Clarinet Polka

Wow! This book can appeal to people in so many different ways. The book is about a Vietnam-Era vet who returns to a small town in West Virginia inhabited by Polish-Americans. The main character, who spent the Vietnam war in service in Guam, returns to a different country and faces the challenge of reintegrating back into the general population. That's the story in a nutshell but the author tackles a ton of issues along the way. There are great observations regarding the immigrant community, and the conflict of keeping traditions while being in a new country. He also spends a lot of time regarding the problems of alcoholism and how it can impact relationships with family, friends, lovers and employers. Also, while I wouldn't characterize this as a political book, the time period forces an examination of not only the Vietnam conflict but also of war in general and how WWII affected Poland. Finally, there is a love story in the midst of all this, and he manages to weave it all into the "heavy" subjects as well as great information regarding Polka music.While there were times the alcoholism of the main character almost overwhelmed this book, the author does a great job of crafting an incredible story. I didn't have high expectations when I first picked up by the book, and instead was overwhelmed by how much I liked it.

I was blown away by this book. The voice is singular and never tiresome, the characters are winning and real, and the story moves along like a good horse race. I was completely surprised by the outcome, which made it even better!

It's hard to imagine a frequently very funny book about hard-core alcoholism, but Maillard pulls it off triumphantly. Jimmy Koprowski becomes a mythical Everyman for all of us who have ever screwed up badly once - well, maybe more than once - in our lives, journeying to the bottom of the bottle and back to bring us all a little redemption, a little hope, a little love. At once both tender and gritty, this marvelously crafted encapsulation of the Polish community of a fictional West Virginia town in the late 60's, early 70's made me laugh, made me cry, and made me a little wiser about some of my own mistakes.

This is a marvelous, tough, joyful book about a man finding his way in the world. Jimmy Koprowski comes home to Raysburg, West Virginia, after four years in the service. He spent the Viet Nam war in Guam, but he still can't get this life together. He's living at home, working at a TV repair job when he can manage to make it in. Jimmy often spends too much of the evening drinking at the Polish American Club. The drink inflames his self-destructive tendencies, as does a nasty affair with Connie Bradshawe, a wealthy, beautiful woman who seems intent on bringing them both to grief.Distraction comes in the unlikely form of Jimmy's younger sister Linda, a musician who wants to start an all-girl polka band. Since it is 1969, you might think that Linda is going to have a hard time finding musicians to play something as un-cool as the polka. Ah, that's not the case in Raysburg's Polish community, where even hippies have a good time at polka parties. My Sister's Polka Band includes Linda on trumpet, a 60-ish accordionist, one of those tattooed hippies, a non-Polish farm girl from Ohio, and a 15-year-old named Janice on the clarinet. Janice is a real talent, the daughter of Polish refugees who may be the only people in town to look down on polka music. Jimmy is drafted to ferry Janice to and from rehearsals. He is surprised to find out how much they have to talk about, and not only must he grapple with his drinking and his relationship with Connie, but with his developing feelings for a girl too young for him.Jimmy is a terrific voice-unsentimental, wry, funny, and down to earth. He wants to pooh-pooh the Polish dances and church festivities, but is always willing to admit that he can't because he likes them too much. You like him, too, and Janice, the polka band and all the neighbors who love to dance and drink beer at the Polish American Club. I'm surprised that author Keith Maillard is not better known, and I was surprised to read that "Clarinet Polka" is his seventh book about Raysburg. He came to most readers' attention with "Gloria"-a book as elegantly designed as it was written. Maillard is an excellent writer who is worth discovering.

I was so happy when I saw this book in the bookstore because I am such a big fan of his book Gloria. So...I bought this book and I loved it! Mr. Maillard writes in a way that wraps his words and characters totally around me, I get so involved, and he makes me feel the feelings that the characters are feeling, or at least understand them. After reading Gloria I have wondered why Mr. Maillard is not more known, not on reading group lists......anyway, he is a great rider, pick this book up and enjoy the ride.