"The Yiddish Policemen's Union"
Oct. 6th, 2007 11:22 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
rhuOver Yom Tov, I read The Yiddish Policemen's Union by Michael Chabon. I do not recommend it.
It's a noir detective novel set in an alternate universe where a region of Alaska was opened up to Jewish refugees during WWII and in 1948 when the fledgling "Republic of Isreal" collapsed. I was intrigued by that premise, and I kept with it because Chabon delivers on it. His depiction of life in that community was amusing and believable. I do wonder to what degree someone who isn't familiar with Yiddish culture in our universe would get it, though.
Here's the problem: I don't really like noir novels, and this one is blacker than the ones I've read. Reading this novel was a soul-grinding experience, and the denouement didn't satisfy. I felt diminished after reading this book. I had to read the start of The Nine Tailors to bring myself emotionally back to the point where I could get some sleep last night.
I don't know how large is the intersection of the set of people who enjoy dark noir mysteries and the set of people who would understand humorous asides about eruvin, tefillin, and mikvaot. I have to assume it's not an empty set or this book wouldn't have taken three months to reach me on the Minuteman Library reserve list. But I have to tell you: that set excludes me.
So in honor of this book's Yiddish side, I'm bringing back my original review rating system, and awarding The Yiddish Policemen's Union three kvetches.
It's a noir detective novel set in an alternate universe where a region of Alaska was opened up to Jewish refugees during WWII and in 1948 when the fledgling "Republic of Isreal" collapsed. I was intrigued by that premise, and I kept with it because Chabon delivers on it. His depiction of life in that community was amusing and believable. I do wonder to what degree someone who isn't familiar with Yiddish culture in our universe would get it, though.
Here's the problem: I don't really like noir novels, and this one is blacker than the ones I've read. Reading this novel was a soul-grinding experience, and the denouement didn't satisfy. I felt diminished after reading this book. I had to read the start of The Nine Tailors to bring myself emotionally back to the point where I could get some sleep last night.
I don't know how large is the intersection of the set of people who enjoy dark noir mysteries and the set of people who would understand humorous asides about eruvin, tefillin, and mikvaot. I have to assume it's not an empty set or this book wouldn't have taken three months to reach me on the Minuteman Library reserve list. But I have to tell you: that set excludes me.
So in honor of this book's Yiddish side, I'm bringing back my original review rating system, and awarding The Yiddish Policemen's Union three kvetches.