I wanted very much to not like this book. You see, I want all new recruits to the old boys’ literary club to be thwarted. With the arrogant predecessors slowly passing or becoming less a force of nature (think Mailer, Updike, and Roth), I don’t want to see a new group formed. But the literary world, ever so dependent on its comfortable categories, seems set on keeping the tradition of the white male elite, as leaders of the canon, alive and well. And, Mr. Chabon is near the head of the class.
This irks me to no end, but what irks me even more is that he kind of deserves the attention. Okay, he definitely deserves it. The man can write. Fine, I said it. I listened to The Yiddish Policemen’s Union upon the recommendation of my witty and wonderful coworker Nancy Hariani, who not only recommended, but highly recommended the audiobook because of Peter Reigert’s masterful reading. And I arrogantly thought, "An alternative history, I’m sure to despise this one." Boy, was I wrong.
After WWII the Jewish community is relocated to the Alaskan territories to form its own "country" of Sitka. Chabon takes us to this world just as Sitka is about to revert back to U.S. control. This sounds complicated, political and full of social commentary. And it is; however, Chabon spices it up by not making it just an "important work" (please read ironically).
We meet the main character — tough-talking, funny, down-on-his-luck Detective Meyer Landsman — as a corpse is discovered in the flophouse where he’s been staying since his marriage failed. (Yes, Chabon gives us the grittiest of gumshoe novels…with several curve balls thrown in.) As Landsman battles some personal demons, his precinct is going through upheaval, and his new boss is his estranged wife Bina. It just so happens that the corpse is the son of a powerful Rabbi who Chabon depicts as akin to a scary mob boss. Oh, yeah, and the dead man was thought by many to be the Messiah.
As complex, and well, frankly, weird as this sounds, The Yiddish Policemen’s Union was an incredibly entertaining experience. Chabon’s characterizations are so rich and believable that I found myself genuinely wanting to hang out with Bina, Landsman, and his partner, the hilarious and fascinating Berko "Johnny Bear" Shemetz. In fact, I found myself longing for this to be, gulp, a series.
Man, crow burns going down.
June 22nd, 2009 at 3:01 pm
So he’s done it again, huh? Just when I thought I could leave the ghost of Michael Chabon behind me. I went to Howard High School with Mr. Chabon and even though he was a year ahead of me I had the honor of acting with him in “By The Skin of Our Teeth”. It always seems when I feel I’ve gotten nowhere with my life he is there to remind me how well he has done with his. I hold no ill will against him and only wish him the best. Just a little funny, he manages to come out with another hit when I’m feeling a little down (gee, thanks Michael). I haven’t read this but I’d recommend it just on my past experience with him. Immediately heading to the catalog and placing a request. Thanks for reviewing this and congrats to Mr. Chabon yet again.
July 6th, 2009 at 5:10 pm
I didn’t mean to bring you down! Besides, I happen to think you are doing wonderfully well, and you don’t have to worry about arrogant little know-it-alls, like me, reviewing your work on some blog.
August 13th, 2009 at 3:07 pm
Peter Reigert *is* Meyer Landsman! One more example of a good book made great by virtue of a talented reader. Reading a Yiddish conversation is one thing – hearing it is quite another!
August 30th, 2009 at 4:24 pm
I have read a few of Chabon’s other other books and enjoyed them. I was aware of this book, but being neither Jewish nor Indian nor Alaskan nor a yiddish speaker, it did not grab my attention. However, when looking through this site for a good audio book, I saw this review and decided to give “The Yiddish Policemen’s Union” a try. I am immensely glad I did. The story is wonderful, and as another reviewer mentioned, Reigert really makes the characters come alive. I would strongly recommend this as an audio-book.
Thanks for the suggestion!