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3.66 AVERAGE
3.66 AVERAGE
Gave it the 100-page test. It failed to grab my attention, pull me in or in any way interest me in plot, character, setting or writing by page 100, so I'm not going to continue on. I'm sure it's "imaginative," as every review seems to state, but a unique idea isn't enough to keep me going.
Good detective story, but overtly religious. Hard to follow if you're not Jewish and ingrained in that culture. I prefer to read more secular books
I love a book set in our world, but with something changed in history. The Yiddish Policemen's Union has Jewish refugees settled temporarily in Alaska after Israel collapsed in 1948. I loved The characters, Landsman, Berko and Bina Gelbfish. The Yiddish world they created in Alaska, and are about to lose, is fascinating and the book was so very funny as well as touching. It took me ages to get through and I couldn't work out why I wasn't devouring it. It came to me this afternoon that I don't really like reading crime novels. I'm glad I persisted, though, because I am very attached to Sitka and its inhabitants and think I'll miss them.
I honestly only finished about 2/3rds of this book, I don't think I've ever given up a book before until now. But damn, this book was just way to boring, its awful, uninterseting and I never cared about any of the characters. The main character is an idiot and he has nothing to make you interested in him. The story is bland and a lot of nothing happens, and I find I just don't care about what happens in the end. I can't believe this was the best Sci-fi novel they could dig up in 2007 for the Hugo award, I'm not even sure it was Sci-fi. I'm glad to finally give up on this book.
Wild and well written story that could’ve been ~200 pages shorter (but I say that about every long book I read)
Like a fellow reviewer, I'm not sure why this book won a Hugo. It's not a bad book; I'm just not sure I would classify it as SF.
The Yiddish Policeman's Union is the first book by Chabon that I have read. I resisted reading it because everyone was raving about Chabon, so of course, it couldn't be that good.
It might not be that good, but it's not bad. Chabon's style is like a rich, dark, chocolate pie. You know, the type of chocolate pie that demands whip cream or vanilla ice cream. You need it to blend the chocolate. Eating such a pie without the vanilla is too decadent. That is Chabon's writing. He has wonderful phrases and descriptions. It can leave you breathless.
Chabon makes good use of a little known fact of the idea of settling Jewish refugees in part of Alaska. This makes the book an alternate history. I feel, however, that parts of the book could have, and should have, been expanded more. There should have been more depth to certain aspects. While I don't truly mind the ending; it does leave many things unresolved. (But so does life, and since, good literature is suppose to make us think about life, perhaps I shouldn't complain.)
I do wish, however, that Chabon had dealt more with the shocking inicident that occurs to the end of the book. Considering the impact that such an event could have, to deal with it only a few sentences felt wrong. It didn't quite fit. It almost felt like Chabon chickened out a little there. The ending too feels that way.
What Chabon does a good job with, outside of his language, are the characters. The characters are memorable and well crafted. There is a sense of love for the characters, and a sense of examination that perhaps should have gone a bit deeper. Still, Chabon examines questions of guilt, race, forgiveness, and self in most of the characters in the book. Quite nice to see that actually.
The Yiddish Policeman's Union is the first book by Chabon that I have read. I resisted reading it because everyone was raving about Chabon, so of course, it couldn't be that good.
It might not be that good, but it's not bad. Chabon's style is like a rich, dark, chocolate pie. You know, the type of chocolate pie that demands whip cream or vanilla ice cream. You need it to blend the chocolate. Eating such a pie without the vanilla is too decadent. That is Chabon's writing. He has wonderful phrases and descriptions. It can leave you breathless.
Chabon makes good use of a little known fact of the idea of settling Jewish refugees in part of Alaska. This makes the book an alternate history. I feel, however, that parts of the book could have, and should have, been expanded more. There should have been more depth to certain aspects. While I don't truly mind the ending; it does leave many things unresolved. (But so does life, and since, good literature is suppose to make us think about life, perhaps I shouldn't complain.)
I do wish, however, that Chabon had dealt more with the shocking inicident that occurs to the end of the book. Considering the impact that such an event could have, to deal with it only a few sentences felt wrong. It didn't quite fit. It almost felt like Chabon chickened out a little there. The ending too feels that way.
What Chabon does a good job with, outside of his language, are the characters. The characters are memorable and well crafted. There is a sense of love for the characters, and a sense of examination that perhaps should have gone a bit deeper. Still, Chabon examines questions of guilt, race, forgiveness, and self in most of the characters in the book. Quite nice to see that actually.
Bit of a slow start. Stick with it though. It's absolutely worth it for a brilliant ending
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
So many books here disguised as a Jewish noir mystery. I feel like I missed some important details, but when Michael Chabon takes you by the elbow and leads you into a hallway that smells like cigarettes, old fish and longing, you go with him.