I lived in "Mohawk" in the late sixties. My husband was involved in the leather business. I truly relished this novel. Russo vividly depicted the culture of the area. The small town atmosphere was palpable. There were the subtle happenings, the relationships, the family dynamics. The hardworking tannery workers were brought to life. The undercurrent of gambling was also present. In fact, Mohawk once had numerous slot machines. The influence of nearby Saratoga, especially the harness racing track, was significant. To be someone important in Mohawk, one had to have a stake in the trotters. Russo managed to cover all these aspects. He even touched on the red-line cancer district, no doubt due to the chemicals used in tanning. This is a must-read for anyone associated with Fulton County, NY.

This is Richard Russo's second best book.

It implies that it is truly fabulous. In fact, "Straight Man" just happens to be even more fabulous.

Every character in this book is charming in their own way. Even if you might initially hate a particular character, you'll soon realize that you know someone just like them in real life.

Russo has a remarkable talent for creating vivid and relatable characters.

He is widely regarded as the best small-town writer.

His ability to capture the essence of small-town life and the idiosyncrasies of its residents is truly outstanding.

Readers are drawn into the story and become emotionally invested in the lives of the characters.

This book is a must-read for anyone who appreciates great literature and wants to experience the charm of a small town through the eyes of a master storyteller.

It will leave you with a lasting impression and a newfound appreciation for the power of words.

I have a deep passion for reading books penned by local authors and set in the vicinity of where I reside. Author Richard Russo, who grew up in Johnstown, New York, which is approximately a half-hour away from my hometown of Amsterdam, has a book titled Mohawk that vividly reflects the area. I truly relish reading about it.

Although Mohawk might not seem like a place one would desire to live and grow up in after perusing Russo's book, it will captivate the reader regardless. In Mohawk, the reader becomes acquainted with numerous residents of the town, and it appears that they are all interconnected through one central character, Wild Bill. Some connections are direct, and the reader immediately grasps the story, while others remain unclear until the end, and even then, the reader may still have some lingering queries.

With so much happening, the reader will be instantly drawn into the stories and will have no difficulty choosing their favorite characters and rooting for them throughout the book. Additionally, the reader will have no problem disliking a few characters right from the start of the book and will continue to loathe them more and more as they gain a deeper understanding of the town. I, for one, have a few characters that I absolutely adored, and I'm certain they won't be the same for other readers. However, that's perfectly fine, as there are plenty of readers and enough residents of Mohawk to go around.

I was instantly intrigued by Russo's writing and felt as if I was there in the back alley behind Harry's, inside the house with Anne and her parents, and hanging around the bars with Dallas. I could sense the love and hate among the families, as well as the lies and secrets. Oh, so many lies and secrets! I encourage you to fall in love with Mohawk and the stories of its people.

Working on Russo, obviously.

After delving into his memoir, I am even more firmly convinced that the majority of novelists are compelled to grapple with autobiographical elements during their initial foray into the literary world.

However, what stands out in Russo's work is an interesting ensemble of characters and an eerie, almost fate-driven plot that neatly comes full-circle to (nearly) rectify some serious wrongs.

The narrative is a bit long and meandering, mainly to give substance to the large (yet detailed, relatable, and interesting) cast of characters. Additionally, it can be a touch ponderous at times.

Nonetheless, it makes for solid reading, especially if you have an interest in small town life as industry fails. It has an almost prescient quality, as if it anticipates the challenges and changes that small towns face in the wake of economic decline.

Overall, Russo's work offers a thought-provoking exploration of human nature, small town dynamics, and the forces that shape our lives.

I have a profound love for Richard Russo's books. However, this particular one didn't manage to claim the top spot as my absolute favorite.

This work is firmly within the classic Russo domain. It vividly描绘s a small, working-class American town. In this town, there are men who lead their lives, engage in drinking and gambling. Then there are the women who patiently put up with them. And not to forget the kids who dream of growing up and escaping this seemingly mundane existence.

Russo portrays these places and people with an incredibly insightful eye and a touch of gentle humour. He has a remarkable ability to bring these characters and settings to life on the pages.

Nevertheless, for some reason, I just wasn't as deeply engaged with the characters in this particular book as I have been with those in his other works. It's still a very good book, don't get me wrong. It just didn't resonate with me in the same way that some of his other masterpieces have. It remains a testament to Russo's talent, but perhaps it's just a matter of personal preference that this one didn't quite hit the mark for me as my all-time favorite Russo novel.

One could make a rather compelling argument that Russo has essentially written one novel on multiple occasions. His formula seems to be: create a Rust Belt town and then add characters. This might well be considered a criticism if he didn't execute it with such confidence and sympathy.

"Mohawk" is the first book in this series (and my fourth encounter with Russo's work), and it's clearly a remarkable beginning to what promises to be a great literary career.

It's not without its imperfections, however. He tends to overuse the technique of starting a chapter in the middle of the action and then filling in the context, which can become quite annoying after a while. Additionally, his efforts to neatly tie up all the narrative loose ends can sometimes be a bit too blatant, as in the case of "gotta dispatch Diana somehow."

Despite these flaws, the first half of the book is truly flawless, and the second half, aside from these minor issues, is a real page-turner. Overall, I would rate this book four stars.

Predominant theme: place defines us as much as family.

This is truly a story that pertains to all those towns in every state where people find themselves trapped, unable to break free for various reasons such as economics, loyalty, fear, education, willpower, and family, which essentially encompasses all of these aspects.

I initially picked up this piece thinking it would be something 'light', but I was quickly reminded that Russo is a writer with a remarkable ability to string words together in a way that creates sentences worth remembering.

Light? Well, not really. However, it is indeed a good read. Although I must admit that I thought the ending, which attempts to tie all the loose threads together, was a bit of a cop-out. It felt as if the author took the easy way out rather than providing a more profound and satisfying conclusion. Nevertheless, the overall story and the way Russo crafts his words make it a worthwhile read that explores the complex relationship between place and identity.

To be honest, it is incomprehensible to me why the book has only recently received a German translation. After all, it was already published in 1986, and the author is not exactly unknown.

Perhaps it is because the book inadvertently presents its readers with unnecessary obstacles. For me, at least initially, it was a rather challenging task to be able to distinguish between the characters (pay attention to the names!) Anne, Diane, Dan, David, and also Lorraine and Randall. Combined with the jumpy, non-linear narrative style, I would have wished for a bit more clarity in order to be able to follow easily. But perhaps I am the only one who sees it this way, and with time, I also became clear about who was with whom, why, and exactly when.

Overall, it is a clean story that was able to add another facet to the topos of the "American small town". I give it almost 4 stars.

Mohawk, New York, in the 1960s of the previous century.

It was a time of great change and upheaval. The town was filled with the sounds of progress, as new buildings were going up and industries were expanding.

Yet, beneath the surface, there were tensions and conflicts. The people of Mohawk were divided by race, class, and ideology.

Amidst this turmoil, a young man named John found himself at the center of it all. He was a dreamer, with big ideas about making a difference in the world.

But as he became more involved in the struggles of his community, he realized that change would not come easily.

This is the story of Mohawk, a town on the brink of transformation, and the people who lived there. It is a story of hope, love, and sacrifice, and a testament to the power of the human spirit.

It is a magistrale roman that will transport you back in time and make you feel as if you are a part of this unforgettable era.

This is one of Russo's early works.

Undoubtedly, the genius within him is palpable, yet it doesn't quite reach the lofty heights of "Empire Falls" and his subsequent masterpieces.

The theme presented here is rather familiar. It描绘了 a small town that is going through tough times.

It is filled with a diverse cast of characters - lovable dolts who bring a touch of humor, people with great promise but who failed to move forward and fulfill their potential, decent folk who have been pushed to the brink of desperation, and unfortunately, also some really bad apples.

These are the people who are simply trying to get through each day by any means possible.

Some make better decisions than others, but all are struggling in their own ways.

Russo has a remarkable talent for telling these kinds of stories, and he does it better than just about anyone else.

His ability to bring these characters to life and make us care about their fates is truly a gift.

Mohawk is Richard Russo's first book, and it indeed makes use of numerous familiar themes, settings, and characters that he would later refine to better effect.

It's not that Mohawk is bad; in fact, it's not even mediocre. However, it does seem a bit less focused compared to the two books from his bibliography that it most closely resembles, namely "Nobody's Fool" and "Empire Falls".

The lead character, Dallas Younger, is the same clueless old charmer we encounter as Sully in "Nobody's Fool". And just like in "Empire Falls", another main character owns a diner and takes care of a special needs man as the town becomes increasingly dingy and less and less prosperous.

Otherwise, the story revolves around the patriarchs of two families, Mather Grouse and Rory Gaffney. Morally upright and repressed Mather's fear and distaste of the rough and criminal Rory is supposed to be the glue that holds the story together. But here, Russo seems to fall short in the subtle task of arranging the pieces of the story in a thematically cohesive way.

There are a host of related characters, and they are all interesting to some extent. But, unlike Russo's proficiency in this regard in most of his subsequent books, he can't seem to make it all come together. This is by no means a terrible book. However, if you don't plan on reading every Richard Russo book, I would suggest skipping this one.

First Line Review:

"The back door to the Mohawk Grill opens on an alley it shares with the junior high."

The juxtaposition of a grill where the local dead-beats hang out and the junior high where local awkwardness lives is truly remarkable. It's just one example of the rich tapestry of humanity that is so vividly painted in this early work by one of my favorite writers.

In fact, Russo is the kind of writer I deeply admire and wish I could emulate if only I had more time in my life to focus solely on writing.

He has an extraordinary ability to bring the essence of our imperfectly real existence as humans to life in every single book of his that I've had the privilege to read.

Well, with one exception perhaps, that being "That Old Cape Magic."

His works are a testament to his keen观察力 and understanding of the human condition, making them a joy to read and a source of inspiration for aspiring writers like myself.