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Review title: Detailed, humane and flawed
Product review: In his attempt to be the Chekov of blue-collar America, Mr Russo gets several things right -- Empire Falls displays a keen eye for detail, an unhurried pace, a humane investigation of characters in action and an ability to mimic the rhythms of life itself.The book, however, is flawed on at least two counts. First, the prose is little more than workmanlike. One expected more polish, more craftsmanship, at this level. And second, the narrative drive necessary to sustain a novel of such length is sorely missing. The characters have desires and drives, yes, but the action is strangely muted and bloodless -- making the book somewhat tedious to plough through.These two drawbacks make Empire Falls less than a triumph. Not deserving of the Pulitzer, in my humble opinion.
