MOHAWK
Richard Russo

In the very first chapter, we are plunged into the small town of Mohawk in Upstate New York, which experienced its rise through the leather industry back then. However, the golden times are long gone. The town is on the decline and only makes headlines, if at all, because the cancer rate is many times higher than elsewhere. But the tanning industry refuses to take responsibility.

The story centers around the townspeople and their lives. Among others, we get to know Anne and her son. Anne has long been in love with her cousin's husband, but the cousin values the wishes of her mother more than those of her husband.

Harry, the owner of the Mohawk Grills, has had an eye on him since Wild Bill's accident. Dallas, Anne's ex-husband, also plays a major role, but what he and many other people have to do with each other, unfortunately, you'll have to find out for yourself.

Yes, one might think that this doesn't sound really exciting... Well, yes and no, because those looking for a mystery are surely in the wrong place with Russo (although there will be some crimes and deaths), but Russo is a master of the art of storytelling: meticulously, multifaceted, and with great sensitivity, he builds his story and slowly weaves it into a big whole.

I really enjoyed reading this book and was very sad when I had to leave the town of Mohawk and all its inhabitants after 490 pages. From me, there is a huge reading recommendation - a great book, which by the way is his very first from 1986 and has only now been translated from English by Monika Töpfer. 5 / 5

I’m pretty sure I read this once before, but I only remembered bits and pieces.

That said, I ended up enjoying this quite a bit, especially considering that I almost quit about seventy-five pages in. At that point, it felt so ‘light’ compared to what I’ve been reading of late. However, as I continued, I discovered that there was a good stretch in the center of the book that was far from light. It was just strong writing, packed with power. The author really knows how to craft a story and engage the reader.

It’s no EMPIRE FALLS or STRAIGHT MAN, but it’s a good example of a fine writer working on his craft. He shows great skill in developing characters and creating a believable world. Overall, it was an enjoyable read that I would recommend to others.

This was definitely a blokes book.

Which is why it suited me just fine.

I loved the story and I adore plots set in small towns where the daily lives of mostly ordinary people intersect.

Stories of small town human nature are just brilliant in their simplicity.

The way the author portrays the characters and their relationships is truly captivating.

It makes you feel like you are right there in that small town, experiencing everything along with them.

I'll be looking into more of Russo's work, his writing in this particular book struck me as somewhat Kerouacian.

There is a certain flow and authenticity to it that really吸引 me.

And that's a huge plus for me!

I can't wait to see what else he has in store.

His ability to bring a small town to life on the page is truly remarkable.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys stories about ordinary people and their extraordinary lives.

It's a must-read for fans of literary fiction.