The Yiddish Policemen's Union

I really should have enjoyed this book. Michael Chabon, author of The Yiddish Policemen's Union, also wrote one of my favorite novels, The Amazing Adventures of Kavilier and Clay. Additionally, this book won a Hugo Award for best science fiction novel.

But I didn't enjoy it.

I'm not sure what happened, but I never got sucked in. I couldn't really relate to the characters, the plot never hooked me, and I found the prevalence of Jewish references distanced me even further from the text.

The book revolves around Meyer Landsman, a detective whose personal life is a mess. He resides in a Jewish settlement in the Alaskan peninsula. In the book's alternate history, Alaska was set up as a settlement for displaced Jews after WWII, rather than Palestine. Landsman works on a murder case where things get worse and worse with each turn. He continues despite his fortune, unraveling a metaphorical (and literal) chess game.

I guess my problem with the book was that it contained all the wrong qualities. It was richly written (which is good), but the plot never hooked me (which makes the rich writing laborious). The characters were quirky (which was good), but they were quirky in their Jewish-ness (which I can't relate to). The book was a bit science fiction-y (which is good), but just as an alternate history with no science related qualities. In fact, it's easy to forget that there is an alternate history whatsoever.

Don't get me wrong - Chabon writes at a level matched by few other modern authors. The Yiddish Policemen's Union displays Chabon's mastery of the English language. It lacks story, a result perhaps of Chabon's effort to be creative and original.

Rating: 2 of 5 stars



12 books, 53 days...at this rate, I'll read 83 books