Edwardsville Public Library discussion

We will begin reading and discussing this book January 3rd. Feel free to share your thoughts/questions about any aspect of the book. Alana T. will be moderating this discussion.

Ooops, I forgot to post something for the first week! So sorry about that. Any thoughts/comments so far?

I think Michael Chabon displays some masterful writing in this book. Not only has he written a gripping detective story, but he has placed it in an alternate reality that allows him to explore numerous thought provoking themes. One of these is the concept of the Jewish homeland. Before reading this book, I would not have thought of Alaska. Does geography matter? Or is Zion more a frame of mind? Any thoughts?

Even though we have a few people who are stopping by, no one has shared his or her thoughts about the book... Here's a question for anyone out there - what do you think about Meyer feeling compelled to solve this crime, even though the person who committed the murder will not be brought to justice? This aspect of the book reminded me of The Last Policeman by Ben Winters. In that book, the world is ending, but the main character feels that it would be immoral to not find a murderer. Any thoughts?

I thought Meyer had an interest in Mendel initially because of the chess board. Over time that interest seemed to develop more as he learned more about Mendel's life and also the things they had in common. Chess played a significant role in both of their lives, they both had less than ideal relationships with their father and Meyer's sister was also linked to Mendel. I felt that these were some of the reasons he felt compelled to solve it.
I also wanted to comment that I really enjoyed his writing - some of his sentences/passages were just so beautifully written. Here is just one example - "He has prayed to her for rain, and she has sent cool showers. But what he really requires is a flood to wash away his wickedness from the face of the earth. That or the blessing of a yid who will never bless anyone again."

Meyer's identity was completely tied to being an investigator so I think he went forward trying to solve the murder because he didn't know what else to do. He didn't have anything else going on in his life.

I agree Chabon is a wonderful writer. One person I know commented to me that she reads his books with a dictionary at her side - his words expand her mind.

Any thoughts on Meyer's sense of isolation and despair and how that links to/parallels Mendel? I often had the sense that half of Meyer is just dragging along, the other half driven by something.

Any thoughts on the setting? Does it make a difference that the story takes place in Alaska? Or is the Reversion more important?