A review by dcmr
The Accomplished Guest by Ann Beattie

1.0

For years, I've praised the dour realism and sharp observations of Ann Beattie, but this collection is the first Beattie I could not finish. She's taken to repeatedly starting in the middle of the action, offering multiple extraneous characters, and meandering on details that have no real relation. The storylines are more grim than ever — and I'm the target age for these mid-to-end life stories!