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Title: That Old Ace in the Hole : A Novel by E. Annie Proulx, Annie Proulx ISBN: 0-684-81307-6 Publisher: Scribner Pub. Date: 10 December, 2002 Format: Hardcover Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $26.00 |
Average Customer Rating: 3.4 (25 reviews)
Rating: 3
Summary: Should have been short stories
Comment: Annie Proulx is a remarkable writer, and this book is remarkably written. Which is why I know it should have been a much better book than it actually is. Annie Proulx with "The Shipping News," a magnificent book, proved that she is capable of much, much more.
One of the main problems with this book is the lack of a strong, central, and believable plot. Basically, Bob Dollar is sent to Wooleybucket, Texas to scout sites for Global Pork Rind, an evil multinational coporation. Why he is doing this is a mystery to me. He falls in love with the Texas panhandle and the people there, but still somehow wants to make it into hog country, an industry that pollutes the air and water. That aside, Bob is a hilarious character. As far as I can tell, he never does do any work, despite his stated dream of buying land for GPR.
This book is actually filled with a parade of interesting and funny (and funny-named) characters. But since this is a novel, that is more of a liability than an asset. I was hard-pressed to keep up with who was who. This book should have been in the short story format. The stories of the Dutch windmill expert making it big, the possibly-gay uncle who loves all things plastic, the first Fronk to come to Wooleybucket, and the woman in love with Ruby Loving all would have made wonderful stories, without trying to lump them into some mangled, barely-there plot. It seemed Proulx herself wasn't comfortable with the novel format either. The conclusion of the book attempts to tie up all the loose ends in one fell swoop and in the attempt eschews reality.
From any other author, I may have enjoyed this book a bit more. But I expect more from Proulx, and so should you.
Rating: 4
Summary: And i thought I had a dumb job
Comment: I found reading this book difficult; many times I had to begin a paragraph again, but I absolutely honor and revere Annie Proulx as a writer. Now that I've finished it I want to join an 'Ace in the Hole' club because I think reading this book through somehow separates the men from the boys. An accomplishment! She's done a marvelous job of describing an area and people and a culture but I don't find myself caring much about the people and Bob Dollar seems one of the least interesting characters I've ever met, although very real. I love The Shipping News, and I'll keep reading all her books because of that one. I threw Postcards across the room after the final brain aneurysm (I picked it up and finished it however!). Annie Proulx is a wonderful treat for her brilliant use of the language, whatever she writes.
Rating: 4
Summary: Give it some time
Comment: Unfortunately, this book really doesn't get interesting or have much of a plot until almost two thirds into it. But those characters...they are all so alive. I've laughed outloud and some of the uses of the english language and reasoning of these folks from Wollybucket! Puts a smile on your face even if the plot isn't super think. I say that without trying to sell it short, there's a message in there and it may be diffrent for different folks.
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Title: The Power of the Dog : A Novel by Thomas Savage ISBN: 0316610895 Publisher: Back Bay Books Pub. Date: June, 2001 List Price(USD): $13.95 |
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Title: Postcards by E. Annie Proulx, Annie Proulx ISBN: 068480087X Publisher: Scribner Paperback Fiction Pub. Date: 01 August, 1994 List Price(USD): $13.00 |
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Title: Close Range : Wyoming Stories by Annie Proulx ISBN: 0684852225 Publisher: Scribner Pub. Date: 10 February, 2000 List Price(USD): $14.00 |
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Title: The Master Butchers Singing Club : A Novel by Louise Erdrich ISBN: 0066209773 Publisher: HarperCollins Pub. Date: 04 February, 2003 List Price(USD): $25.95 |
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Title: HEART SONGS AND OTHER STORIES by Annie Proulx, E. Annie Proulx ISBN: 0020360754 Publisher: Scribner Paperback Fiction Pub. Date: 17 March, 1995 List Price(USD): $11.00 |
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