Helpful Score: 1
I liked it even better than the Amazing
Adventures of Kavalier & Clay.
Alternate history meets noir mystery - but Chabon's writing definitely
transcends the conventions of any genre. He intentionally takes the stock
noir character of the beaten-down, alcoholic policeman - and makes him not
a stock character at all, but a fully-realized, memorable character, Meyer
Landsman.
Said character is a policeman to the Jewish territory of Alaska, where,
after WWII, refugees were allowed to settle. (And no, the native Alaskans
weren't that delighted with it.) However, now, Reversion is
(Hong-Kong-like) approaching. The Alaskan territory is going back to the
USA, the settlers will have to relocate, and angst and uncertainty are
everywhere. Well, except for in the Orthodox/organized-crime-run
community. Against this background, a man is found murdered in Landsman's
flophouse hotel, an unfinished chess game on the table next to him.
Murders aren't too uncommon in Sitka, Alaska, but this one, Landsman feels
obligated to solve, as it happened literally on his home turf. He feels
that obligation even when his ex-wife, also a cop, comes back to town -
after being appointed his supervisor - and orders him to stop the
investigation. In mysteries, does the cop ever stop investigating when
told to? Of course not!
Really, a great book. Everyone should read it.
Adventures of Kavalier & Clay.
Alternate history meets noir mystery - but Chabon's writing definitely
transcends the conventions of any genre. He intentionally takes the stock
noir character of the beaten-down, alcoholic policeman - and makes him not
a stock character at all, but a fully-realized, memorable character, Meyer
Landsman.
Said character is a policeman to the Jewish territory of Alaska, where,
after WWII, refugees were allowed to settle. (And no, the native Alaskans
weren't that delighted with it.) However, now, Reversion is
(Hong-Kong-like) approaching. The Alaskan territory is going back to the
USA, the settlers will have to relocate, and angst and uncertainty are
everywhere. Well, except for in the Orthodox/organized-crime-run
community. Against this background, a man is found murdered in Landsman's
flophouse hotel, an unfinished chess game on the table next to him.
Murders aren't too uncommon in Sitka, Alaska, but this one, Landsman feels
obligated to solve, as it happened literally on his home turf. He feels
that obligation even when his ex-wife, also a cop, comes back to town -
after being appointed his supervisor - and orders him to stop the
investigation. In mysteries, does the cop ever stop investigating when
told to? Of course not!
Really, a great book. Everyone should read it.
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