Rating: 
Summary: Very Good, but reads like a screenplay
Review: This is the first Richard Russo book I've read. It is highly entertaining, the characters are portrayed so well that you get to 'know' them after a while. The story itself is great: a small town in Maine that's going downhill fast; the hero runs the run-down local diner: a loser in most things material but a possible winner in the most important thing of all. I won't spoil it for those who have not read it by getting into plot details. My only minor complaint is that I kept on reading the dialogue as spoken words in a film. I suppose that's what you get for doing so well to familiarize the reader with the characters. It WOULD make an interesting film, with Kevin Costner as the forlorned hero, Wilford Brimly as his dad, etc, etc. Very good read, I'll look for other Russo works at the local library.
Rating: 
Summary: Can't Hardly Wait
Review: ..for Russo's next book. Although this wasn't his best, even a 4 star story from my absolute favorite author is better than almost anything else I've read since his last book, Straight Man. And, of course there is no comparison to (Nobody's) Fool or (The Risk) Pool. Empire Falls returns us to the declining, small, blue collar town and inhabitants that are so genuinely yet captivatingly ordinary, where RR is at his best. The only awkwardness was the unexpected school scene. Much more blatant than any other event in any Russo novel. But, it is the everyday friendships of those involved, that provides the Russo touch, even when the going is gruesome. Thinking of the antics of Miles' father still makes me laugh, weeks after I've finished. Is there a $20 bill in my glove compartment? What happened to the one I dropped in the collection basket? Impossible to hurt my feelings.
Rating:
Summary: He's done better ...
Review: Risk Pool and Straight Man I'd give five stars, but this offering disappointed. You knew soon as characters with names like David and Miles appeared that this wasn't to be the gritty reality of the aforementioned. The pace was hurried, the characters shallow and the plot lacked credibility. Russo writes well, but he can do better .... a good one to get at the library later.
Rating:
Summary: Apparently very idiosyncratic
Review: After reading other reviews, I'm getting the impression that the publishing house slipped up and printed some unrelated work to send me. I am in the middle of this book and finding it very amusing. Other reviewers seem to be focusing on the struggles of the characters and I am thoroughly engaged by the humor I see. (The scene in the diner with Max, Miles and Jimmy made me laugh at least 3 times.)I was disappointed that we didn't learn more about Whiting men but that's OK.
Rating: 
Summary: Sorely Disappointing
Review: I have read all Russo's novels. "The Risk Pool" is minor realist classic literature. "Nobody's Fool" and "Mowhawk" were very good, traditional mid-list reads, like the books of John Hassler. I ran out to buy his books in hardback. I thought "Straight Man," another mediocre academic novel, was an aberration-it wasn't. I wonder if he wrote the movie (or made-for-TV) script in tandem for "Empire Falls"? It is the weakest link. The main character's model was probably Charlie Brown. This novel is so dull it could have been concocted by a marketing team, except that even a marketing team would have insisted on better editing to hasten the lumbering prose in the first two-thirds of the book. I feel personally betrayed by Russo; so few write convincingly about working class people. But he's another brand name now and can continue to write dull fare and make money. For what it's worth, he's off this reader's list.
Rating: 
Summary: Fredicio's Review
Review: Based on my thorough enjoyment of Straight Man, I bought Empire Falls. Although not as funny as Straight Man, I found Empire Falls, a more compelling book. There is virtually no sex, violence or for that matter action in this book. However, Russo's ability to develop a character to a point where each person in the book seems like a personal acquaintance of the reader is truly remarkable. Although I am not sure any of the characters are truly admirable, they are all very human to a fault. Bringing the entire story together as Russo does, caught me by surprise but was very pleased with the results. From my prospective, Russo's writing ability is truly fantastic. If you looking for a meaty book that you will not want to end, Empire Falls is for you.
Rating: 
Summary: Dull and sloppy,
Review: A very weak entry by a writer with an otherwise strong reputation. It's the type of novel that makes one wonder if the author had anyone read it before it was sent off to the publisher. The book is plagued by a weak, formulaic plot (one which, in the end, isn't very interesting anyways), sloppy structure (Russo can't seem to make up his mind as to whether he wants to use a third-person omniscient or a third-person limited point-of-view), one-dimensional characters who leave no lasting impression, and page after page of boring, repetitious, pointless prose. Russo's characters love to talk, and talk, and talk; nothing of moment happens in the novel until the last 100 pages or so and by that point, I really didn't care. Points of the novel are downright hokey, as when Miles, the main character, carries on a conversation with a ghost--a plot device which is a sure sign that Russo was having trouble getting his character's emotions across in a more conventional, show-don't-tell manner. There are also scads of minor (though still irritating) problems: the ridiculous dialogue which at times employs every stereotype in the book (the wealthy, arrogant widow who continuously refers to Miles as "dear boy," for example); the attempts at humor which really aren't very humorous, the overused plot devices and ridiculous generalizations (the troubled youth, the drunkard father, the beautiful young mother who turns "every man's head"). Russo struggles mightily in the final pages to redeem his story, by throwing some unexpected curve balls; and at rare moments, he slips into some elegant prose and makes an occasional insightful observation. Indeed, the final scene of the novel does leave an impression and leaves the reader wishing that Russo had been so creative, so unique in the previous 480+ pages. The best I can say about Empire Falls is that it's the only book by Richard Russo I have read, and so his prior work may be much better.
Rating:
Summary: Nobody's Fool
Review: I'm Nobody's Fool and, unfortunately, neither is this book - not even close. Unfortunately also, he tries, quite carelessly, to reprise Fool in many ways. A bad go from conception to completion. Maybe just a shot at making a buck - who knows. Always a bad sign when the publisher can find no reviews from substantial sources from which to quote. A big dissapointment but, from the stars already assigned by readers, clearly one can fool most of the people some of the time.
Rating:
Summary: True to life moments
Review: I enjoyed this book, Russo populates his novels with realistic characters, and in this case it is the residents of the small town of Empire Falls. Miles Roby, the soon to be divorced protaganist, struggles with his family situation and his future. Miles runs the Empire Grill, owned by the elusive matriarch of the town, whose impact on Miles' life has been huge from his perspective. There are other well crafted characters; Max Roby, Miles' never do well father who nonetheless thrives (reminiscent in some ways to Sully in Russo's novel Nobody's Fool); Jimmy Minty, the police officer who has a simmering resentment towards against Miles; his son Zack who is on again off again with Miles' daughter improbably nicknamed "Tick"; Walt Comeau, a shady yet affable character who is marrying Miles' wife; and the mysterious kid in art class who doesn't say a word and seems to harbour a great secret. Most of all, it is a tale of real life, of regret about choices made, and the joys and heartbreaks of everyday people. If I had one problem at times it was Russo's tendency to hit you over the head with each new revelation, instead of letting the plot unfold more slowly and subtly. I recommend this novel very much, if it seems that not much seems to happen, hang in there, it is very rewarding. There are some moments at the end that don't ring true, but most of it does, and this book stayed with me afterwards.
Rating:
Summary: One of his best
Review: As some others have said, Richard Russo may be one of the best writers today. "Empire Falls" is a 'Great American Novel' which touches on just about every human emotion. It's a nice blend of humor and serious subjects. There are some gem sentences where Russo makes some great observations on who we are and why we do certain things. He pulls no punches in this book, and he doesn't wrap things up nice and neat at the end, perhaps leaving himself open for a sequel, but he's never done that (written a sequel) to date. I recommend this book and all others (4) by Richard Russo.
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