I am more inclined to overlook certain flaws that I might not have otherwise.

If you are ever intrigued by the idea of reading his books, I would highly recommend not starting with Mohawk. But if you are already a lover of his other works, then Mohawk can serve as a pleasant enough diversion.

Twelve people are presented in short chapters, all hailing from Mohawk, NY. They encompass a diverse range of individuals - grandparents, parents, mothers, sons, and even the owner of a greasy spoon. For the most part, they are unhappy souls. However, despite this, I never once entertained the thought of setting aside Russo's first novel.

In part, my motivation for reading this lies in the BRRH Challenge #10, which requires reading a book with a rural setting. I firmly believe that a re-named or combined Johnstown/Gloversville/Amsterdam, NY can be considered rural. I borrowed this book from the library and am reading it on my Kindle.

The story unfolds through the lives of these twelve characters, each with their own set of problems and disappointments. It offers a glimpse into the complex web of relationships and the struggles that people face in a small town. Russo's writing is engaging and descriptive, painting a vivid picture of the rural community and its inhabitants.

As I continue to read, I am eager to discover how the lives of these characters intersect and what ultimately becomes of them. Will they find happiness and resolution, or will their unhappiness persist? Only time will tell as I delve deeper into this captivating novel.

I really have a profound affection for the characters that Richard Russo brings to life. The reason is that I wholeheartedly believe in them and their interactions. It's as if they step out of the pages and into the real world. However, the only reason I awarded it 4 stars is that it is quite明显 that this is his first novel. There is a certain lack of流畅ness compared to his other two works. It feels a bit more生硬 in places, and the narrative doesn't seem to glide as smoothly as in his later novels. But still, considering it's his debut, it shows great promise and potential. Russo's talent for creating vivid characters is already evident, and it makes me eager to explore his other works and see how his writing has evolved over time.

The story is filled with richly detailed and complex characters. They embody all of humanity's hopes, wishes, foibles, and evils. These characters are living in a dying small-town Americana. It is a place that seems to be fading away, yet it holds so much depth and drama. As you read, you can clearly see where the ideas for his classic Empire Falls came from. The small-town setting, with its unique charm and underlying tensions, serves as the perfect backdrop for the exploration of human nature. The characters' struggles and desires are played out against the backdrop of a town that is on the verge of disappearing. It is a powerful and poignant portrayal of life in a small community, and it offers a glimpse into the mind of the author as he creates this vivid and unforgettable world.

Well,

I made up my mind to read Russo's very first novel. You can clearly TELL that it is a first novel!

The writing might not be as polished and refined as in his later works like "Empire Falls" and "Straight Man". However, even in this debut, you can sense the budding talent and the unique voice that would later make him a great writer.

As I read through the pages, I could see the seeds of his storytelling genius being sown. There were moments of raw emotion and genuine character development that made me eager to see how his writing would evolve over time.

Despite the flaws that are often inherent in a first novel, I was still captivated by Russo's ability to draw me into the story and make me care about the characters. It was a fascinating journey to witness the beginnings of what would become a remarkable literary career.

I truly love this author.

Sometimes, I find myself pondering the reason behind my affection, as I don't always feel a deep connection to his characters. Their actions and behaviors can, at times, be a source of frustration for me.

However, what I can relate to extremely well are the settings. I had the privilege of growing up in the Albany area and now I reside on Cape Cod, which happen to be the settings of my favorite Russo novels.

This particular book not only had a robust and captivating plot that held my attention from start to finish but also conveyed numerous profound messages about life, people, the disappointments that inevitably occur within it, and yet, also the positive and beautiful moments that make it all worthwhile.

It's as if the author has a unique ability to paint a vivid picture of the world through his words, making me feel as if I'm right there in the story, experiencing it all alongside the characters.

Despite my initial misgivings about the characters, the overall impact of the book and the author's writing style continue to draw me in and keep me coming back for more.

Not an ultimately tragic novel, but everyone comes up a bit short. They stay in Mohawk, never having the courage to break free. They don't stand up against bullies, choosing to remain silent and endure. They don't commit wholeheartedly to anything, always holding back. They drink too much, numbing their senses and逃避现实. They don't take advantage of second chances, letting opportunities slip away. And they never leave Mohawk, trapped in their small town lives. And that seems about right: all lives come up a bit short.

I was immediately taken in by the interactions between the local bar owner, Harry, and Wild Bill who is a bit off mentally and gets taken advantage of. Their relationship is both heartwarming and tragic. When Russo moves along introducing new characters, I was a bit disappointed at first, longing to return to Harry and Wild Bill. But eventually, I found some affection for the Grouse family especially Anne and her ex Dallas Younger (a frustrating character) and his sister-in-law, Dawn. The Gaffney brothers are the bad guys and represent the most tragic storyline. Rory Gaffney is the worst of the two brothers yet his philosophical justifications for his actions are intriguing; he's more than just the bad guy.

Russo does an effective job interlacing all of the characters' stories. There's even some mystery and suspense throughout and especially near the end as the past collides with the present. It's a stark view of humanity but all and all I think Russo is right: few, if any, of us are able to move beyond our original perceptions of the world and our habits. And life doesn't care that much one way or another; it just keeps chugging along as we see in the last scene where Harry pops open the til and places a bet on a horse. This novel makes us think about our own lives and the choices we make, and how we often come up short despite our best efforts.