This is an incredibly well crafted novel. A brilliant, complex tale of complicated, twisted but plausible characters, fraught with tension. Savage masterfully employs foreshadowing and understatement throughout the novel; it clearly requires a re-reading to appreciate them all, as well as its many metaphors. This tale is so powerful that in the first read you are compelled to proceed reading rather than to slowly savor it. After having finished it, I found myself repeatedly rereading the impeccable last 15 pages -- the perfection of the novel's end literally takes your breath away.

It is rare that one comes across a novel as well written as this: impressive, satisfying, masterful.

Thomas Savage's "Power of the Dog" is a re-discovered treasure of a novel. Like Beryl Markham's "West With the Night," this book slipped into oblivion shortly after publication and never received literary accolades it deserved. When Annie Proulx wrote a new afterward for the book, contemporary readers took notice and Thomas Savage receives renewed recognition as an important American writer.
"The Power of the Dog," first published in 1967, contains seeds of a writing style that bears fruit in writers like Thomas McGuane, Annie Proulx, Jim Harrison and Mark Spragg.
While the book is a "western" in setting, it broaches misogyny, misogamy and homosexuality, subjects seldom touched in writings about the west.
Fascinating, darkly suspenseful and wholly satisfying.

Every once in a while you stumble across a book that stays on your mind long after you finish the last page. This is the type of book you want to recommend to everyone, but instead, you only tell your close friends. When people ask "Have you read anything good lately?" You respond without hesitating "The Power of the Dog," but don't bother to describe the book. It is just that good.

I rarely watch a movie twice, almost never read the same book over. This book is worthy of a second reading. I feel fortunate to stumble upon this incredible story by a genius author...

I just purchased this book for a friend as I have done in the past. It is a beautiful record of a girls' life that is not glamourous nor sentimental. The prints from the book are wonderful as I have seen them for myself in Chicago. For anyone wanting something a little different, this is a wonderful book.

This review comes strictly from a reading of Norman Maclean's written work without any influence from the film version of A River Runs Through It, for I have never seen it. Simply as a piece of written work, Maclean writes an absolutely inspirational novella. As his introduction indicates, part of the motivation for writing his stories came from wanting to preserve a decent sense of parental identity for his children. This intention comes through in Maclean's A River Runs Through It as he uses first-person narration, which evokes a story-telling quality about the work. The reader is made to feel as though the story is truly a personal recounting of significant life events that reveal something about the main character's past concerns, how he came to some sort of resolution about those concerns, and of course, explain a few things about his identity to his listener.

The way in which Maclean connects fly-fishing to family values and also to spirituality is beautiful. Norm, the main character of the book, has such an attentiveness to beauty and feels such reverence for his brother's angling ability, the reader is unable to separate the idea of fishing from an appreciable means to well-being. Time spent fly-fishing is quality time for the male members of the family, and it is especially revered by the two brothers, Paul and Norm, as they go out to the river as adults, no longer with their father. It is while fishing with their father that they learn spiritual truths, and these ideas are carried with them, in perhaps slightly different interpretations, into every expedition. A conflict arises when the respectful attitude the brothers expect at the river is difficult to arouse in others.

What's interesting is that the brothers do not converse much during these outings. They are not there to lounge and chat. They are truly there to practice their skill, and they do so in separate sections of the water. The conversations that they do have are slight and perhaps a bit obscure, but meaningful. Maclean does a wonderful job presenting the methods by which male communication is relayed and interpreted. His ability to present men as dually sensitive and proud is commendable.

Another thing that Maclean does well is maintain his readers' participation in the story. His explanation of fly-fishing mechanics, which does not at all distract from the story, prevents the reader from feeling detached from a possibly unfamiliar experience. In fact, a moderately involved reader will find himself or herself agreeing with the opinion that fly-fishing is the only respectable form of fishing, and will scoff together with Norm at the use of worms and "poles" rather than flies and "rods".

As the story develops, it becomes apparent that one of Norm's main concerns is his ability to be helpful, and that his attempts are frustrated repeatedly. Discover what Norm learns about his concerns and responsibilities, and find out about some other provocative characters within this tale. It's a short, enjoyable read with an inspirational effect.

A River Runs Through It is a story of the heart of a man and the passion for life that runs through all men. Some of us may not be aware of this when we look at our lives of struggle and mediocrity. Others may say this is a dreamer's attitude. Norman Maclean shows us how it is as natural as a river, and as powerful as a fist . This book is about men, and growing into manhood. It uses the river both as metaphor and as the dramatic backdrop for a life of a man. It is written as if every word was distilled to its purest essence, and reads as a drink of the finest wine. I read it sentence by sentence and went over many passages simply to savor the view and the feel it created in me. Read it and treasure it and give it to another man you may care about.

There is something about this novel that felt like reading a classic novel that had been passed on for generations. Maclean gives a story that has so much purity to the relationships between his characters, and there is definitely a sense of innocence within the text.

The story is based around the relationships of father and son, and brother to brother. Between these two relationships, Maclean explores the tribulations that come within a family, and the challenges of wanting to protect a loved one compared to having to let them make their own mistakes. Maclean has an excellent handle on conveying the true emotions that come within a bond such as these, and it gives and very honest sense to the story.

The lessons given to the characters of the book take on the medium of fly fishing. There were times when these sections seemed very lengthy. But once they can be gotten throughm the reader is given a great reward by Maclean's natural ability to tighten a story and use very exact and straight forward language. This is a novel that shows a contemporary reader that we have masters of the English language all around us.

I would recommend this book to anyone. It gives a very strong sense of place as well as excellent characterization. The sense of place is what makes the book have a bit of a romantic feel to it, though it revolves around the challenges between family men and their friendships.

Maclean show that even when you love someone with eveything you have, you still have to let them be and make their own decisions.

This book asks the questions that can be applied to many relationships between not only family members but also friendships.

It is an excellent read.

E. Anne Proulx has the amazing talent to describe the small moments and details in life that we pass by everyday...but which we can immediately visualize when they are word-painted for us. She is an author that implores your every sense (sight, smell, sound, taste, touch, memory, & nostalgia) as you read. But her writing is not flowery...in fact it has a dark edge to it. Her descriptions are only surpassed by her characterization. She introduces you to the heart of rural Vermont through characters that you both admire and loathe...sometimes simultaneously. This collection of short stories is not her most famous work, but is perhaps her most classic. It is an easy read for pleasure, but one with layers and layers of depth for those who want to delve and ponder.

I read the Shipping news first. Struck by the wonderful use of language, in awe of the structure of this descriptive writing at its very best, I was not disappointed by these short stories written earlier. Some passages should be read again and again. One day, if not now, this author will be quoted as a modern classic

To those, who were already enchanted by E.Annie Proulx's masterpieces ('Postcards' or 'The Shipping News'): do not eschew this collection of early short stories. They are not unskillful sketches of incipient, promising author but dazzlingly and glamorously brilliant splashes of her extraordinary talent (paradoxically both tragical and comical), unforgettable portraits of sundry people, to whom from the first pages you will feel admiration or aversion but never indifference or lack of interest, people in search of lost happiness... such as all of us are...

Although browsing through the cheese shop can be a fun and satisfying experience, it can also be a costly one! "The complete dairy foods cookbook" will give you the A-B-Cs on how to make your own soft cheeses as well as other dairy oriented dish. A must for all those seriously self-sufficient cooks.

I highly recommend this novel as an engaging read. This ranks just below "Shipping News" among the E. Annie Proulx novels I have read. Loyal Blood is a young farmer in Vermont who accidently murders his lover Billy during an act of passion. He spends the rest of his life on a restless tour of the western United States engaged in a variety of occupations which Proulx makes interesting. All the while we wonder whether Billy's body will be uncovered and Blood will be brought to justice. In the meantime, justice seems to meted out to Loyal's family farm, which falls prey to modern economic pressures. Is justice done? This seems to be the ironic question which the author asks us.

In "Postcards," despite the gimmick of the hand printed or typewritten postcards which precede many chapters, it is the vitality of Loyal Blood, the main character, which compels us onward and maintains our interest. Although there is not the uplifting message of finally finding true love such as in "Shipping News," I still gave this novel 4 stars since it is well worth the time spent buried between its covers.

I read "Postcards" immediately after reading "The Shipping News." This is important only in that I rate "The Shipping News" among the top books written this century that I have read. Thus, I had high expectations for "Postcards." They were not met.

This said, I would nonetheless put in line with "Angle of Repose" by Wallace Stegner, which I suspect means something to many of you who read this. Indeed, although the hero's tragic moment comes far earlier in this book, I believe the book's plot has many parallels to Stegner's. Missing, however, is the clever way that Stegner drew the reader into the story with the "present day" routine of his "book writer." Some hook like this or the odd writing style that Proulx used in "The Shipping News" would have improved the book's readability some. Instead "Postcards" has more of a Steinbeckian "Cannery Row" or "Tortilla Flats" feel to it. That is, it is quite good but not quite there and certainly not for the masses.

This extraordinary author can create gritty realism like no other,you can smell the band aid in the mash potato.Although a first novel and no match for the classic The shipping news (which is my all time favourite book) one can glimpse the genius of the Pulitzer Price winner shining through these pages.I dont understand people who find her book a tough read.The stories are as plain as day and the language is completely down to earth. The story is a tale of tragic proportion,life holds no redemption for the Blood family,the anti hero Loyal Blood (the name alone is worth a prize) goes from the favourite son and hope of the family to a bum scavenging gabage for meals. But before he gets there we get to meet some of the quirkiest odd ball in American history.Although a very clever and honest book,the ending is a little bit unsatisfying but that is life,after a lifetime of bad luck due to his unforgivable crime Loyal is left to face a fate worse than death : living.

I really enjoyed this book. I first read 4 of the stories in this collection in the "New Yorker" magazine: "The Mud Below"," Brokeback Mountain" (a very powerful tale,) "The Bunchgrass Edge of the World," and the short, grisly, but hilarious, "The Blood Bay." I've never been to Wyoming, so I don't know how accurate her portrayal of it is (I guess at least one reader feels it's not a good reflection of Wyoming.) Ms. Proulx, however, is one of those writers whose prose is so well done and tells stories so well that her voice is extremely authoritative and the stories are very diverting. The watercolor plates throughout the book are beautifully done. I wish there had been more of them. I suppose I would agree with the god-like Roger Eder in "The New York Times Book Review," when he argues that Ms. Proulx's uneasiness with the short fiction form makes some of the endings seem a bit abrupt, but I personally thought this a very entertaining read.

As a Wyomingite, I had to suspend my defensiveness about how the state and it's people are portrayed. Most Wyomingites probably don't view their beloved state in as grim, desolate, and lonely a light as the stories describe. However, when Proulx writes about the wind, the cold, the sagebrush, the vast expanses that are Wyoming (all of which have their own beauty, just like the mountains, the meadows and alpine lakes), I recognize it immediately as home. The writing is superb, most especially the "flights of fancy". Wyoming is defined by its rugged individualism and lack of patience for greenhorns and liberals (some small pockets of the state aside). Most people here drink coffee, not lattes. "Flights of fancy" aren't commonplace. In my opinion, in many ways Proulx has us dead to rights.

Annie Proulx is that rarity: a born short story writer. Many of the stories in Close Range" measure up to anything in the cannon of American literature and overpass most of what is considered great. "The Mud Below" deserves to find its way into every best of the best anthology from here on out. Her feeling for Wyoming (and by extension America) is complete and utterly true. Her genius with metaphor is original yet absolutely accurate. These stories are all electrifyingly honest and the characters in them are people we tend to overlook (at least literary writers do when they are not sentimentalizing them). Proulx gets her people with such uncanny accuracy that they seem more real to me than I do to myself. She's a wonderful writer. Anyone truly interested in Literature must not miss these stories. They are the first thing worthy of the word I have seen for a blue moon. Proulx is the real thing.

I am so dissapointed in myself for letting my senioritis get in the way of enjoying this book. In the beginning I found myself letting my book collect dust in my bag because the most trivial topic from the book discussed in class was an ugly disfigured malajusted father. As my grades began to near a failing mark, I started to read just beacuse I had to. Then I began to love it. I read the last 150pgs in depth, absorbing each of Proulx's magnificent annecdotes and literary magic. Some might find the first 100pgs difficult to read as her style resembles that of Faulkner, drawn out and descriptive prose. As Quoyle's character develops, her style changes and it becomes easier to read. The bleak Newfoundland setting may seem like a dismal topic to read about but the stories of Quoyle, his family, and friends take the reader into their world. The most unusual topics arise in the plot, bringing life to a somewhat dismal scene. It is a beautifully written book, interesting and very insightful. I really liked this book and I look forward to reading it when I am not longer under the constraints of High School English. PS. This book should not be read if you are on anti-depressent medication or you have a family history of mental illness.

This is truly a unique novel, a tale of rebirth amidst the odd customs and harsh elements of Newfoundland. Protagonist Quoyle is an unremarkable man, father of two young daughters who must cope with the loss of his unfaithful wife (Petal) as the novel starts out. Petal is one of the most despicable characters I have ever encountered in modern fiction, and yet Quoyle continues his love for her long after she deserves it. I was a little perplexed as I read the book as to why Quoyle continued to hold such deep emotions for Petal, but I guess his low self-esteem, and her initial affection for him, left a lasting impact that enabled him to forget her horrible transgressions.

Ultimately Quoyle, his aunt and his two young children decide to move to Newfoundland, where he was born and where his family history runs deep, to try and piece together their lives. They have dreams of moving back into a house on a point overlooking the bay that has stood deserted for decades. What he encounters there is portrayed in the Shipping News with compassion, tenderness, and a keen eye for detail by skilled novelist Annie Proulx.

Quoyle's Newfoundland is full of offbeat characters with names like Nutbeem, Jack Buggit, Billy Pretty, Wavey and Tert Card. As he assimilates into the culture and gradually gets over his failed marriage, we see Quoyle develop as a writer, father and as a man until he gradually becomes ready to feel true emotions again. Ironically I read this novel soon after reading Anne Tyler's The Accidental Tourist, and while I found Macon's romance in Tyler's book to be a little forced and unromantic, Quoyle's rebirth in the Shipping News to me had a much more sincere undercurrent of true feelings. You cared what happened to these characters, as they seemingly cared about themselves and those around them.

The novel's eccentric characters and the occasional absurd coincidences in the plot, for me, were the only things keeping this from ranking as a 5 star novel. Characters kept popping up on the water just in time for a rescue, or at precisely the right locations in the bay (days or weeks apart) to find separate parts of the same body, which to me seemed a little contrived. However, all in all, the book gave a very fresh look at a place few of us are familiar with, and told a story of a family with deep secrets and true to life emotions. Long after you forget some of the actions in the novel, you will remember its sense of place and the odd camaraderie of the characters.

I started reading fiction again after reading The Shipping News. It was so good that I wanted to find more contemporary fiction of this caliber.

The novel's a main character is a loser who is hard to love because he is so unbelievably inept and knows it. The background is maritime Canada with all the romance of the sea and of small town life. Proulx studs the landscape with some grotesque characters and others who are extremely real. The writing is sharp as a razor; a single word used in one chapter had me astonished at how apt it was, creating an entire (sordid) scene with a single syllable.

The theme of the book is redemption and learning; the main characters learn and change. This is what makes this book worth reading. Without it, the bad stuff would have remainded the type of thing you'd hear about on daytime TV. Instead, it becomes a journey from night into daylight.

Proulx openly admits in her intro that she didn't choose the stories blindly, and the bias shows (compared to other Best American anthologies). It's possible to still choose the best stories while knowing the names of the authors, but that kind of objectivity is extremely difficult, for anyone-- literary master or not, and the fact that she chose to not select blindly makes me suspicious: makes me wonder just how many excellent "amateur" stories had been discarded in favor of the blander stories of bigger names.

Annie Proulx has assembled a collection of current American short stories from the few slicks that publish them, and the many little magazines that offer the true home of realistic short fiction nowadays. Like John Edgar Wideman (who edited last year's BASS) she continues with cultural pluralism: stories set in China (Jin), Southeast Asia (Eugenides), the Carribean (Cliff and Stone), and Europe (Davis and Michaels) appear here. A mixing of social levels and cultural influences is "in" these days in the short story. I think it has invigorated the form. Now for the bad news: the current trend in the realistic short story is finally clear to me. I am calling it the "dysfunctional story"; in it, horrible people do terrible things to each other (or animals) for an extended period of time, and then the story ends. Woe to the reader who "identifies" with such characters. I have developed a thicker skin while reading such a story, because it's dangerous to get too close to its emotions. Sometimes irony effectively modulates the work, as it does in Michelle Cliff's "Transactions" (TriQuarterly), a shrewd parable of cultural invasion set on an island with a slave history; or Leonard Michaels's "A Girl with a Monkey" (Partisan Review), where an aging American tries to buy the affections of a German prostitute as he tries to escape a collapsed life back home. Fine traditional narratives that let us "like" the characters include Junot Diaz's "Fiesta, 1980" (Story), a beautiful rendering of a misunderstood youth in a New York barrio; and Michael Byers's "Shipmates Down Under" (American Short Fiction), my favorite in this book, which handles the complex problems of a "typical" American family with Updikean aplomb. You'll notice I didn't mention any slick magazine stories as notable this year. Based on this collection, the "littles" had better material. My students also liked work by Carolyn Cooke, Karen E. Bender, Tim Gautreaux, and Jeffrey Eugenides (although some hated the last one). Overall, the impression I get from these stories is a far reduced faith or interest in humankind. Authors seem to trust style and plot more than people, at times seeming to take enjoyment in showing characters in their worst possible light. This Tarantino-ization of the current short story does not bode well for the form, IMHO (in my humble opinion).

Now that "Story" Magazine has tragically folded (I forgive you, Lois), the annual "Best of" series is just about my only source left for finding a large number of really high-quality short stories in one place. "Atlantic," "The New Yorker," "Playboy," and all the other standard fiction venues are nice occasionally, but they each publish two or three stories per month at the most.

Just as I used to do with "Story," I try with these "Best of" compilations to ration the stories out, one per day, to make them last. A sure sign that the collection is truly wonderful is that I fail at this rationing, and devour it in much larger chunks. Perhaps the only reason I never finish them in a single day is that the really fine stories will make me think, or feel, so deeply that I cannot bear to continue immediately.

This collection, the 1997 edition, is one of those; perhaps the 1994 was better, and I'm already enjoying the 1998 thoroughly. But every fan of the modern American short story should have a copy of the 1997.

This has to be one of the most depressing, dismal "novels" I have ever read, and I have a graduate degree in English. I thought it would be interesting since I play the accordion, but it wasn't. I, like other reviewers, struggled to finish this book. I have never read a book so filled with characters who are the scum of the earth. I get enough of that watching the local news here in Atlanta. If you're thinking about buying "Accordion Crimes," don't waste your money or your time.

P.S. The correct spelling is accordion, not accordian!

After The Shipping News, I couldn't wait to read Annie Proulx's latest. She had been able to grasp a unique Canadian culture of Newfoundland so well, I expected more of the same or better in Accordian Crimes. This is not a book, just a weak collection of depressing and unsatisfying short stories that do nothing to create empathy with the characters. Not a character here you would want to meet. The theme: the American dream unmasked is a good one. No plot, no unifying idea other than the little green accordian which moves along as each owner dies or loses it. I had to force myself to finish it. If this had been Annie Proulx's first book, no one would buy the next.

Eggs fried in motor oil and cases of increasingly stupid vegetable matter with a taste for battery acid masquerading as humanity...
all of who own and variously misuse the green accordion over a hundred years. A nihilistic attitude combine with a misanthropic view of the human condition to give a realistic Greek tragedy as a set of serial short stories. When you are done reading it , you feel like you have been run over by a truck. I'd call it great original shock writing.