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Title details for Somebody's Fool by Richard Russo - Available

Somebody's Fool

#3 in series

by Richard Russo
Mark Bramhall
Audiobook
1 of 1 copy available
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1 of 1 copy available
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The Pulitzer Prize–winning author of Empire Falls returns to North Bath, in upstate New York, and to the characters that captured the hearts and imaginations of millions of readers in his beloved best sellers Nobody’s Fool and Everybody’s Fool.
“Sumptuous, spirited . . . [Russo] paints a shining fresco of a working-class community...” —The New York Times • "Another instant classic, filled with Russo's witty dialogue and warm understanding of human foibles." —People Magazine
Ten years after the death of the magnetic Donald “Sully” Sullivan, the town of North Bath is going through a major transition as it is annexed by its much wealthier neighbor, Schuyler Springs. Peter, Sully’s son, is still grappling with his father’s tremendous legacy as well as his relationship to his own son, Thomas, wondering if he has been all that different a father than Sully was to him.
Meanwhile, the towns’ newly consolidated police department falls into the hands of Charice Bond, after the resignation of Doug Raymer, the former North Bath police chief and Charice’s ex-lover. When a decomposing body turns up in the abandoned hotel situated between the two towns, Charice and Raymer are drawn together again and forced to address their complicated attraction to one another. Across town, Ruth, Sully’s married ex-lover, and her daughter Janey struggle to understand Janey’s daughter, Tina, and her growing obsession with Peter’s other son, Will. Amidst the turmoil, the town’s residents speculate on the identity of the unidentified body, and wonder who among their number could have disappeared unnoticed.
Infused with all the wry humor and shrewd observations that Russo is known for, Somebody's Fool is another classic from a modern master.

  • Creators

  • Series

    North Bath Trilogy

  • Publisher

  • Release date

    July 25, 2023

  • Formats

    • OverDrive Listen audiobook

      • ISBN: 9780593741665
      • File size: 467055 KB
      • Duration: 16:13:01

  • Languages

    • English

  • Reviews

    • Publisher's Weekly

      May 8, 2023
      Russo (Nobody’s Fool) concludes his North Bath trilogy with a wise and witty drama of small-town life. Donald “Sully” Sullivan, the hero of the first two books, has been dead for 10 years, a loss that many of the characters in this volume continue to grapple with. Sully’s son, Peter, who always assumed he was destined for bigger and better things than small-town North Bath, N.Y., sticks around to renovate his father’s Victorian house. Meanwhile, former police chief Douglas Raymer contemplates the loss of his job after the town was annexed by its richer neighbor, Schuyler Springs. Adding to the complications for Raymer, his longtime girlfriend is made the new Schuyler Springs police chief. But it’s Peter’s estranged son, Thomas, who sets the plot in motion when he shows up in North Bath unannounced. Thomas claims he’s just passing through on his way to Montreal, but Peter believes otherwise, and circumstances soon suggest more sinister motivations involving revenge for Peter’s abandonment of Thomas as a child. Russo gets a slow start, laying on a bit too much backstory at the outset, but the novel soon picks up speed, delivering the generous humor, keen ear for dialogue, and deep appreciation for humanity’s foibles that have endeared the author to his readers for decades. Though Sully is gone, his world is alive and well.

    • AudioFile Magazine
      This audiobook unites two consummate professionals: author Richard Russo and narrator Mark Bramhall. Russo is at his storytelling best here, returning to the North Bath community of NOBODY'S FOOL and EVERYBODY'S FOOL. A broad array of characters interacts credibly, thanks to Bramhall's strong performance. As Peter Sullivan mulls over his relationship with his estranged son, Janie struggles in her role as a daughter and mother, and Raymer ponders a new life and a violent death, Bramhall provides distinctive voices for all. Rarely is it confusing to follow the plot or appreciate the characters, even when the story itself becomes slow or the voices hit a strident pitch. The audiobook shines as the work of an excellent novelist delivered by an exceptional vocal artist. L.B.F. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine
    • Library Journal

      June 10, 2024

      Pulitzer Prize winner Russo's (Empire Falls) final installment in the "North Bath Trilogy" (following Everybody's Fool) takes place as the small Upstate New York town of North Bath is incorporated into neighboring Schuyler Springs. Police chief Doug Raymer closes the North Bath police department, while his longtime girlfriend, Cherise, is appointed to lead the new Schuyler Spring police force. When a body is discovered at the abandoned hotel in town, Cherise asks Raymer to consult. The mysterious body is only one event in a sea of daily drama, as the eccentric residents of North Bath struggle with poverty, broken marriages, fractured family relationships, and a long collective memory. Narrator Mark Bramhall supplies a measured, somewhat weary tone that conveys the difficulties of hard feelings, misunderstandings, and lost opportunities while also stressing the characters' determination not to give up. Though the story is full of human failings, love, and loss, it is presented ponderously via the inner monologues of the central characters. VERDICT While this series wrap-up will generate holds, it is best for established fans of the trilogy. Share Russo's series with those seeking a leisurely listen featuring strong character development and introspective storytelling.--Joanna M. Burkhardt

      Copyright 2024 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Formats

  • OverDrive Listen audiobook

subjects

Languages

  • English

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