Bridge of Sighs by Richard Russo

My first book by this author, I was surprised by its scope and breadth. I am not generally a fan of male authors, as I find their focus is more on things that happen in life, rather than the human emotional aspect of life. This book proved me wrong. I was amazed first of all, by this author's story telling ability, and secondly by his character development. All the characters were so well described, not physically so much as by their voices, I feel like I know them and will always remember them.
The central character, Louis Lynch, who narrates about 1/3 of the book from 1st person, is an only child of a rather passive but endlessly optimistic and kind milkman, Lou-Lou, and his wife, who is more realistic and cynical about life's ups and downs. Louis, is nicknamed Lucy in school as his middle initial is C (Lou C.Lynch) and this in itself makes him the subject of teasing and bullying, all through school. He befriends a neighbor boy Bobbi Marconi, whose father is emotionally abusive to his wife and children, especially Bobbi. Lou Lou's wishes to befriend this man but is rejected at every turn. The story then takes us through the next fifty years weaving back and forth between these two boys, and the other people in their lives: Sara, Lucy's first and only girlfriend who becomes his wife, Tessa, Lucy's mom, Dec, the uncle who works at the store the Lynch's came to buy, Sarah's dad, who is a slightly mad genoius High school Honors English teacher, as well as sundry other interesting characters.
Part of the book's retention power (it was a long long read) was the interesting way in which many of the occurrences were narrated in different characters' viewpoints. Bobbi later changes his name to Robert Noonan, lives and works as an artist in Venice, and his take on things as an embittered cynic, is so different that the rosy optimistic view(although self admittedly dishonest) as narrated by Lucy. It was interesting that Noonan's story was told third person, as were everyone else's stories.
Anyhow, it was a great read, and had a satisfying ending. I will definitely look for more of this author's books.