Landsman the son and paternal grandson of suicides is the soul of the yiddish policemens union, a raucous, energetic novel that proves again chabons brilliance at inventing entire. The yiddish policemens union book by michael chabon. The yiddish policemens union npr coverage of the yiddish policemens union by michael chabon. The yiddish policemens union is a significant work by one of americas finest novelists. The yiddish policemens union by michael chabon, paperback. The yiddish poli cemens union certainly plays by these rules. Aside from his novels and childrens books, he has also written and published screenplays, comics and newspaper serials. The yiddish policemens union by michael chabon librarything. If you enjoy reading a book with fanciful turns of phrase rather than point blank, direct text, then youll enjoy reading the yiddish policemens union yet i was left feeling that the back story about how our world today would be different if the hydrogen bomb had have been dropped over berlin and hitler rather than hiroshima could have been elaborated upon more. Within the first three pages, the yiddish policemens union rises miles above mere pulp fiction as a masterpiece that can be enjoyed at multiple levels. Buy the yiddish policemens union by michael chabon with. The yiddish policemens union by michael chabon kirkus.
The novel is a detective story set in an alternative history version of the present day, based on the premise that during world war ii, a temporary settlement for jewish refugees was established in sitka, alaska, in 1941, and that the fledgling state of israel was destroyed in 1948. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. Februarys selection is the yiddish policemens union by michael chabon. This showed the skills that chabon had in story telling while maintaining the comedy in the story. Everyday low prices on a huge range of new releases and classic fiction. Some of the pleasures of the yiddish policemens union are, actually, distinctly dan brownish. Its the shallows he has to worry about, the hairline fissures, the little freaks of torque. It the first of his books that i have read and it was really fun. The yiddish poli cemens union is a 2007 novel by american author michael chabon. A blackly humorous arctic fatalism hangs over michael chabons latest masterwork, the yiddish policemens union.
First trade edition of chabons magically inventive detective novel, signed by him on the title page. They do have a crystalline magical dragon scale that they wish on in order to travel to a land of pastel dragons. Michael chabon, the yiddish policemans union youtube. Order of michael chabon books michael chabon is an american author of literary fiction and childrens novels. Every generation loses the messiah it has failed to deserve. Here, theyre overthetop suspenseful, savory and delicious. Michael chabons new novel is a brilliantly written fantasy with a notquitefatal flaw at its heart. This book club is hosted by will cahoe and anna miner. The yiddish policemens union by michael chabon and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. The yiddish policemens union by michael chabon houston. Buy the yiddish policemen union on amazon yep im an affiliate. Black rappers and comedians get away with flaunting harsh stereotypes of their kin that would be promptly labeled racist if coming from outsiders.
A book for people who sleep sitting up, in their underpants and shirt, wearing a sholem. Chabon writes with great intelligence and creativity, page by page, paragraph by paragraph, even sentence by sentence. Michael chabon, quote from the yiddish policemens union like most policemen, landsman sails doublehulled against tragedy, stabilized against heave and storm. At once a gripping whodunit, a love story, and an exploration of the mysteries of exile and redemption, the yiddish policemens union is a novel only michael chabon could have written. The book is at once a fantasy of alternate history and a detective novel with more than a shade of noir about its cut, lean sentences. Michael chabon is a writer that many other writers are envious of. Chilly ps book club reads the yiddish policemens union. She knows everyone, and she recognizes the picture of mendel. Michael chabon books list of books by author michael chabon. If the thriller plot doesnt get you and its easily the equal of any detective story in the past five years then the exuberant style and the sackfuls of great jokes will whichever way you cut it, the yiddish policemens union is pure narrative pleasure, highclass stuff from cover to cover. The yiddish policemens union is the professional organization meyer belongs to. This is the time when so many readers also became in the books written by michael chabon and he became popular with the books he had written before selling largely. For sixty years jewish refugees and their descendants have prospered in the federal district of sitka, a temporary safe haven created in the wake of the holocaust and the shocking 1948 collapse of the fledgling state of israel.
The yiddish policemens union quotes by michael chabon. Yiddish policemens union by michael chabon abebooks. Bookslut the yiddish policemens union by michael chabon. The yiddish policem ens union signed chabon, michael on. After being suspended and losing his badge for fighting, he flashes his ypu membership card to the daughter of the man who makes the pies near the local airport.
Ive heard that chabon tried to exercise restraint in order to make this more of a traditional detective story and most of his books are filled with great descriptive passages. At once a gripping whodunit, a love story, an homage to 1940s noir, and an exploration of the mysteries of exile and redemption, the yiddish policemens union is a novel only michael chabon could have written. The jews of the sitka district have created their own little world in the alaskan panhandle, a vibrant and complex frontier city that moves to the music of yiddish. Pulitzer prize for the amazing adventures of kavalier and clay aside, chabons writing seems almost effortless, but is pure craft and magic. The yiddish policemens union is not quite a 5star book, but at 4. I recommend the book to all chabon fans and to the adventurous among readers of current american fiction. The book does well as a thrilling whodunit with a wellwoven plot, sufficiently justifying the time you take with it. In the way of philip roths the plot against america, michael chabons the yiddish policemens union gives a nightmarish alternate history of jews in america. In the coming weeks, a number of major authors don delillo, ian mcewan, haruki murakami, and others are releasing books.
But unlike the characters in roths novel, who bear desperate witness to the countrys slow slide into fascism, chabons jews. The capitol hill interesting literature league for young professionals book club chilly ps is aimed at readers in their 20s and 30s and discusses recent award winning or nominated titles. Michael chabon s new novel is a brilliantly written fantasy with a notquitefatal flaw at its heart. Chabon, starting with himself as writers should, seems determined in the yiddish policemens union to stave off wistfulness by any means, even if it requires him to turn the story of the. The yiddish policemens union michael chabon hardcover. In order to navigate out of this carousel please use your heading shortcut key to navigate to the next or previous heading. Such is the starting premise of michael chabon s latest novel, the yiddish policemens union, which finds a beleagured, desperate population of jews settled in sitka, alaska. When disappointment dogs the jews whove built an unlikely homeland in sitka, alaskaeven the polar bears and walruses they expected dont pan outit isnt just a temporary setback, but a 3,000yearlong crucifixion. If you enjoy reading a book with fanciful turns of phrase rather than point blank, direct text, then youll enjoy reading the yiddish poli cemens union yet i was left feeling that the back story about how our world today would be different if the hydrogen bomb had have been dropped over berlin and hitler rather than hiroshima could have been elaborated upon more. Octavo, original half white paper boards, original dust jacket. The book went ahead to win many awards including the pulitzer prize in 2001. Chabon often ends chapters with cliffhangers that might be tiresome in the hands of a lesser writer say, dan brown. The yiddish policemens union by michael chabon harpercollins. The yiddish policemens union by michael chabon 60,891 ratings, 3.
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