Accordion Crimes
E Annie Proulx
This starts at the end of the nineteenth century when an Italian builds 'the
little green accordion'. The book is the story of this accordion and the
various people who own it. There is a vague connection between the
characters; the accordion sometimes disappears for large sections of the
book. The book is basically like a series of short stories spanning a
century. Some work better than others but most are very involving. Proulx
writes especially well about people who play music, and are serious about
music, but don't play for a living. Interesting snapshots of people's lives. Recommended.
Andrew 12/9/99
Jean was very pleasantly surprised by this book. She'd read The Shipping News, which was great. She didn't want this book to end. She found the whole idea of the story lovely. An accordion travels all away through the book. There is an Italian maker of the accordion. It is stolen, pawned and given away. The novel story stretches over a long time period to tell the story of several generations of immigrants in America. It is a fascinating window into another culture. She found the savagery upsetting. There are gruesome endings. Quite brutal but just wonderful and highly recommended.
Jean 5/12/99
By the same author
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