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A review by canaanmerchant
The Yiddish Policemen's Union by Michael Chabon
4.0
Michael Chabon's take on noir. Though what captivates the reader is not so much the mystery but the setting which puts the Jews of post-war Europe settling a special district in south east Alaska where 60 years later they face being driven from their new home again as the land is set to be returned to Alaska's control. Chabon is able to create a rich world that has many factions and interests vying for physical control and existential meaning in the face of changes bigger than an entire city.
As I said, the story is well written and the mystery is well executed. However, and this a problem with me I guess but it doesn't seem possible to write a noir novel with a protagonist who isn't an alcoholic, exhusband, button pusher, and someone on the brink of going over the edge. Landsman, the main character isn't an outright cliche but he's overshadowed by his cousin Berko who is an accomplished detective while keeping a family. He does in fact have something to lose and his identity is in flux since he has a Jewish father but a Native American mother which is rare for a society with a lot of outright animosity between the two people groups. Berko is one of many of the fully realized characters that Chabon neglects to give his own main character.
As I said, the story is well written and the mystery is well executed. However, and this a problem with me I guess but it doesn't seem possible to write a noir novel with a protagonist who isn't an alcoholic, exhusband, button pusher, and someone on the brink of going over the edge. Landsman, the main character isn't an outright cliche but he's overshadowed by his cousin Berko who is an accomplished detective while keeping a family. He does in fact have something to lose and his identity is in flux since he has a Jewish father but a Native American mother which is rare for a society with a lot of outright animosity between the two people groups. Berko is one of many of the fully realized characters that Chabon neglects to give his own main character.