What readers think of Empire Falls, plus links to write your own review.

Interminably prolix, profoundly depressing, and a criminal waste of paper.

Full of characters you come to love, Empire Falls remains with me many weeks after having read it. Our hero, a flawed, though decent man, tries to get through life in a town that is fading fast. He deals with a quirky father patiently, a troubled daughter, an ex-wife who seems to regret her decision to divorce, the memory of a mother with a deep secret. The surprise ending seems cut out of current headlines, and detracts from the payoff at the end. Despite this, I recommend it highly.

Poney
Russo continues to write well, but reading endlessly about rather dull
characters is not too rewarding. Small, failing towns tend to seem even
more depressing under his pen.