The Risk Pool

"The Risk Pool" is one of Richard Russo's earlier novels and shines with Russo's subtle style.  It has elements typical of a Russo novel - setting is a small town in upstate New York which has seen better days, tricky family relationships, likable main characters, and a large group of colorful secondary characters.  This particular novel focuses on Ned Hall and his relationship with his father.

Ned is 6 years old when we first meet him.  His father (Sam) ran off soon after Ned was born so Ned's knowledge of Sam is limited.  Ned tells schoolmates that his father is dead, that is, until one day when his father appears outside his school.  For reasons not entirely clear, Sam has decided to begin a relationship with his young son. 

Sam is a mess, a irresponsible happy drunk who gambles, is often unemployed, broke, and behind on his bills, and yet, Ned is in awe of his father.  Like many irresponsible fathers in Russo novels, Sam disappears again from Ned's life only to return abruptly a few years later.  Around this same time, Ned's mother has a nervous breakdown and so Ned moves into Sam's apartment and begins the next stage of their relationship when Ned is 12 years old.  They live together for about 2 years, during which time Ned is often left alone, sometimes overnight, but surprisingly enough no disaster occurs.  Ned becomes responsible for himself as well as extremely tolerant and accepting of his father's ways.

Flash forward to 24 year old Ned in grad school, and we pick up the story again.  This time, one of Sam's friends calls Ned in New Mexico to let him know that Sam is drinking entirely too much and is out of control.  Ned drops out of school and returns to his home town where he becomes a bartender for the summer.  Father and son again have quality time together (over drinks this time).  While Ned is unable to get Sam to stop drinking, Sam curtails his behavior in order not to embarrass Ned.  Each time Sam behaves irresponsibly Ned forgives him, and it's easy to understand why - Sam is such a likable character.

The next time we drop in on Ned, he's in his mid-thirties and living in New York.  Again he is drawn into father's world as Sam experiences health problems.  Russo draws us in so completely that we also are in awe of Sam even as he continues to make bad decisions. 

There isn't much action in this book, and yet it held my attention.  Russo is particular gifted at creating believable characters with many faults.  Throughout the book this father-son relationship is key to the plot, in fact, it is the plot.  Russo is my favorite writer and this book, like his others, delivers.