Michael Chabon's The Yiddish Policemen's Union.
About the author & plot:
Michael Chabon has written 6 novels and has had two collections of short stories published. Two of his novels, Mysteries of Pittsburgh and Wonder Boys, have also been adapted into major motion pictures. Another huge accomplishment he has had, is that he made a cameo appearance in an episode of The Simpsons!
I have been a fan of this author since reading his Pulitzer Prize-winning novel The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay (2001). In that book, Chabon created an amazingly believable fictional world centred around the birth of the comics industry in 1930s New York.
In this book, he goes even further by setting his novel in the fake Alaskan city of Sitka, based on a real-life proposal from the 1940s to create a Jewish district in the northern state. While this idea was eventually abandoned and the country of Israel formed a few years later, Chabon takes readers on an amazing journey of 'what if..' by setting his murder-mystery police novel in a modern-day version of this proposed city. The main character is Meyer Landsman, an alcoholic detective who is trying to solve the murder of a chess prodigy killed in Landsman's apartment. However, not only must Landsman struggle through the few clues and leads he has, he must also face the political pressure of such a high profile murder that is heightened by the fact that the Jewsih district of Sitka is being disbanded by the U.S. government. With so many of its citizens being forced to emigrate out of their homes, will Landsman be able to solve the crime in time?
Setting & Atmosphere
Again, the novel is set in the fictional city of Sitka, which is a part of Alaska. What's cool about this setting is that this actually was a proposed city after World War II, as so many Jewish immigrants had no place to go after their treatment under the Nazis in Europe. The novel takes place almost entirely in the city, with only a few scenes set in the wilderness outside of Sitka.
The story takes place in modern times, with the U.S. government just announcing the disbanding of the district. It is also set in the winter, a decision that has a huge effect on the novel's plot due to the severity of Alaskan winters.
The city is described as one that is controlled by the elements: it is cold, bleak and desolate. The harsh Alaskan winter creates an atmosphere of depression or isolation as characters are forced to submit to the powers of the elements. Also, the fact that the story occurs after the announcement by the United States reinforces the depressing atmosphere, as families that have lived in the district for 50 years are faced with the reality of having to abandon their homes and way of life.
Landsman: A protagonist struggling with his inner demons
One trait that Meyer Landsman demonstrates in the novel is his stubbornness. While most of the Sitka Police Department involve themselves in preparing for the end of their community, Landsman instead dedicates himself to his last case almost to the point of obsession. Warnings from his superiors, surprise attacks, and even a gunshot wound to the stomach are not enough to put him off the case.
Another trait Landsman exhibits in his personality is that he is suffering from depression. After his wife left him, the character turned to alcoholism to forget his problems, and often drinks himself to sleep. During the narration of the story, Landsman thinks to himself that one of the reasons that he is so dedicated to finding the murderer is that he has nothing else to really live for. His life is crumbling apart just like the city of Sitka, and it having a significant effect on Landsman's personality.
Initial thoughts on the book:
So far, I think this novel is very interesting. Culturally, I haven't read a book where I've learned more about the Jewish culture since Richler's The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz. This, coupled by a well-crafted murder investigation, makes this a highly recommended read.
