Accordion Crimes

Sounds hilarious, doesn't it. I'm sure you can think of a few offending accordions, but rest assured, this novel is not what you think. Annie Proulx is a Pulitzer Prize winning author, and I can certainly see why.

I'm only partway through the book so far. It's actually many isolated mini-books held together by a common accordion and the theme of American immigration. The first story is about the Italian accordion maker, and his travel to America near the turn of the century and his difficulties upon reaching New Orleans, where he is ultimately murdered by a rioting mob.
The second story follows three Germans who settle in Iowa (yay). One buys the same accordion at a store, and we read about their journey from building a town to eventually being hated by the Irish and being shunned in their own community.
The accordion is then bought in a store in Texas by a Mexican professional accordion player. His family is struggling to endure the Depression.

So far, the book follows betrayal after betrayal. The characters are rather disgusting. There is a sprinkling of smut throughout, but otherwise very well written. The only person I've felt any pity for is the accordion maker himself. All the other characters seem so evil.