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Empire Falls
- Narrated by: Ron McLarty
- Length: 20 hrs and 26 mins
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Publisher's Summary
Richard Russo - from his first novel, Mohawk, to his most recent, Straight Man - has demonstrated a peerless affinity for the human tragicomedy, and with this stunning new novel he extends even further his claims on the small-town, blue-collar heart of the country.
Dexter County, Maine, and specifically the town of Empire Falls, has seen better days, and for decades, in fact, only a succession from bad to worse. One by one, its logging and textile enterprises have gone belly-up, and the once vast holdings of the Whiting clan (presided over by the last scion’s widow) now mostly amount to decrepit real estate. The working classes, meanwhile, continue to eke out whatever meager promise isn’t already boarded up.
Miles Roby gazes over this ruined kingdom from the Empire Grill, an opportunity of his youth that has become the albatross of his daily and future life. Called back from college and set to work by family obligations - his mother ailing, his father a loose cannon - Miles never left home again. Even so, his own obligations are manifold: a pending divorce; a troubled younger brother; and, not least, a peculiar partnership in the failing grill with none other than Mrs. Whiting. All of these, though, are offset by his daughter, Tick, whom he guides gently and proudly through the tribulations of adolescence.
A decent man encircled by history and dreams, by echoing churches and abandoned mills, by the comforts and feuds provided by lifelong friends and neighbors, Miles is also a patient, knowing guide to the rich, hardscrabble nature of Empire Falls: fathers and sons and daughters, living and dead, rich and poor alike. Shot through with the mysteries of generations and the shattering visitations of the nation at large, it is a social novel of panoramic ambition, yet at the same time achingly personal. In the end, Empire Falls reveals our worst and best instincts, both our most appalling nightmares and our simplest hopes, with all the vision, grace and humanity of truly epic storytelling.
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What listeners say about Empire Falls
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Gloria E Thompson
- 2019-08-15
I love this book
the book was great the narrator was great loved the story the characters were believable couple of good twists I sure would have liked to know if miles was in the will
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- Jackie v
- 2022-12-03
Epic Character-Driven Novel
I thoroughly enjoyed this listen. It was long but worth it, Empire Falls and it’s cast of quirky characters will stay with me for a long time.
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- Sonya Di Sclafani
- 2020-08-10
Okay but not great
The characters are interesting. The writing can be a little forced and juvenile at times, even convoluted. The narrator is generally okay but takes deep breaths before speaking at times which is a bit strange.
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