The Bridge of Sighs

Richard Russo's novel "The Bridge of Sighs" is an epic of sorts.  It's over 500 pages and covers a lot of ground.  Even though it's long, I loved this book.

The main character is Louis Charles Lynch, or as his kindergarten teacher called out his name on the first day of school, "Lou C Lynch".  From that day forward, he would forever be known as Lucy.

As an adult, Lucy begins to write the story of his life.  He starts from kindergarten and chronicles everything from that point onward.  Even though it's heavy on the amount of detail, every last detail builds a clear picture of Lucy and all the people important in his life.  I was pulled into Lucy's world in a way that I haven't been pulled into a novel in ages.  I felt like his family was my family.  His friends and foes?  I know all their enduring and annoying habits, and I could anticipate their reactions to various events throughout the book.

I'm a big Russo fan, and like his other books, this one did not disappointment.  The only thing that I don't like about Russo's books is that they have to end - I wished there was more.  I am now left waiting for him to publish another book, since I've devoured all his other books.