Straight Man

A Novel

By: Richard Russo

Narrated by: Sam Freed

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

Russo Rocks!

So I gave it only 4 stars. This isn't because Straight Man isn't wonderful. Perhaps when I compare it to the richness of Empire Falls and Nobody's Fool, it just doesn't quite fill those shoes. But don't let this stop you.

In some ways I enjoyed this book more than the other Russo books I have had the pleasure to listen to. This book was funnier. And I could not help but wonder how much of the protagonist, Hank Devereaux, was really Richard Russo himself as an irreverant wise-cracking head of a college English department.

Devereaux's own mother criticized her son telling him "you've become a clever man." To understand how this is considered a fault, you really have to listen to this book.

One hundred percent enjoyable!

Great fun--give this a try!

Hilarious satire combined with warm sympathetic characters. The satire is funny but never cruel--difficult balance to maintain but Russo pulls it off. Delicious send-up of pompous college administrators and members of the college English department. Even when Russo is at his satiric best, almost all of the characters, though flawed, are presented as sympathetic complex human beings. I laughed alot--sometimes so hard that I had to stop listening. All in all, a wonderfully entertaining, intelligent and humane book--highly recommend.

TEDIOUS

Although I've previously enjoyed Russo's work, this was disappointing. Tedious pace, tired humor, uninspired characters. Overall, I was bored.

Absolute brilliance

I’ve loved this book since I spotted it on a store shelf - a plain white cover with a duck on the front … or maybe it’s a goose!
This is Russo at his very best - cutting through the dark and scary passage through middle age and beyond, with an incredible sarcastic wit that makes everything seem less dire.
Sam Freed is PERFECTLY suited for this work’s tone and pace, and you’re left wishing he’d hurry up and take his time! 2023 sees a third book in Russo’s North Bath series - I would LOVE to see him revisit Lucky Hank (as the tv series adaptation comes in 2023 as well). And please have Sam Freed return as well.

Love the shenanigans and sarcasm

I really enjoyed all the shenanigans and sarcasm of the main character in the book. Great inner monologue.

Every sentence is masterfully created

I really enjoyed this tale. This is my first read of this author and what a treat. Being a 50 year old male I can’t help but relate to the main character. I laughed out loud so many times throughout. Don’t hesitate and give this a go!

Fun, witty, real and entertaining.

Hard to take this one out of my ears. I'm already a Richard Russo fan, and this book made me laugh out loud as well as chuckle quietly. An irreverent and likeable protagonist with beautifully sketched academic characters in outrageous, yet oddly credible, situations. Great read, goes fast, and I missed it when I finished.

One of the best novels I've read/heard in years

This novel proves beyond a doubt that being funny while tackling serious subjects works. It works much better than pulling a long face and letting everyone "we're being serious here." I enjoyed this book, as did my husband. We laughed out loud many times. We did not miss the point - a man who feels as though his life is far too comfortable, but can't bring himself to risk what he has in order to be more of a person. It's not uncommon for a middle class person (this is an issue for women as well as men) in this country to wrestle with this issue at some time or another. Since many of the characters are of a similar age, virtually all of them are dealing with the same thing at the same time. So, a universal theme told with a delightful wit. Incidentally, don't take this as common to all Russo's books. The last one started out with a chapter so whiny that I closed it without going further. And it's considerably better put together than the novel he won the Pulitzer for. Too bad that the powers that be don't understand the artistry it takes to combine humor and drama - and that both things are often going on at the same time. This novel gets it, and brings the reader right into it.

Witty as Hell...Love it

Told definitely from a man's sense of humor, this is one witty tale. Sam Freed's performance and timing are spot on. Best credit I've spent in a while. Any guy, say 35 and up with children, relationships and dullards for co-workers will completely relate to the story and observations.

Very funny, sweet and beautifully written

What an entertaining story! The narrator did a wonderful job of bringing the characters to life. Richard Russo has such a great way of telling a story. This is a masterpiece of humor!