Word: kohler
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Dates: during 1980-1989
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...Kohler's novel originated as a short story and was included in the 1988 collection of O. Henry awards. In its shorter version, I am sure this psychological drama was outstanding, but as a novel the story is stretched too thin...
...problem is that Kohler has given her story too small a frame. The narrative is told in the voice of an older, wealthy woman, who has never married, has never needed to work and whose family members have apparently all died. She has no friends, and in fact is not connected to any person...
...KOHLER'S attempt to describe someone so unappealing and emotionless, and tell a story so difficult to relate, is admirable, but ultimately it fails. The reader is much more likely to give up than to continue to play her game, because the rewards--the details of the story--are doled out so agonizingly slowly...
...Kohler should have kept her work in a shorter form, because her writing at times is lovely. The central character, who is as obsessed with places as she is careless towards people, describes the countryside of the three nations beautifully. With her focus on light, the landscapes are drawn like Impressionist paintings...
Unfortunately, Kohler's writing skill is lost in the game...