Annie Proulx

E. Annie Proulx's Accordion Crimes is a masterpiece of storytelling that spans a century and a continent. Proulx brings the immigrant experience in America to life through the eyes of the descendants of Mexicans, Poles, Africans, Irish-Scots, Franco-Canadians and many others, all linked by their successive ownership of a simple green accordion. The music they make is their last link with the past -- voice for their fantasies, sorrows and exuberance. Proulx's prodigious knowledge, unforgettable characters and radiant language make Accordion Crimes a stunning novel, exhilarating in its scope and originality.

Accordion Crimes

Sarah Sammis

Clearly the author put a lot of thought into the back stories of all the different families who come into possession of the Green Accordion. Her frequent asides hint at the fullness of the story but each scene is so quick, so flitting that I found it difficult to engage any of the characters, save for the builder of the accordion. Each of these 50 page chapters could easily have been expanded into a separate novel making for a series of novels about the Accordion but I'm sure that her publisher wouldn't have wanted to take that much of a risk on a series of books about a musical instrument.

Janet Doré

I picked up this book because I LOVED The Shipping News and The Red Violin, which has the same story format as this book. I also love history, specifically the story of immigrants, so this book seemed to have it all for me. 

I really don't like to give books bad reviews because I know a book is someone's deeply personal creation, but in this case, I must... 

First of all, this is really a book of short stories masquerading as a novel. That might be okay for some, but I really don't like short stories...primarily because I hate the emotional roller coaster. Just as I connect with the story/characters, it's over and you have to start all over again. I want off the ride! This book takes this concept to a whole other level...within each 'story', you jump back and forth between so many characters that you get lost. It's manic! 

There's no question Annie Proulx's technical writing style is good, but this book is so disjointed and depressing. I'm a total realist and I would have a hard time coming up with all the negative mini-twists that are found within the two covers. Rather than form a connection with immigrants and share in their sense of accomplishment, I wallowed in their dysfunction and lost hope for them, their children, our country. I still wonder if that's really how dysfunctional it all was...if so, no wonder our country is in the state that it is! 

Sorry, Ms. Proulx...I hope to feel the way I did about The Shipping News about one of your other novels soon, so I can erase this one from my memory!

Accordion Crimes

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