Mohawk

Mohawk, a small town in upstate New York, once owed its rise to the leather industry and later paid dearly for it: the cancer rate here is many times higher than in the rest of America, leather is no longer in demand and the town has been forgotten. It is the late sixties, but very few people are part of the great changes of this time. Those who live here have no extravagant dreams, but simply want the best for their families and a decent job. Anne Grouse feels the same way. And even though she once had other plans, she now finds herself tied to the city. Not only is she in a hopeless battle with her mother to care for her sick father, she also has to look after her son Randall, who is struggling at school. To make matters worse, the feud between her family and the powerful Gaffneys threatens to resurface. She can't expect any special support from her ex-husband, a passionate gambler. She secretly dreams of her cousin's husband, but dreams are hard to come by in Mohawk.
Richard Russo's debut novel 'Mohawk' is a portrait of small-town America and a clever social analysis: sharply observed, full of empathy and humour.