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“I don't know. If this was supposed to capture the feel of Yiddish in English, I don't think it was terribly successful; most of the over-the-top descriptions that come with the noir/private eye genre were pretty fun. The plot was interesting and absorbing. I found the end (if you haven't read it yet and plan to, stop reading this right now) somewhat derivative of Skinny Legs and All. ”
sulak wrote this review Wednesday, November 21 2007. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Fascinating premise, but it's not as good as Chabon's earlier work, and the ending was a disappointement. ”
Sara N. H. wrote this review Monday, July 30 2007. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“I've been recommending this book to family and friends. Depressing, but beautifully written and if you understand a little Yiddish, there are some great subtle jokes as well.”
DarleneMarshall wrote this review Wednesday, July 18 2007. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“An entertaining book that I flew through. A bit disappointing after how great Kavalier & Clay was, but definitely worth reading.”
Chuck Taylors wrote this review Tuesday, July 17 2007. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Nothing's more enjoyable than Chabon having fun like this. The ending was disappointing for me, but only because I didn't feel it was up to his usual inventiveness.”
JediLibrarian wrote this review Monday, July 16 2007. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Chabon's return to form is an amazing critique of world politics and inter-Jew relations. Also makes for a great detective novel. Break out yr Yiddish dictionary.”
adamreck1 wrote this review Wednesday, July 11 2007. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“In 1948 American Jews got shipped (read: exiled) to Alaska – a "temporary" (read: 60 years) safe-haven created in the wake of the holocaust. Parts of this reminded me of Roth's latest: The Plot Against America. YPU was more murder mystery than Kavalier and Clay, but definitely an entertaining read. Homicide detective Meyer Landsman investigates the murder of a gay maybe-messiah and tries to prevent Jews from bombing an Islamic site in Jerusalem. Fun stuff.”
chasblackman wrote this review Monday, June 18 2007. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“This book was interesting on a number of levels but, primarily, in how it made me think about homeland, disapora, and my identify as a post-Holocaust American Jew.”
saturn_reads wrote this review Wednesday, June 6 2007. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“I love Michael Chabon.....but I'm a little disappointed in this book. The detective story doesn't seem worthy of the world he's created. Chabon's is pretty good at being hard boiled, but I just think he's a much better writer, and compared to his other books, this seems a little thin. I wanted to know more about Mendel, hear more about his Sitka.....The ending is a little messy, too.”
limpet55 wrote this review Friday, May 25 2007. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
