Meet New Books
Meet New Books
Book Cover

Straight Man

Save:
Find on Amazon

'Straight Man' by Richard Russo is a humorous and insightful novel set in the world of academia, specifically focusing on the life of William Henry Devereaux, Jr., an English professor at a mediocre college in Pennsylvania. The book delves into the absurdities and challenges of academic life, showcasing the petty backstabbing, administrative idiocy, and personal struggles faced by the characters. Through witty narration and hilarious characterizations, Russo provides a satirical yet touching portrayal of midlife crises, academic politics, and the complexities of human relationships.

The plot of 'Straight Man' revolves around William Henry Devereaux, Jr., who finds himself embroiled in a week of crises as the acting chairman of the English department. The novel blends humor and pathos, offering a mix of laugh-out-loud moments and quiet insights into the characters' lives. Russo's writing style is praised for its clever observations, sharp wit, and engaging storytelling, making the book a compelling exploration of academia, relationships, and personal growth.

Characters:

The characters are richly drawn, each embodying traits of academia's eccentricities, and the protagonist's journey resonates with relatability.

Writing/Prose:

The writing is witty and sharp, combining humor with deep character insights and a keen awareness of academic life.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot centers around a professor's chaotic week dealing with departmental issues, personal crises, and absurd situations, reflecting both humor and depth.

Setting:

The setting in a small, struggling university magnifies the absurdities of academia and personal crises.

Pacing:

The narrative maintains a dynamic pace that oscillates between humor and deeper themes, keeping readers engaged.
When my nose finally stops bleeding and I’ve disposed of the bloody paper towels, Teddy Barnes insists on driving me home in his ancient Honda Civic, a car that refuses to die and that Teddy, cheap as...

Notes:

The novel is set in the English department of West Central Pennsylvania University.
The protagonist, Hank Devereaux, is the interim department chair and often uses humor to cope with life's difficulties.
Hank faces budget cuts and rumors of staff firings, creating tension within the faculty.
Each character in the department is quirky and colorful, reflecting common academic stereotypes.
Hank has a complicated relationship with his father, who abandoned him for younger women.
The title 'Straight Man' refers to the role of the straight man in comedy, with Hank often finding himself in absurd situations.
The book explores weighty themes like midlife crises, family dynamics, and professional pressures, all delivered with humor.
Hank threatens to kill a duck a day on camera until he gets a budget for the department, illustrating his desperate circumstances.
The narrative features poignant scenes dealing with relationships, including Hank's daughter facing financial troubles and his wife's possible infidelity.
Richard Russo uses satire to critique the absurdities of academia while capturing the human condition.

From The Publisher:

Hilarious and true-to-life, witty, compassionate, and impossible to put down, Straight Man follows Hank Devereaux through one very bad week in this novel from Pulitzer Prize-winning author Richard Russo.

William Henry Devereaux, Jr., is the reluctant chairman of the English department of a badly underfunded college in the Pennsylvania rust belt. Devereaux's reluctance is partly rooted in his character-he is a born anarchist-and partly in the fact that his department is more savagely divided than the Balkans.

In the course of a single week, Devereaux will have his nose mangled by an angry colleague, imagine his wife is having an affair with his dean, wonder if a curvaceous adjunct is trying to seduce him with peach pits, and threaten to execute a goose on local television. All this while coming to terms with his philandering father, the dereliction of his youthful promise, and the ominous failure of certain vital body functions. In short, Straight Man is classic Russo-side-splitting, poignant, compassionate, and unforgettable.

Ratings (10)

Incredible (3)
Loved It (5)
Liked It (1)
It Was OK (1)

Reader Stats (22):

Read It (10)
Want To Read (9)
Not Interested (3)

About the Author:

Richard Russo is the author of eight novels, most recently Everybody's Fool and That Old Cape Magic; two collections of stories; and the memoir Elsewhere. In 2002 he received the Pulitzer Prize for Empire Falls, which like Nobody's Fool was…

 
Meet New Books is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a way for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to products and services on amazon.com and its subsidiaries.
When you click the Amazon link and make a purchase, we may receive a small commision, at no cost to you.