Sunday, January 11, 2009

The Condition, Jennifer Haigh

An easy moving novel perfect for a weekend read - amazing articulation of human insights and strong character/reader bonding. A tad heavy-handed in some of the foreshadowing, but not necessarily in an irritating way. Loved it. (+)

Thursday, January 8, 2009

The Yiddish Policeman's Union, Michael Chabon

1/7/09

I'm on the fence for how I feel about alternate history novels - it feels as if its layered with inside jokes except we're all in on all of them. Perhaps it's the January ickies talking, but I think that maybe if I hadn't loved Kavalier & Clay so much, I may not have finished this. It's great in all the ways that Chabon is great - awesome detail, cultural insight and dry humor - but somewhere in the 2nd half it became a derivative of a grocery store suspense novel. (0)