Empire Falls.

Richard Russo. 2001. Read by Ron McLarty. 15 tapes, 21 hrs. Recorded Books. #96751. 0-7887-8928-7. $120.00. Vinyl binder; plot notes. JSA *

Russo follows to some extent in the footsteps of authors such as Sinclair Lewis and Sherwood Anderson. The author of Risk Pool and Nobody's Fool (the latter became an acclaimed film starring Paul Newman) has grown steadily in reputation since his 1986 debut, Mohawk. And while Russo's newest creation, Empire Falls, revisits those same themes, its fictional canvas is so much broader and more richly complex. The eponymous Maine town of Empire Falls, with its wonderful double meaning, is but a shadow now of its glory days when a thriving textile mill and shirt factory, both now defunct, powered its economy. Enter protagonist Miles Roby, proprietor of the Empire Grill, a low-key good guy who suffers fools (including his ne'er-do-well alcoholic father, shady-dealing brother, and spiteful ex-wife) far too gladly for his own welfare. Miles tries to devote his energies to tending the shop (owned by the villainous town boss Francine Whiting, widow of its textile magnate) and raising his passionate but withdrawn teenage daughter who goes by the nickname of Tick. But his best-laid plans are continually thwarted by forces and agendas in the community that test his patience, resolve, and ultimately his humanity. Along the way, even the most minor characters (and there are a lot of them) are made memorable and relevant.

McLarty is a splendid choice for narrator. His masterful performance is tone-perfect, subtly delineating the welter of voices and personalities while never drawing attention to himself. Production values are excellent as well. Carroll Dale Short, Birmingham, AL