I’ve had a patchy reading history with Richard Russo but Straight Man is a standout for me, perhaps because I read it just as H was beginning his academic career. Apparently much of it was painfully familiar. It also has one of the funniest passages I’ve read in many years, although I do have a liking for puerile humour.
An incorrigible smartass and inveterate politicker, William Henry Deveraux Jnr, holds the temporary chair of the English Department in an American small-town university. Faced with the prospect of culling his department to meet his budget he’s incapable of treating the situation with the seriousness it deserves. This combined with a marriage veering towards the rocks, a daughter whose emotional instability appears to be a mystery to him and a bladder problem of leg-crossing proportions, results in utter chaos. A highly entertaining novel in which I suspect Russo was getting a lot off his chest.
What about you, any blasts from the past you’d like to share?
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Not only have I not read this, I haven’t come across Richard Russo at all. It sounds a bit Lucky Jim-ish, which doesn’t have me rushing to read it. On the other hand, you’re in a select small team of reviewers who reliably recommend books I enjoy.
Definitely not in Kingsley Amis territory although I probably appreciated this more because of H’s experience.
Noted. With relief.
I have never read Russo, although I do have a couple in the 746. Must check him out soon!
I enjoyed his earlier novels but haven’t read much by him recently. Hope you enjoy them when you get to them, Cathy.
I’ve borrowed this one a few times but always in backlist (I didn’t “discover” him until Empire Falls… is that one you enjoyed?) and haven’t yet made it through. Thoroughly enjoyed his recent interview on Writers on Writing though, if anyone else is keen on that kind of thing. (May is recent, right? Ahem.)
I did. It was shortly after that I lost track of him. Thanks for the link, Marcie. I’d say it was recent!
I’ve read a few by Russo and especially liked Empire Falls. I actually have a paperback of this one and have always meant to read it! I generally enjoy campus settings. I need to find out what the goose is doing there, if nothing else…
This one’s very different, and a very quick read. As I recall, the goose incident marks the climax of the bonkers college politics Devereux finds himself caught up in. I hope you enjoy it!
I read this a long time ago and loved it. Both funny and sad.
Quite hard to pull that off.
I love Russo, though have only read this once I remember enjoying it. Empire Falls won the Pulitzer but my heart will always remain with Nobody’s Fool.
Loved that, too! I also remember Paul Newman in the movie.
This sounds fun! I keep meaning to get back to Russo, having enjoyed Empire Falls and Nobody’s Fool.
I loved Nobody’s Fool but don’t be tempted by the sequel.
I have read two Richard Russo books – one I was so indifferent to that I got rid off it almost immediately and the other was Straight Man which I loved and have kept – I could hardly breathe for laughing on occasion.
This is his standout novel for me. I rarely laugh out loud when reading but could hardly contain myself with this one.