EVERYBODY'S FOOL

by Richard Russo
 

I normally love Richard Russo’s books.  AndEverybody's Fool is the long-awaited sequel toNobody's Fool, one of his all-time greats published in 1993.  But this nearly 550-page book doesn’t live up to its hype, in my opinion.  Russo has some memorable characters – whom we are happy to see after such a long time.  But he is formulaic and contrived in his writing this time around.  I could almost sense his presence as he set up scenes and characters  - working towards a laugh.  It was forced.  I felt cheated. (Liz)