Somebody's Fool

Inheritance

The changes would be gradual, or that was how the idea had been sold all along. But no sooner did North Bath s annexation to Schuyler Springs become official than rumors began circulating about next steps. North Bath High, the Beryl Peoples Middle School, and one of the town s two elementary schools would close at the end of the school year, just a few months away. In the fall their students would be bused to schools in Schuyler. Okay, none of this was unexpected. The whole point of consolidation was to eliminate redundancies, so education, the most expensive of these, would naturally be at the top of that list. Still, those pushing for annexation had argued that such changes would be incremental, the result of natural attrition.

Teachers wouldn t be fired, merely encouraged, by means of incentives, to retire. Younger staff would apply for positions in the Schuyler unified school district, which would make every effort to accommodate them. The school buildings themselves would be converted into county offices. Same deal with the police. The low-­slung brick building that housed the police department and the jail would be repurposed, and Doug Raymer, who d been making noises about retiring as chief of police for years, could probably get repurposed as well. His half-­dozen or so officers could apply for positions within the Schuyler PD. Hell, they d probably even keep their old uniforms; the left sleeve would just bear a different patch. Sure, other redundancies would follow. There d be no further need for a town council (there being no town) or for a mayor (which in Bath wasn t even a full-­time position). The town already purchased its water from Schuyler Springs, whose sanitation department would now collect its trash, which everybody agreed was a significant upgrade. At present Bath citizens were responsible for hauling their crap to the dump, or hiring the Squeers Brothers and letting their fleet of decrepit dump trucks do it for them.

Richard Russo

Sumptuous, spirited . . . Regarding North Bath, Richard Russo saved his best for last . . . [Russo] paints a shining fresco of a working-class community, warts and all, a 30-year project come to fruition in this last, best book. The New York Times

 "Another instant classic, filled with Russo's witty dialogue and warm understanding of human foibles." People Magazine

"Russo is a genius at the way kids carry the flaws of their parents and then, despite their resentment, end up reenacting those same flaws on their own children."  The Washington Post

The Fool books nail that small town vibe, where everybody thinks they know everybody s else s business, and more importantly, cares about what happens to their neighbors . . . Fans of the previous two novels will enjoy reconnecting with familiar characters, from Ruth and her daughter Janay and granddaughter Tina, to Doug Raymer, no longer North Bath s police chief and he-hopes-still-his-girlfriend Charice. San Francisco Chronicle

Russo s latest book has an engaging plot that sensitively and insightfully explores themes of grief and reconciliation . . . the relationships between the characters give this story an emotional depth that has an undeniable appeal. Library Journal
 
A wise and witty drama of small-town life . . . delivering the generous humor, keen ear for dialogue, and deep appreciation for humanity s foibles that have endeared the author to his readers for decades. Though Sully is gone, his world is alive and well. Publishers Weekly

Russo s version of the good old-fashioned comic novel is the gold standard, full of heart and dexterous storytelling. Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

Russo s beguiling art is the mastery of cloaking complex human emotions and conflicts in surprisingly simple guises, and he brings depths of pathos and wisdom to this Everyman microcosm by challenging its citizens in unlikely ways,