Bridge of Sighs is a slow-moving, every-man, story that meanders in a rather captivating way through three generations off it's focal family and a couple of generations of other protagonists' families. Taking its own time to unfold, the story draws you and then gently sets you down. Several story lines are left up in the air- told indirectly through vague memories - by the end the first person accounts are even proven unsound...so walk in knowing you may never know what really happened. Well written.

I can't believe there is no review for this novel! even me, coming to the literary table late, I am rapidly assessing who and what I like to read. It's literary by the way. Richard Russo is an incredible and original author who's acumen in articulating his words into art makes his work stand out above the "typical" fiction sold today. Everyone wants a " movie" in a book these days. James Patterson and Dan Brown, etc.,oh God, please! I'm sick of them and their lack of intuitive creativity that every good author faces everyday. This author is completely understated in his craft and I'm flummoxed that no one has offered a review on this particular book. I'm just starting it and I was profoundly amazed when he wrote about how Lucy's satisfaction in his biography of his geography within his life. Further, most people consider " circumscribed" of travel to be normal a normal habit of success. Russo countered something that made me think that "everyone is circumscribed through something, illness, ignorance"( big one!) etc. I feel so bad for Mr. Russo that he has the challenge to write a novel that isn't an original book, creating issues and real life characters' and authentic but what you heard at the breakfast table that morning. I once heard Barbara Taylor Bradford say in an interview, she remarked that she just can't just sit around waiting for inspiration. Just write. Even though I have never read her novels and are a bit leery about its quality, considering her craft to be synonymous with a photo booth in the mall. Predictable writing and no self-actualation. Otherwise folks, John Grisham and Danielle steel are dying for you to digest their latest due out soon. Artistic talent and seducing the English language to create a sentence is a difficult task that has you starting all over again every book you write. Mr. Russo deserves more readers feedback and notoriety about his books. He is fresh and original. When I'm through with reading all his novels, I plan to write a review on everyone because it enlightens readers to read more of his amazing literature that will sell and make fiction worth while.