With warmth and vibrant hope . . .
Tulip Chowdhury reflects on tears and laughter
Empire Falls in Maine, USA, is like any other American small town. But for Miles Roby this place is his life and blood. He runs a small restaurant, Empire Grill, in this place. The Whiting family had been the owners of almost half the town for generations. They owned the restaurant as well. Miles has been running the restaurant for the last decade and his mother, Grace Roby too has been working for the Whitings until the last days of her life. Like a tree reaching out with its branches, Miles life is branched out to different sections of people in this town. But Empire Grill is like his roots. Through breakfast, lunch and dinner the people living around the town came here. Just a "Howdy" was like speaking up for the day's news and ends. Like a spider's web everyone seems to be connected to life at Empire Falls and that web seems to be present here in Empire Grill. Richard Russo holds out a picture perfect life of small towns in America. He seems to lead his characters by the hand and the story that unfolds through the remarkable mastery of words has the reader turning pages. The protagonist Miles is a man who likes to mind his own business while the others live their own. Miles likes a peaceful life but fate seems to have other designs and his family life comes to disruption as his wife Janine decides to file a divorce and marry Walt Comeau, owner of a local health club. Their teenage daughter Tick is an art student who can hardly stand her mother. She has a better understanding with her father and comes in every once in a while to lend a hand in Empire Grill. Tick is young and compassionate. She brings in Jean Vusso, the weirdo in her art class, to work at the restaurant. Glum and silent Vusso is grateful for the chance and his long grateful looks at Tick speak for his gratitude. Somewhere deep down Miles appreciates his daughter's sympathy for the boy. David, Miles' younger brother helps out at Empire Grill. When the writer brings in David there also comes a flashback at Grace Roby's early life. Miles's father Max Roby and Grace were not exactly a happy couple. Here enters Charlie Mayne, the secret love of Grace. Miles had seen Charlie when he and his mother had gone on vacation at Martha's Vineyard. But it is long after his mother's death that Miles suddenly finds a picture of Charlie Whiting and the truth dawns on himabout the real identity of Charlie. He also remembers that it was after their trip to Martha's Vineyard that his mother had become pregnant with David. Miles knew that he could never let out this secret for his mother's sake. While life goes on with tales of tears and laughter at Empire Falls, Miles struggles to keep Empire Grill running. From time to time the reader is taken to flashbacks that give him a varied light on characters who are not the limelight of the on-going story but who had very important roles in shaping the history of Empire Falls. People like the Whitings, who still own so many properties of Empire Falls, reshape the story and give it some historical insights about the early days of the town. There is Jimmy Minty, Miles' childhood buddy who seems to think that David has something to do with the local drug addicts. Jimmy is the county sheriff and his interference in David's life is not welcomed by Miles. Further, Jimmy's son Zack has a crush on Tick and the young man is constantly brewing trouble for the girl. Tick on the other hand in love with Sam, a young man from the south. Zack suspects Vusso of being in love with Tick and creates trouble for the boy. The emotional pendulum of the young people in American society is portrayed like a kaleidoscope by the author. Miles is involved with the painting of the local church. It is his voluntary community service. Mrs. Walsh is the housekeeper of the two priests of this church. According to her God was at the top of the chain that held His angels, cardinals, bishops and priests. And to Mrs. Walsh housekeeping for two God's people was a part of religion as well. Miles' father Max often moves with Father Tom and so Miles often lent them a hand with the painting of the church and gives them rides occasionally. Miles is generous with his father and often supports him with his financial shortcomings. There is a run-down mill owned by the Whiltings. One day Miles finds Mrs. Whiting on the property with men from a property developing company. He learns that Mrs. Whiting is selling off a huge portion of her land and people are already taking the heed to move in with new business to the Empire Falls. Miles knows that the place will lose its charm of being the sleepy town. All those slow moving people will be replaced with bustling, busy people. Miles, having known Empire falls for its quiet life, is not ready to accept the changes. At his brother's suggestion he is ready to move to another place. Richard Russo's remarkable story builds up like a mountain and the reader finds the climb to the climax as Miles prepares to move away from Empire Grill. But the winds of changes that come to Empire Falls and the ways the protagonist is affected by them leave the reader breathless. It blends in history of changes coming to the modern era. In this stormy changes Miles is happy to find himself at peace with his daughter. The truth dawns that what really matters is peace in one's heart and one has to look for contentment, it does not fly into the heart. With all the changes life, like a puzzle does not fit into all the corners for Miles and the other who live around him. The story woven into the past, present and the future of Empire Falls does not fail to make the reader feel the pulse of joy and sorrow of the people affected. In the whole saga in Empire Falls Russo delves deep into the blue-collar heart of America and rolls with hilarity, heartaches and grace. It is a contemporary story and may be one of the most remarkable stories of its times. The story comes with warmth and vibrant humanity that leaves the reader with a feeling of having had a life time adventure through the book.
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