The Yiddish Policemen's Union by Michael Chabon

[xse99]

Here's my Goodreads review--more a riff/comment, which is probably fine, since many including (miriam1978  and ladybird97 recently raved about it. I'm just glad I can finally start reading Opium Season!
***
What, you didn't read? A shonde.

This was a truly enjoyable book on so many levels: noir, alternate history, crazy klezmer riff on the Jewish experience. Did I mention it's funny? The central conceit is that instead of Israel, the Jews found/were loaned a homeland in Alaska--for 60 years. But now Sitka is about to Revert to the United States, and its yiddishkeit society to be scattered again. Against this background, Chabon sets a compelling murder mystery.

Chabon demonstrated his interest in these themes in his essay Say It In Yiddish which appeared about six years ago. Check it out..

Comments

[ladybird97.livejournal.com]

Wow. That's a beautiful essay. I can see why that idea stuck in Chabon's mind, and how it turned into the book. I'm glad you liked it!