BOOKS THREAD

I would add The Yiddish Policeman's Union to that list. Chabon, as usual, does an excellent job with the narrative arc and character development. I haven't read all of his short story compilations, but A Model World and Other Stories stood out for me.

I got into Mysteries of Pittsburgh as a teenager, largely because a lot of it takes place in my hometown and my neighborhood (Squirrel Hill/Oakland/Shadyside). Still consider it one of my favorite novels.

 

Just finished it tonight. I agree with you. For the most part it was pretty good, but it had too much set-up for the series -- "Now I'm going to introduce my wacky and colorful sidekick, Cisco!" -- and I didn't like the ending. Both the wrap up of the story and the Shocking Twist were disappointing to me.

But again, that's on the Connelly scale. He's on my very short list of can't-miss authors.

 

I've read every Chabon book except for the kid's novel and the one that was serialized in the New York Times -- starting with Mysteries -- and admire Chabon very much. Although it's sacrilege to admit this, I think Yiddish Policeman's Union is his best work. I liked Kav and Clay, but as I've discussed with Ragu here previously, I thought it was a bit of a slog. I felt rewarded at the end, but it required some real effort to get there. In Yiddish, I thought Chabon created an entire universe, and as fast-paced as the book was, it was literary. Reminded me of Graham Greene, in some respects.

I liked Mysteries, although I read right over Art's decision that he was actually straight at the end of the book. I spent years thinking that he ran off with Arthur to be gay in France, until a gay friend of mine explained that, no, ultimately he chooses the ladies. It was certainly the first novel I'd read that delved into bisexual identity issues.

The fact that Chabon wrote it when he was 21 is just unfair. I'm really excited to continue to read his work because he's not only extremely talented, he's prolific and not afraid of taking risks. He's already written more good books that most authors get in a career and he's just hitting his stride.

 

Loved that one, kokane.

Ferris' book and Junot Diaz's book are the two best novels I've read in a few years.

 

Am halfway through "The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao" and loving it.

 

The way he writes and the language he uses is fantastic.

 

That one is on my list and may be next for me.

 

Not the easiest read but worth the effort.

 

It helps a little bit, when you read Diaz, if you have some high school Spanish under your belt. But it's fairly easy to follow along either way.