CRITICISM

Cooper, Rand Richards. “Bitter Harvests.” New York Times Book Review (14 July 2002): 10.

Cooper notes the significantly darker tone of Russo's short stories in The Whore's Child and Other Stories.

Gussow, Mel. “Writing a Novel in the Deli, Making Revisions in the Bar.” New York Times (29 August 2001): E1.

Gussow provides an overview of Russo's life and career upon the publication of Empire Falls.

Hemley, Robin. “The Howls of Ivy: Richard Russo's Funny but Sad Tale of a Professor with a Pack of Problems.” Chicago Tribune Books (3 August 1997): 3.

Hemley lauds Russo's “rollicking” satire of academia in Straight Man.

Kakutani, Michiko. “Books of the Times.” New York Times (15 October 1986): C24.

Kakutani praises Russo's overall accomplishment with Mohawk, but criticizes the novel for components of melodrama and caricature.

Maslin, Janet. “A Sly Grace for Harrowing Situations.” New York Times (8 July 2002): E8.

Maslin evaluates the strengths and weaknesses of The Whore's Child and Other Stories.

Prose, Francine. “Small-Town Smart-Alecks.” New York Times Book Review (20 June 1993): 13.

Prose offers a generally favorable review of Nobody's Fool, but faults the novel for its excessive length and a tendency toward sentimentality.

Roberts, Rex. Review of Empire Falls, by Richard Russo. Insight on the News 17, no. 30 (13 August 2001): 25.

Roberts compliments Empire Falls as “a delightful novel that manages to be funny and horrific by turns.”

Russo, Richard, and Lewis Burke Frumkes. “A Conversation with Richard Russo.” Writer 113, no. 12 (December 2000): 19.

Russo discusses Straight Man, his early writing and literary interests, and his approach to creative writing.

Sullivan, Jack. “‘Things Get Bad,’ Says Dad.” New York Times Book Review (18 December 1988): 14.

Sullivan offers a positive assessment of The Risk Pool.

Yardley, Jonathan. “Academic Shenanigans.” Washington Post Book World 27, no. 29 (20 July 1997): 3.

Yardley argues that Straight Man is a seriously flawed but enjoyable novel.

Additional coverage of Russo's life and career is contained in the following sources published by the Gale Group: American Writers Supplement, Vol. 12; Contemporary Authors, Vols. 127, 133; Contemporary Authors New Revision Series, Vols. 87, 114; and Literature Resource Center.