Reviews

Trajectory by Richard Russo

jyangelo's review

5.0

I’ve always meant to read Richard Russo and some other book always jumped to the front of the line. So when Trajectory popped up in an audiobook search I jumped on it. These four stories are so absorbing; each creates a world with fully developed characters and settings. The stories explore things concealed or unsaid in critical relationships, the quiet struggles of an academic career, living in the life we thought we wanted, sibling jealousy, and duplicitous behavior in the movie making business. Each is a psychological study. Highly recommend.

acton's review

5.0

This collection of stories is riveting. There are just four, and one of them is simply called Voice, a story that was previously published under the name Nate in Venice. I enjoyed it even more the second time. These stories have a theme involving middle-aged or older people examining the paths their lives have taken.

Great stuff.

etienne02's review

2.0

2,5/5. Pour les amateurs de belles phrases, mais d'histoires qui ne mènent à rien... Ce livre est magnifiquement bien écrit, rien à dire sur l'écriture et même sur les qualités littéraires du livre en général. Les personnages sont vrais, les situations aussi, tout est bien décrit, mais c,est aussi là le problème, on ne va pas plus loin. On se retrouve dans la peau d'un observateur passif, on regarde ce qui se passe (et on reste dans des situations assez «ordinaires», normales). Très descriptif, et cela manquait de psychologies, de réflexions et d'une certaine «intrigue» ou au moins un petit quelque chose. De belles qualités littéraires, mais un manque de profondeur qui a fait mal à mon appréciation. Techniquement le livre est réussit, mais j'ai eu très peu de plaisir à le lire alors...

msmichaela's review

3.0

Here's a dirty little secret: I don't really like to read short story collections. And while I generally love Richard Russo, this slim collection did nothing to disabuse me of that opinion. A big fat meh.

rozereads's review

4.0

Yes it is classic Russo and it sweeps you in and holds you -- at least 3 of the 4 stories did that for me. I like how he expresses his views of life for the everyday person. Would definitely recommend.

judya's review

4.0

The first three works are up there with Russo's best, especially "Voice." However, I didn't care for "Milton and Marcus," a thinly veiled homage to the acting careers of Robert Redford and Paul Newman and an aging screenwriter who tries to recapture lightning in a bottle.
If the sheer volume of Russo's novels has put you off from reading his fiction, perhaps Trajectory is a good place to begin.

lieslindi's review

The characterization in these stories, especially "Intervention," is everything I read Russo for.

knightedbooks's review

2.0

I listened to the audiobook. I only liked the first part that was read by the female.