Canada

by Richard Ford

First, I’ll tell you about the robbery our parents committed. Then about the murders, which happened later.

So begins the narrative of Dell Parsons, whose life takes a turn in 1960. When their parents were arrested for armed robbery, 15-year-old fraternal twins Dell and Berner Parsons must decide what to do next. Berner runs away, and Dell accepts help from his mother’s friend, who drives him to Canada.

In Canada, Dell encounters yet another reason to run. He forces readers to wonder if things could get any worse.

I enjoyed Ford’s spare prose and engaging narrator, but the novel suffers from a lack of action. Still, I was riveted by Dell’s story.

2/7/13