Straight Man

A Novel

By: Richard Russo

Narrated by: Sam Freed

Length: 14 hrs and 12 mins

Publisher's summary

William Henry Devereaux, Jr., spiritually suited to playing left field but forced by a bad hamstring to try first base, is the unlikely chairman of the English department at West Central Pennsylvania University. Over the course of a single convoluted week, he threatens to execute a duck, has his nose slashed by a feminist poet, discovers that his secretary writes better fiction than he does, suspects his wife of having an affair with his dean, and finally confronts his philandering elderly father, the one-time king of American Literary Theory, at an abandoned amusement park.

Such is the canvas of Richard Russo's Straight Man, a novel of surpassing wit, poignancy, and insight. As he established in his previous books—Mohawk, The Risk Pool, and Nobody's Fool—Russo is unique among contemporary authors for his ability to flawlessly capture the soul of the wise guy and the heart of a difficult parent. In Hank Devereaux, Russo has created a hero whose humor and identification with the absurd are mitigated only by his love for his family, friends, and, ultimately, knowledge itself.

Unforgettable, compassionate, and laugh-out-loud funny, Straight Man cements Richard Russo's reputation as one of the master storytellers of our time.

©1997 Richard Russo (P)2003 Random House, Inc.

Critic reviews

"The funniest serious novel I have read since—well, maybe since Portnoy's Complaint." —The New York Times Book Review

"[Russo] skewers academic pretensions and infighting with mad abandon...in a clear and muscular prose that is a pleasaure to read....I had to stop often to guffaw, gasp, wheeze, and wipe away my tears." —Chicago Sun-Times

"Bursting with humor and insight." —USA Today

A very funny book

I'm new to Richard Russo, but "Straight Man" has probably hooked me on him forever. I love his low key ironic sense of humor. This book, in which the main characters are all academics or academic-related, pokes gentle but accurate fun at men who are very smart but can be very stupid. Sam Freed is brilliant as a reader. I was offended by a racist rant by one of the non-academic characters late in the book (it went on much longer than necessary to make its point), but everything else felt just perfect. I recommend it highly.

Straight Man

This is the funniest book I have listened to since John Grisham's Skipping Christmas. It is a hilarious account of the trouble a middle aged college professor can find while his wife is away for several days. Russo's writing combines humor with the trials and tribulations of growing old or should I say growing up? A must listen!

not his best

Having read Empire Falls and Nobody's Fool before listening to this book
I would reccomend one of those two first. This book does create memorable characters but I came away with the impression of a kind of mid-life crisis book. I really enjoy this author. This is not a action oriented book but is worth listening because of his strength as a writer.

Absolutely great

This immediately became one of my favorite novels. The characters are interesting, funny, and completely believable. (If you have spent any time working in higher education, you will able to recognize the characters and their foibles from your own experience.) I cannot say enough good things about this novel.

I only have two regrets: (1) that Audible does not have all of the author's books in its library, and (2) that the reader has not recorded more books of interest to me (I am not a fan of Danielle Steel or Robert James Waller) - he did a great job.

Among The Best I've Ever Heard!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Absolutely! I already have!

What did you like best about this story?

Russo's ability to depict the humorous aspects of the ordinary lives of these small town academicians.

What does Sam Freed bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

A matter-of-fact reading that underscores and enhances the wry, witty, prose of Russo.

A wonderfully intelligent funny story

Read it twice beforehand, and first time listening, Thoroughly enjoyable story and performance. Russo nailed it!

wry witty sardonic funny "straight man"

I enjoyed this book for it's tongue=in=cheek wit and wry observations. At time, too much of the academic life for me. Sam Freed adopted the perfect voice and tone for the narration. Well cone.

Straight Man

This book keeps stopping after a short period of time. I am unable to listen to a complete chaoter. Very annoying. Also why am I being promoted to review a book i have not finished?

It’s all inside. This is exactly what a work of fiction should look like.

Rich eccentric characters with some awareness of stumbling in and out of the ironic pitfalls they can’t or won’t sidestep. The language is beautiful, read with the balance of sarcasm and self doubt that seemed appropriate for the protagonist.
I was genuinely sad for the book to end.

narration stunk

The narrator just didn't get the concept of dramatic pauses;. Read the hard copy of you can or maybe slow the audio to 90% (I didn't try this). The narrator ran through sentences and paragraphs without slowing for breath. the story was fun despite this.