Richard Russo On the Loose-o

I call Richard Russo the male version of Elizabeth Strout. He writes with sensitivity, brashness and feeling, deals in family/human issues, and writes a complicated plot, like life itself.

I just finished his latest book, “Somebody's Fool.” It's his third book of a trilogy: “Nobody's Fool” and “Everybody's Fool,” which I have also read. The trilogy follows the life, and after life, of Sully, a man's man, womanizer, and caustic wit: hard on the outside, soft as a pussycat on the inside — construction worker, philosopher and caretaker of friends and relatives. His name, “Sully” is on a bar stool at the White Horse Tavern in North Bath, Maine.

I visualize Sully as a Humphrey Bogart type of guy: cigarette dangling out the side of his mouth, a pack of Luckies rolled up in his shirtsleeve, and a John Deere belt buckle pulled to the side of his waist: tough guy in appearance only.

When I mention his after life, I'm not talking about a paranormal ghost appearance, I'm talking about the influence Sully has on people that lingers on, long after his death. As his death becomes imminent, Sully asks his estranged son to look after a certain number of people: an old friend and co-worker who can't seem to survive without Sully telling him what to do; a couple of old lovers who miss him terribly; a distant grandson looking for retribution. It seems that Sully was a better grandfather than father.

Sully's epic advice: “When you don't know what to do, try something, and if that doesn't work, try something else.” It's an extension of the old saw: “Do something, even if it's wrong,” which my father used to say, and now I say. That's one of my attractions to Russo's writing: it reminds me of my family, my hometown, my feelings, the sights, sounds, and smells of small town living.

If you haven't heard of Richard Russo, or think he may be a second rate writer that

Curt is bragging up because it reminds him of his drinking days, well, think again. Richard Russo won the Pulitzer Prize in 2002 for “Empire Falls,” about small town in Maine. In “Empire Falls,” Russo explores themes of love, loss, and class dynamics.

Russo has written a slew of books, all of them excellent. I have read most of them. But not all, a deficiency I intend to correct.

If I have one criticism of “Somebody's Fool,” it's that, for me, there are too many characters, too many moving parts to the story (stories), and too many sub plots. But that's classic Russo and classic life: too much confusion to make much sense of anything. But if it works, don't fix it.

Here's a sample of Russo's writing: “People who have problems never have just one.” “ … how things work with obsessive-compulsives. When there was nothing to worry about, they would invent things to stress over.” “ … scary beginnings needn't always lead to dismal outcomes.” “His mind was still buffering.” “J.J. had yet to meet a pot he didn't want to stir.” “His small eyes had gotten even darker, a place where light went to die.” “Occams's razor … The simplest explanation is probably right.”

If you haven't read the previous books of Russo's trilogy, like Elizabeth Strout's books, you can jump in anywhere, not be lost, and enjoy the book. “Somebody's Fool” is over 600 pages in length, so hunker down with a lap cat or dog and enjoy some “I'm not happy until you're not happy” winter reading. I'm already reading it again, my highest rating for a book and its author.

One last compliment, and I'll let you alone for a warm winter's nap. Richard Russo's “Somebody's Fool” left me feeling fulfilled.

Ahhh. Goodnight.

Have a good story? Call or text Curt Swarm in Mt. Pleasant at 319-217-0526 or email him at curtswarm@yahoo.com. Curt is available for public speaking.