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sparrowlight 's review for:
Maps and Legends: Reading and Writing Along the Borderlands
by Michael Chabon
When Michael Chabon came to Davidson during my time as student, in 2008, I took feverish notes on his lecture. His phrases were memorable as he described science fiction as the "transvestite cousin at Thanksgiving dinner, his fabulous hat studiously ignored" and talked about his run-in with Yiddish fanatics.
Well, had I known that his talk -- and many other equally fantastic essays -- would be perfectly contained in Maps and Legends, I might have stopped compulsively taking notes and simply basked in his talk. This book is brilliant. Every essay offers a nugget of wisdom for people who feel torn at their love of genre fiction, or just resentful toward the academic establishment for discounting genre fiction books. Chabon has a knack for turning a clever phrase and sits at the border between academic writing and accessibility. He comes across as a genuine, likable writer -- not an easy feat.
I definitely recommend this book.
Well, had I known that his talk -- and many other equally fantastic essays -- would be perfectly contained in Maps and Legends, I might have stopped compulsively taking notes and simply basked in his talk. This book is brilliant. Every essay offers a nugget of wisdom for people who feel torn at their love of genre fiction, or just resentful toward the academic establishment for discounting genre fiction books. Chabon has a knack for turning a clever phrase and sits at the border between academic writing and accessibility. He comes across as a genuine, likable writer -- not an easy feat.
I definitely recommend this book.