Small town life related in an honest and frankly charming voice, Empire Falls lives up to its Pulitzer Prize winning status. I fell in love with Miles, the meek and honorable manager of the Empire Grill and the character that the book revolves around. 
 Russo has created a rich cast of characters that populate the slowly fading town of Empire Falls and its matriarch, Francine Whiting. Lest you think that a nearly 500 page book about small town life may be boring, there are lots of secrets, scandal and mystery seething beneath the surface. But holding it all together is heart and that is why this book works where others of its genre tend to fail. Also making it possible to believe is the consistency of the characters which rings true throughout the entire book. Not once did I have a misgiving about a plot or dialogue and that is a rare thing for me. 
 A five star read and highly recommended for those seeking a paced read without gimmick or grandeur.