Russo, Richard. Bridge of Sighs. This is an Advance Reader's Edition that I won over at Stefanie's, and the best novel I've read all year.
Louis C. Lynch (Lucy) is anticipating a trip to Italy with his wife Sarah. As he prepares for the trip, he begins a chronicle of his life, for some reason compelled to tell the story of his family, his childhood friend, and the sweetheart of his youth, Sarah. Lou sifts through his memories of his beloved father, the eternally optimistic milkman; his mother, shrewd and practical; his best friend, now a celebrated artist; and Sarah, who decided on the Lynch family as a unit. He examines their small town lives in detail, feeling that no matter how ordinary they seem, "attention must be paid" to them.
I loved this book. The writing is wonderful, mesmerizing; Russo so deftly defines character, place, and situation that I woke up one night wondering, "What did he put it that drawer?" as if the book were real life. This is the first time I'm aware of a book pervading my consciousness to the extent of entering my dreams, but there I was puzzling over clues and motivation. Up at 1:30 A.M., settled into my reading chair, shaking my head at my own behavior...
Fiction. Alfred A. Knopf. 2007. 527 pages.
I love it when the fiction I read gets into my head like that and I dream about it, wonder about the characters as if they were real, etc. It is one of the magical things about reading that non-readers just don't get and are missing out on.
ReplyDeleteSo glad you had such an amazing experience with a book that you won!
Best novel you've read all year? Wow! I've really got to get around to reading this now!
ReplyDeleteThis one sounds really good, Jenclair, so I'm off to my library system to see if I can locate a copy there.
ReplyDeleteI don't think that I've ever read Richard Russo and it's time to change that.
I really like Richard Russo...I'll pay heed to your strong recommendation of this novel. Doesn't he seem sort of like a male Anne Tyler, in a way?
ReplyDeleteCarl -- I knew it would be good, but I just enjoyed Russo's Empire Falls and Straight Man, I didn't love them. Something about Bridge of Sighs had a bigger effect on me.
ReplyDeleteStefanie -- :) Yeah, I fell right into this one!
Sam -- I hope you'll like it, Sam.
Bybee -- They both take family dramas or small incidents and follow the repercussions, but Russo goes deeper, I think.
This sounds great. I've read a couple Russo novels and have enjoyed them all.
ReplyDeleteOhhh! I have to get this one... Once again, Jen, you've drawn me in...=-)
ReplyDeleteWow - I'll have to check this one out!
ReplyDeleteDorothy -- My favorite Russo, by far.
ReplyDeleteDebby -- I really hope to see what other people think about it. Be sure to let me know!
Emma -- Oh, I just realized that it won't be available until Sept. 25...you'll have to preorder.
Empire Falls was such a wonderful book. I will definitely have to keep my eye out for this one when it comes out. Thanks for the great review!
ReplyDeleteL.F. -- I liked it better than Empire Falls!
ReplyDeleteI love me some Russo and been meaning to order him for our academic library...
ReplyDeleteUm, I was about to ask about the phallic symbol missing from this cover, but then I saw it. *blush* It's a little more on the wane than his usually upright images. ;)
If you say it's the best novel this year, that means its a MUST read for me. I've liked every book I've read that you've recommended.
ReplyDeleteMaggie -- I've just spent 30 minutes researching this topic and am non-the-wiser. The only things I've found are to articles that I can't access. I looked at other covers and could find possibilities on some, but not all. Do tell!
ReplyDeleteBooklogged -- It is the best novel I've read this year, but that is such a personal thing. I also think it is the best thing he has written, and Empire Falls won the Pulitzer. If you read it, I want to hear what you think!
Oh, this sounds so good. What fun to have discovered your favorite book of the year (thus far). I enjoyed Empire Falls and Straight Man (the latter more than the former, as I thought it had more humor) and one other. Oh, Nobody's Fool! That's the title. Anyhow, I saw this was due out this month and added the title to my list to watch for. Glad to know it's a winner.
ReplyDeleteJenclair I am so glad you found your favorite book of the year! When I'm really into a book I'm seeing the world differently during that time, literally looking at everything through a different prism, I love the spell a good read casts on me! I will have to look out for this title.
ReplyDeleteLotus -- :) Russo is getting better and better!
ReplyDeleteI guess I'll have to be on the lookout for this one. It's been a long time since I read Russo (I believe it was Straight Man). He has a knack for bringing splashes of color to lives in small towns.
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