There are so many characters shoved in here that it feels much like a small town.

Each one is jostling about in everyone else's story, and it's truly wonderful.

Every person is meditated on and defined in stark terms, making them so very known.

It's as if you've met them each before.

There is a lack of a true narrative, which makes the first half incredibly engaging.

This, in turn, drives the final act of the book to be practically pure plot.

However, this isn't much of a bother while the rich taste of the first half remains.

Come for the tale of a small town struggling to survive through change.

Stay for the sublime mundanities and the irascible spirit of a community that refuses to be quietly done in.

The characters and their interactions bring this small town to life, making it a place you'll want to visit again and again.

Despite the flaws in the narrative structure, the overall experience is one that will leave you with a sense of warmth and a deeper understanding of the human condition.

Apparently, this was Richard Russo’s first book, which was published in 1986, but it has just been released on audiobook.

I have a great enjoyment of becoming completely enthralled in Russo audiobooks. He has a remarkable way of truly nailing the interplay of personalities that one can observe in every small(er) town. In these towns, so many people have made their homes generation after generation. However, unfortunately, almost all the people are so deeply flawed and rather stupid about everything. As a result, the depiction sometimes seems ridiculous.

In this particular book, I didn't always have a clear understanding of what was happening to whom and why. For a long period of time, I thought the cop was Rory’s son, but I couldn't figure out how Rory could be Mather’s age contemporary as well as his brother’s. I also don't fully understand the story of Billy. I initially thought he was the cop’s brother, but perhaps he was his nephew? Additionally, I wonder who BG’s parents were, and was the idea that she was being raped by both her grandfather and great uncle? Why wasn't that a more significant part of the story?

As for Harry’s wife and her older sister, that whole situation was just odd. And Randall was awful and stupid for no apparent reason. I really felt the need for Cliff Notes to help me better understand this complex and somewhat confusing story.

I really liked the book, yet I had a rather difficult time becoming fully immersed in it.

I'm not an expert when it comes to Richard Russo, but there are certain moments when I think he is truly brilliant, and then there are other times when I feel the urge to skip ahead because he gets a bit too preachy.

Nevertheless, overall, I'm quite glad that I read this book. It was as if I turned over a rock and witnessed all the tiny things that scurry around when you do.

I have passed through and lived in small towns, and I've observed people sitting around who seem completely harmless. But Russo makes us aware that there is a great deal that occurs behind closed doors, and not much of it is foreseeable unless we know the entire emotional turmoil of their story.

I found the ending to be somewhat predictable, but hey, it was definitely worth the exciting journey.

Richard Russo is truly a captivating writer.

His characters, who are often frustrating, indecisive, and have challenges in making judgments, are precisely what draw you in and keep you engaged as you progress through the book.

Russo frequently writes about failed or failing industrial towns in the northeast, and Mohawk is no different.

The characters in his works mostly don't seem to be going anywhere and don't succeed according to the standards set by motivational books. However, they are real human beings that we can all relate to.

Mohawk is an early book that is set in the aforementioned upstate New York city which has witnessed better times.

The writing is excellent, the characters are vivid, and it makes for a great read.

Overall, Richard Russo's ability to create such complex and relatable characters in the context of struggling towns makes his books a must-read for anyone who enjoys engaging and thought-provoking literature.

Richard Russo is truly one of my favorite writers.

His characters are incredibly real and honest, which makes them come alive on the pages. What's more, his settings are located not far from where I live, adding an extra layer of familiarity and charm.

After devouring so many of his books, I had high expectations for Mohawk. In terms of characterization, it did meet my standards. The characters were well-developed and complex, with their own unique personalities and flaws.

However, the plot became a bit too entangled at times. I found myself having to keep stopping and sorting out the people and events in my mind. It was a bit of a challenge to follow, but I understand that this was one of his first books.

Given that, I'm willing to give him a little leeway. I know that he has continued to grow and develop as a writer, and has moved on to much more streamlined and engaging storylines in his later works.

This is the first book penned by Russo, yet it is the second one that I have delved into by him.

It presents a narrative about life within a small town, this time set in upstate New York. Russo intricately weaves a tale that involves numerous characters and showcases how their lives become intertwined.

In fact, the sheer number of characters is such that it poses a challenge to remember each one and their complex web of connections.

He portrays small town life as being rather bleak and ordinary, suggesting that there seems to be no promising future for the next generation unless they choose to leave the town.

However, within this setting, there are diverse characters ranging from Wild Bill to the Grouses and Gaffneys. Each of them grapples with their own human dilemmas, adding depth and authenticity to the story.

Overall, Russo's exploration of small town life through these characters offers a thought-provoking and engaging read.

I'm not entirely certain how to evaluate this book. It was a recommended read by Stephen King in his work On Writing.

I discovered that the minimal dialogue and savvy narration bore a resemblance to Hemingway's style, which led me to wonder if there was more depth to this story than what was immediately apparent on the surface level.

Even the straightforward narrative, which focused on the many characters in a small New York town during the late 1960s/early 1970s, with its suppressed drama and interconnected rivalries, was interesting.

It wasn't without direction nor overly burdened by a complex plot. Instead, it was a collection of stories that anyone could encounter in a small town in the USA.

However, there were certain aspects that seemed hollow, causing me to question the motivations of the characters and the believability of their actions.

Nonetheless, I still look forward to reading the next book by this author.

I'm eager to see if they can further develop their storytelling and address some of the concerns I had with this particular work.

Perhaps the next book will offer a more satisfying and engaging reading experience.

Only time will tell, but for now, I remain cautiously optimistic.

I didn't have any dislike for this book.

Russo is indeed one of my favorite novelists, and this particular work was rather good.

It was his very first book, and I'm truly glad that I've read it. When it comes to the writers I love, I can be a bit of a linearist.

But still, it was a first novel. His skills are clearly on display, yet they are not fully polished as of now.

The story seems a little too choppy and is lacking a real core.

However, even his lesser work is better than most writers' best.

I will undoubtedly continue to read his work with great enthusiasm.

I'm eager to see how his writing evolves and matures with each new publication.

I have high expectations for his future works and look forward to being captivated by his storytelling once again.

If this was Russo's first novel (as I've read), it is indeed impressively well-done. Somehow, I have read at least six of his stories, yet I didn't come across this one until now. I am always drawn in by his characters and by his small town settings. Perhaps it's because I grew up near a small town. Russo's later writing further demonstrates his continued mastery of the craft.

I liked that Russo doesn't spell out every detail. Instead, he allows the reader to work a few things out for themselves. This engages the reader and makes the reading experience more interactive.

However, on one point, he stumps me. Rory Gaffney refers to H.G. as his granddaughter, and she refers to him as her grandfather. But who is H.G.'s father/Rory's son (excluding Billy)? I've probably missed something here, huh? It makes me wonder if there are some hidden details or connections that I haven't quite grasped yet.

This was my fourth encounter with Russo's books, and unfortunately, it ranked as my least favorite among those I've read.

In certain aspects, it gives the impression of being a warm-up for Empire Falls. There is a significant overlap in themes, places, and set pieces. However, my attention waned during the triple-murder climax.

Typical of Russo's work, the characters are exquisitely detailed. I found myself most engaged during the first half of the book when all the characters were being introduced.

This book can be likened to a shirt crafted from truly beautiful cloth but with rather clumsy seams. In contrast, Empire Falls seems to be spun from equally beautiful cloth, yet the seams are almost imperceptible.

I suppose it's heartening to witness the growth and improvement of the authors we hold dear over time (and there's still hope for me too!). Interestingly, someone else who has delved deeply into his works informed me that this is their favorite among his books. Nevertheless, it simply didn't manage to capture my interest.

Nach dem Scheitern ihrer frühen Ehe kehrte Anne Grouse mit ihrem Sohn Randall in ihr Elternhaus in Mohawk zurück. Um beruflich voranzukommen, musste sie die Stadt verlassen. Doch aufgrund ihres schwer lungenkranken Vaters und einer mehr als komplizierten Mutter schien das unmöglich.

Vater Mather Grouse hatte in der Lederindustrie gearbeitet, die sich Ende der 60er des vorigen Jahrhunderts im Niedergang befand. Dass das Risiko in Mohawk an Krebs zu erkranken für Lederarbeiter bis zu zwanzigmal so hoch war wie im Landesdurchschnitt, wurde von den Einwohnern von Mohawk verschwiegen. Ob Mather kurz vor seinem absehbaren Tod noch rauchte, interessierte seinen Hausarzt nicht. Mathers Leiden diente seiner Frau und Tochter als Vorwand für einen erbitterten Stellungskrieg, während der Patient selbst fast nebensächlich erschien.

In Rückblenden erlebten Russos Leser den alten Grouse als einen Ehrenmann, der weder trank, noch wettete, noch an Schiebereien in der Handschuhfabrik beteiligt war. Man könnte Mather vorwerfen, dass er sich ausschließlich für seine Familie interessierte und auf alles andere verzichtete. Irgendwann musste er jedoch resigniert und seine Hoffnung allein auf seine Tochter Anne gelegt haben.

In parallelen Handlungssträngen tauchen weitere Charaktere auf, wie Harold/Harry, der Besitzer des Mohawk Grill, „Officer“ Gaffney und sein Clan, William Gaffney/Wild Bill, Diana Wood und ihr Ehemann Dan (ein Veteran des Korea-Kriegs, den Anne aussichtslos liebt), sowie Annes schulpflichtiger Sohn Randall Younger.

Vier Jahre später, im zweiten Teil des Romans, kehrte Randall nach einem abgebrochenen Studium in seine Heimatstadt zurück und musste täglich damit rechnen, in den Vietnam-Krieg eingezogen zu werden. Der äußerlich veränderte Randall konnte jedoch keine neue Seite in seinem Leben aufschlagen, da jeder in Mohawk seine Familie kannte und sich an den Tag erinnerte, als Wild Bill beinahe beim Abriss des alten Krankenhauses ums Leben gekommen wäre.

Die Schicksale der Grouses, Gaffneys und weiterer Figuren verflochten sich in „Mohawk“ zu einem komplexen Drei-Generationen-Roman vor dem Hintergrund einer Strukturkrise. Russos Blick auf Menschen, die versuchen, dem wirtschaftlichen Niedergang standzuhalten, erfordert beim Lesen einige Aufmerksamkeit. Die Verbindungen zwischen seinen Figuren blieben lange verborgen, wurden vertuscht oder verdrängt – und Menschen wie Mutter Grouse stellten eine zusätzliche Geduldsprobe dar. Mohawk erwies sich als ein Biotop, in dem Täter und Verfolger nur ein haarfeiner Abstand trennten, in dem Feindschaften lebenslang anhielten und in dem sich noch immer nichts verbergen ließ. Zugleich legte Russo mit seinem Erstling eine Sozialstudie vor, in der die „Alte Garde“ an Nachkommen übergab, die der Gegenwart hilflos gegenüberstanden. Der Fokus lag nun auf Randalls Altersgruppe …

(Original veröffentlicht 1986)

Russo's first novel is truly remarkable. It vividly showcases his inherent skill in developing characters, as well as his prowess in presenting realistic dialogue and events. It's easy to see how, just a few years after this initial foray into the literary world, he would go on to become a Pulitzer Prize winner.

Throughout the entire book, readers find themselves completely engaged and deeply interested in each and every one of his characters. Similar to his other works, this novel is set in a small, somewhat rundown town in the east. The folks here are flawed to varying degrees, from slightly imperfect to downright certifiable, and most are just scraping by economically, living day to day.

I first delved into the works of Richard Russo when I read his Pulitzer Prize-winning "Empire Falls" many years ago. So, I started with one of his best. Since then, I've devoured many more of his books, and they have all been of the first rate. Despite this being his very first novel, it most definitely deserves a read. He launched his literary career with a bang over 34 years ago, and it seems he has never looked back since.