Nobody's Fool

By: Richard Russo

Narrated by: Ron McLarty

Length: 24 hrs and 53 mins

Publisher's summary

From the Pulitzer Prize–winning author of Empire Falls, this slyly funny, moving novel about a blue-collar town in upstate New York—and about Sully, one of its unluckiest citizens, who has been doing the wrong thing triumphantly for fifty years—is a classic American story.

"Remarkable.... A revelation of the human heart." —The Washington Post

Divorced from his own wife and carrying on halfheartedly with another man's, saddled with a bum knee and friends who make enemies redundant, Sully now has one new problem to cope with: a long-estranged son who is in imminent danger of following in his father's footsteps. With its uproarious humor and a heart that embraces humanity's follies as well as its triumphs, Nobody's Fool, from Pulitzer Prize-winning author, Richard Russo, is storytelling at its most generous. Nobody’s Fool was made into a movie starring Paul Newman, Bruce Willis, Jessica Tandy, and Melody Griffith.

Look for Everybody’s Fool, available now, and Somebody’s Fool, coming soon.

©1993 Richard Russo (P)2003 Random House, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Remarkable.... A revelation of the human heart." —The Washington Post

"Russo is a master craftsman....Nobody's Fool is a big, rambunctious novel with endless riffs and unstoppable human hopefulness." —The Boston Globe

"Simple as family love, yet nearly as complicated, Richard Russo's confident, assured novel sweeps the reader up in the daily life of its characters." —San Francisco Chronicle

4 stars denotes "It's great"

This book was such a huge surprise to me. I liked it so much I found myself craving to get back to the book and find out what everybody was up to. Russo is so talented he will make you feel like you know everyone in the town and somehow you are in sublime voyeurism. Fantastic fun even without a plot. I think this one is worth 2 credits.

Wonderful

I love listening to books and this one was great! The characters seem so real and draw you in to their lives. The reader is fantastic. A book of this length can really get you into the smallest details of the character's day. There isn't big events like in most books but there are many well illustrated truths. If you like long, well written, well read books with real characters this book is for you. If you are looking for excitement, action, murder and sex pass this one by.

Excellent Book (Skip the movie)

Would you listen to Nobody's Fool again? Why?

Yes, twice already!

What was one of the most memorable moments of Nobody's Fool?

Sully and Will.

Which character – as performed by Ron McLarty – was your favorite?

Sully, of course, but Mrs Beryl was essential to the story. Loved her!!

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Sorry, but I thought the film was a waste of my time. Maybe if I had not read the book I would have enjoyed it, However, the film only touched on this story. I was looking forward to the film. Paul Newman was the perfect choice for the Sully character. But it was only a teaser. If you have seen the movie, don't think you have "read the book". Not by a long shot!

A beautiful story about the human condition ...

This is one of my favorite books and audiobooks ever. The story is a wonderful, funny, and tragic exploration of very real characters with flaws and hopes and desires and burdens, all learning from their interactions with each other. The pacing is great, the characters memorable, and the setting seems so familiar. McLarty does a great job narrating, especially with giving appropriate voices to the characters and keeping the pace of the story going. I do not re-read or re-listen to books often (there is so much new material out there to explore), but this is one I have returned to frequently. While I have read and admired many of Russo's other works, this one will always be special to me. The movie is also fun, and includes a star-studded cast including Jessica Tandy, Melanie Griffith, Paul Newman, Bruce Willis, and Phillip Seymor Hoffman. I also really enjoyed the sequel Russo wrote, titled "Everybody's Fool." I strongly recommend this audiobook to anyone looking for a fun story about small-town New England life and the dynamics of human relationships, joys, and follies.

Sully, a character for the ages

it is a joy to travel a few years back to embrace character driven fiction at its best. sure it is not all plot speed ahead, but don't we get enough of that with seemingly every book marketed today??
it has been a treat to slow down and listen to the routine adventures of an interesting character for whom I would love to have in my life as it would make it oh so much more interesting.

Getting to know your favorite uncle

If you could sum up Nobody's Fool in three words, what would they be?

Insightful, fun, heartwarming

What about Ron McLarty’s performance did you like?

When I don't realize someone is reading to me, I consider the performance very well done

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The moments when the characters (in particular Sully and his landlady) faced themselves "in all their glory" and made the choice to keep going, but with a deeper appreciation of those around them

Any additional comments?

Richard Russo has such ability to take the "invisible" people of society (the old lady in the big house, the bums at the diner counter or bar) and creates rich, interesting characters with incredible depth and background. He subtly equalizes all the members of our community as beings worthy of our attention, appreciation, and respect

Excellent story telling

of characters, a way of life, in a place and time in the not too distant past.

Great book!!

I would reccomend this book. Loved it, the performance was excellent. I was sorry to see it end.

Classically entertaining

This was my first experience with Richard Russo's books. I loved his humor and wit. The characters were well developed. Very entertaining read.

Thank you, for another story full of heart.

The world grew as I read this story.. For this , I am grateful.
I look forward to the next adventure.