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Product Description
From Publishers Weekly
The challenge facing those who perform Russo's novels is the self-effacing, low-key nature of his protagonists. The line between a faithful rendition of the character and a snoozer may be as narrow as the street that divides the rich from the poor in Russo's upstate New York town of Thomaston. Unfortunately, Morey's performance finds itself the poor side of the tracks. Lou C. (Lucy) Lynch's narration of events is read in an even, objective tone as if Morey were reading the evening news on an amateur radio show. He does emphasize words and ideas, but the overall effect is monotonous and doesn't do justice to Russo's rich material. Morey's narrative voice for Bobby, Lucy's childhood friend and nemesis, is deeper but more of the same. Morey gives a bit more energy to the third narrator, Sarah, Lou's wife. The result is more soporific than a Thanksgiving turkey, and getting through Russo's sharp account of the factory towns he knows so well becomes more a chore than a pleasure.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.
From Booklist
*Starred Review* Here is the novel Russo was born to write. Coursing with humor and humanity, the sixth novel by the bard of Main Street U.S.A. gives full expression to the themes that have always been at the heart of his work: the all-important bond between fathers and sons, the economic desperation of small-town businesses, and the lifelong feuds and friendships that are a hallmark of small-town life. Following a trio of best friends who grew up in upstate Thomaston, New York, over 50 years, the novel captures some of the essential mysteries of life, including the unanticipated moments of childhood that will forever define one's adulthood. Louis Charles ("Lucy") Lynch has spent his entire life in Thomaston, married for 40 years to his wife, Sarah, and finally living in the rich section of town, thanks to the success of his father's convenience stores. Long planning a trip to Venice, he tries in vain to communicate with the couple's best friend, Bobby Marconi, now a world-famous painter living in Venice. Meanwhile, the irascible ex-pat, now approaching 60 and suffering from night terrors, is still chasing women, engaging in fistfights, and struggling to complete his latest painting. Russo slowly and lovingly pieces together rich, multilayered portraits not only of the principals but also of their families, and, by extension, their quintessentially American town. It is a seamless interweaving of childhood memories (sometimes told from three points of view), tragic incidents (the town river, once the lifeblood of local industry, has become a toxic stew that is poisoning residents), and unforgettable dialogue that is so natural, funny, and touching that it may, perhaps, be the best of Russo's many gifts. Wilkinson, Joanne
--This text refers to the
Hardcover
edition.
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Most helpful customer reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars
Bridge of Sighs,
By
Ce commentaire est de: Bridge of Sighs (Hardcover)
stopped reading "Bridge of Sighs" three times, but I always kept going back, finally upon reaching page 293 I started to enjoy the book and was able to finish it.Having completed the book I must say I was awarded for enduring to the end. I loved looking into people's lives and how each person perceives the exact same situation so differently and how it affects their lives. Great characters to watch grow up and even though they are small town people they still live big lives. This is one thing I find critical of the book, it is suppose to be about regular people and their small town life, but seriously how many of us that have grown up in small towns have friends who are famous artists? The portrayal of African Americans is also stereotypical. Overall I am glad I persevered and finished this book, but it was definitely a chore at some points.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
" HIS NAME IS LUCY?",
By
Ce commentaire est de: Bridge of Sighs (Audio CD)
Bridge of Sighs, Richard Russo's eagerly awaited novel following his Pulitzer Prize winning Empire Falls, introduces a narrator who had an unfortunate first day at school. His name is Lou C. Lynch. However, as the teacher called the roll she read his first name as Lou C. rather than Lou. When Lou raised his hand to acknowledge presence, one of the other children called out, "His name is Lucy?" Of course, all the other children laughed and Lou was humiliated. Later, his mother told him that children could be cruel and to laugh along with them, they would forget. Not so, for the rest of his life Lou was known as Lucy. He wonders if life might have been different for him had he not been tagged with this unfortunate sobriquet.We hear Lou's story related by voice performer Arthur Morey who thus begins the saga that includes Lou or Lucy's wife of 40 years, Sarah, his unrelenting mother, and childhood friend Bobby Marconi. Morey effortlessly inhabits the persona of the 60-year-old Lucy who is an optimist and chooses to see his life in fictional Thomaston, New York as a contented one. His family is fortunate enough to live in what is called the Borough, the best section of town where they enjoy the fruits of a chain of stores begun by Lucy's father. Lucy and Sarah are planning a trip to Italy where they will see their old friend, Bobby, now a famous artist. Many will remember Morey for his outstanding narrations of The Ministry of Special Cases, The Tumblers, and others. His voice is distinct with an actor's gift of registering both resignation and introspection as the narrative carries us back and forth in the characters' lives. Russo again displays his gift for conveying much in a simple conversation and bringing to life a small town. Morey, an author as well as an actor, understands his characters well, a knowledge evident in his reading. - Gail Cooke
2 of 5 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
I agree with other reviewers',
By
Ce commentaire est de: Bridge of Sighs (Hardcover)
observation that the chapters written from Sarah's point of view were a bit clumsy, but I didn't think that those chapters caused the narrative to unravel. Rather, the book's weakest point is the disconnect between Sarah, Lucy and Bobby we come to know as teenagers and the adult Sarah, Lucy and Bobby. I had a hard time buying Bobby's transformation into a world-renowned painter and an even harder time reconciling Lucy's introspective voice with the gullible boy that he supposedly was. Maybe, however, these drastic changes are the point. Regardless of those weaknesses, it was still a good read and the characters Russo created are, as always, engaging and seem to be ripped right out of our daily lives. Also, if you missed reading Tino Georgiou's masterpiece--The Fates, go and read it. I'm reading it at a rapid pace because it's so addictive. There is something about his books that bring you in and get you hooked. and I'm loving this one. Highly Recommend!
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