Mohawk

Richard Russo is simply one of the finest American authors writing today. I would take this a step further, and say he is one of the best, period. What is most remarkable about Russo is his ability to use the same characters over and over again in his books, yet still manage to make the story seem fresh and new every time. This is Russo's first book, but I was hard pressed to find any skill lacking. It is quite simply a thoroughly remarkable debut in every way. Although lacking the humor of "Nobody's Fool," it nearly matches "Empire Falls" in its humanity. As usual, this is a novel about a small town in New York and the various characters that inhabit it, including the mandatory Russo ne'er-do-well, an incompetant cop, and a beautiful ex-wife. There isn't necessarily an overriding plot, just a bunch of interweaving stories. There is comedy, tragedy, mystery, murder, and love, all told wonderfully through Russo's living and breathing characters. Although not as interesting and fully fleshed as Russo's characters in other novels, they are nonetheless more well written than most characters in modern American literature. I would categorize Russo's character work as comparable to Charles Dickens. High praise, but deserved all the same.If you are interested in starting to read Russo, this is as good a place to start as any, all his skills are on display. However, for Russo at his absolute finest, don't stop here, but move on to "Nobody's Fool" and "Empire Falls."

For one who was born there, inherited a sense of the craftsmanship history of the place, worked during the summer in a tannery while attending college and owned a glovemaking business in Gloversville, New York, I know of the places, times and people profiles Russo writes about in his novels beginning with Mohawk. Russo's deep understanding of the people in small mill town America is the thread that runs through each of his books---whether the story's town is in Upstate NY, PA or ME. The life stories of the people in small town America need to be told and Richard Russo does it best.

This is an outstanding novel, one that has well stood the test of time, even when compared to the author's excellent more recent work. All the "2-star" reviewers on this page ought to do themselves a favor and re-read this book.

As with all of Russo's books, there is here a glimpse of the towns, villages, and lives so many of us have spent years longing to escape -- only to discover that, as quirky small town America is vanishing into a bland strip mall full of [local stores]-- it was what made out life complete. If Russo's well crafted novels help startle us from complaceny before the small towns of America have completely vanished, perhaps we'll have something worth giving to our children.

Well, here goes ... I am an educated man, vis a vis the arts. Humbly, I am able to deconstruct Hyden, Mozart, Bach. I have studied art (and am, again, humbly, a craftsman myself) to be able to understand the brushwork, composition, and lighting of Monet, Hopper, Inness. But I'll be damned if I can begin to comprehend how a genius novelist is able to do what he does. Richard Russo is in the company of John Steinbeck, Wallace Stegner, Charles Dickens. Geez, I've FINALLY gotten around to reading "Mohawk", after marvelling at "Nobody's Fool" and "The Risk Pool". Folks: here is the greatest living American author. I'm gonna blanch at all this when I sober up, but here it is: do yourself a BIG favor, read Richard Russo.