Ludmila's Broken Accent ***

By DBC Pierre.
Published by W.W. Norton and Company in 2007.
336 pages.

The book has two seperate stories that come together into one finale.  One story is much better than the other one.

That's the story about Ludmila, a peasant girl in the Caucuses who knows a pinch of English (hence the broken accent).  This is the better part because it is hilarious.  The family have this way of daily conversation that is all East European.  They constantly curse each other out in the most outlandish, wildly humilaiting ways.  It's a veritable reference book on how to curse someone out.  The story is fairly simple (which I prefer to convoluted twisted narratives).  Ludmila kills her grandfather when he tries to rape her, but his pension is the family's only money source. She is forced to go to town to sell the family tractor and get a job at the local family or whorehouse - which ever.

The second story , which is weaker, is about two conjoined twins who, at the age of 33, finally become separated.  They had been institutionalized their whole life and are having issues when they finally get into the real world.  Inexplicably, they are invited to a party, get a job and discover some sort of potion that gives you confidence and vigor.  They are sent Eastern Europe where they collide with Ludmila.  Notice how the last sequence of events just kind of tumble off the page.  There is no rhyme or reason, that can be deciphered in any way.  What's the deal with the potion?  Why did they get a job?  Who is this mysterious government man that brings them to the party?  Why do they got to go to the party?  All these questions and their answers are sort of glossed over or are poorly presented as to make sense to the reader.

Overall, it's an enjoyable read becasue it is so damn funny, but it is a very flawed book.