Scan barcode
rayne709's review against another edition
DNF. I was about 90 pages in and my bookmark fell out. At that point I realized that I had retained nothing from this book, had no idea what was happening, and honestly didn't care to find my spot. After reading other reviews found out this takes place in an AU, had no idea.
abeplaut's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
lol94's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
2.75
patkay85's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
malikasbooks's review against another edition
Beautiful prose, excellent brush-up on my yiddish slang, but I did NOT understand a lot of this book's plot D:
jaminup's review against another edition
3.0
The world and history around the Sitka District that Chabon creates is reminiscent of the book itself: slow to develop but intriguing and engaging when you take the time to really sift through it. While the main premise of "The Yiddish Policemen's Union" is a murder mystery, it feels more like an exercise in world building, with a plot thrown in to keep you engaged. Chabon's alternate history diverges at 1940, and leaves us with a world wildly different from our own, while still being familiar. My issues with the book can be boiled down to: Michael Chabon can't help but get in his own way.
The book is enjoyable, but the pacing feels all wrong. Instead of developing a gripping plot right off the bat, Chabon spends the first quarter of the book in endless metaphor and simile describing everything and every interaction. While the writing is good, it gets to be so excessive that at times you forget what is actually happening in the moment because its been too long since he actually told you. By the time the plot really starts to come together enough to finally feel like an actual mystery book, you're about half way down. I found myself caring a lot more about the history of the Sitka District and the changes to world history, because for most of the book the murder mystery feels anecdotal.
But by the end, the plot does come together and the mystery feels satisfactory as a central plot. It speaks to modern politics, and the hopes and dream of both Zionists and Evangelicals. It touches on greed, nationalism, piety vs. zealotry, and finding one's place in a world that feels entirely hostile to your mere existence.
The book is enjoyable, but the pacing feels all wrong. Instead of developing a gripping plot right off the bat, Chabon spends the first quarter of the book in endless metaphor and simile describing everything and every interaction. While the writing is good, it gets to be so excessive that at times you forget what is actually happening in the moment because its been too long since he actually told you. By the time the plot really starts to come together enough to finally feel like an actual mystery book, you're about half way down. I found myself caring a lot more about the history of the Sitka District and the changes to world history, because for most of the book the murder mystery feels anecdotal.
But by the end, the plot does come together and the mystery feels satisfactory as a central plot. It speaks to modern politics, and the hopes and dream of both Zionists and Evangelicals. It touches on greed, nationalism, piety vs. zealotry, and finding one's place in a world that feels entirely hostile to your mere existence.
jhook's review against another edition
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
cellardoor10's review against another edition
3.0
This was creative and interesting, but I struggled a little bit with the last 10% or so. A well-constructed hard-boiled detective novel set in an AU world. In this world, Israel was destroyed in 1948, and the United States funneled refugees to the Sitka region/island of Alaska, creating a geographically small community of a few million Jewish folks.
A fascinating concept based on an actual policy proposal (never enacted) that was put forward right before WWII, to populate Alaska with European refugees.
Michael Chabon has an interview at the end of the audiobook in which he talks about the inspiration being the idea of a place where Yiddish would be an important first and official language for the majority, based on a Yiddish book for travelers he found once.
I found the book very compelling, but I felt a little bit let down by the ending on this one. I also disliked the audiobook reader's voice for Berko, really grating and unpleasant to listen to. Otherwise a very good reader.
A fascinating concept based on an actual policy proposal (never enacted) that was put forward right before WWII, to populate Alaska with European refugees.
Michael Chabon has an interview at the end of the audiobook in which he talks about the inspiration being the idea of a place where Yiddish would be an important first and official language for the majority, based on a Yiddish book for travelers he found once.
I found the book very compelling, but I felt a little bit let down by the ending on this one. I also disliked the audiobook reader's voice for Berko, really grating and unpleasant to listen to. Otherwise a very good reader.
estowers's review against another edition
I appreciate the slow burn chinatown vibe, but the voice/prose wasn't strong enough to justify the slow mystery.