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Title: Don't try to make a short story into a novel
Review: I can't recall what drew me to buy this book, but I guess the cover reviews were enticing (on my copy, Roddy Doyle gave great praise). I have to say I was disappointed in the novel itself. I could'nt find a story to get into and there was a deal of contrivance in linking the rather disjointed episodes that make up the whole. In the end I decided it was either a writing exercise (Haruf is an academic after all) or a short story puffed up beyond its entitlement. While I'm not entirely put off reading more by the author, I will take the time to look beyond the reviews in future.
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