In just one short week we begin the Telegraph Avenue Read Along. It's hosted by As the Crowe Flies (and Reads!), one of my favorite reading/travel blogs. I'm definitely not the uber Michael Chabon fan - but I am a fan. I read and wasn't particularly a fan of Wonder Boys. I've attempted The Yiddish Policeman's Union and wasn't able to get through it - though that may have had to do with the fact that I was in the process of obtaining a new job and thinking about moving. Also - it was lost on the me that the genre is magical realism - a fact that, now that I'm aware, has turned the book back on to me. I'll probably approach it again later this year.
But I have read and absolutely loved The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay. It was one of those books that gets down deep under your skin, that burrows its way into your heart and stays there - always warm and loving when recalled.
Here's the schedule, as laid out by our fearless leader:
The book isn't out yet, but if you find yourself intrigued and would like to pre-order - visit Odyssey Bookshop.
I'm clearly going to have to read more Chabon after this--the only book that I finished was his book of essays, which I liked quite a bit. Thanks for joining this readalong!
ReplyDeleteAs you mentioned, Kavalier & Clay is amazing. Yiddish Policeman's Union is also very good - but I didn't finish it either. Like you, I was reading it at a very messy time in my life and I put it down for a month or two. By the time I picked it up again, I'd forgotten enough of the plot that I needed to just start over. That never happened, obvs.
ReplyDeleteI never read Wonder Boys but I liked the movie. What didn't you like about it?
I just found it to be too much - too over the top in its pretentiousness. It almost felt to try hard to me, especially after coming off of Kav & Clay - which I thought was just... the most (seemingly) effortlessly beautiful novel ever.
DeleteIf you click on the link, I did write up a review for it, but it was back when I wasn't taking my reviews all that seriously. I'm not sure how to really explain it being this far gone from my reading of it. But there were symbols for symbols sake. It felt like one of those hipstery type novels where if I claimed I didn't like it because it wasn't particularly good, I'd be scolded for 'not getting it'. But I got it - I just felt like I knew Chabon could do better.
It was... it reminded me of Bukowski. Not of Chabon - though how can I really claim that, only having really read Kav & Clay? And a poor man's Bukowski at that.
Maybe I should watch the movie.
I had K&C on my bookshelf for a long time and finally relinquished it to make room. I'll have to hunt it down and read it after all these rave reviews.
ReplyDeleteOoh, this is good to know that some of his books can click and others don't. I won't judge him off one then.
ReplyDelete