I have loved and admired the work of Annie Proulx since I
first read The Shipping News when it
first came out in 1993. Since then I
have read her collections of stories, That
Old Ace in the Hole, and the delicious Bird
Cloud. Accordion Crimes was the next
on my list, and for the first time, I was really disappointed.
This novel relates the story of a home-made accordion that
travels from place to place and owner to owner.
The story had gaps in some of the movement of the instrument, which I
found a bit confusing. But the worst
flaw was the characters. I simply could
not connect -- much less care about any of them. Several times I flirted with invoking my “Rule
of 50,” but I did not want to give up on Annie. Finally, nearly half way through and another cast
of thin, cardboard characters introduced, I called it quits. I have a couple of other of Proulx’s works, so
after those I may come back and give it another try.
Nobody is perfect, but before Accordion Crimes, Annie Proulx was really close. If you have read it, and have a different take
on this novel, I would love to hear from you.
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