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| Maps and Legends | 
 enlarge | Author: Michael Chabon
Publisher: McSweeney's
Category: Book
List Price: $24.00
Buy New: $14.43
You Save: $9.57 (40%)
New (46) Used (12) Collectible (7) from $13.00
Avg. Customer Rating:  13 reviews
Sales Rank: 40330
Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 200
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.2
Dimensions (in): 8.8 x 5.7 x 0.8
ISBN: 1932416897
Dewey Decimal Number: 801.95
EAN: 9781932416893
ASIN: 1932416897
Publication Date: May 1, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
Michael Chabon's sparkling first book of nonfiction is a love song in 16 parts — a series of linked essays in praise of reading and writing, with subjects running from ghost stories to comic books, Sherlock Holmes to Cormac McCarthy. Throughout, Chabon energetically argues for a return to the thrilling, chilling origins of storytelling, rejecting the false walls around "serious" literature in favor of a wide-ranging affection. His own fiction, meanwhile, is explored from the perspective of personal history: post-collegiate desperation sparks his debut, The Mysteries of Pittsburgh; procrastination and doubt reveal the way toward Wonder Boys; a love of comics and a basement golem combine to create the Pulitzer Prize-winning The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay; and an enigmatic Yiddish phrasebook unfurls into The Yiddish Policeman's Union.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 8 more reviews...
 PW reviewer -- thanks for phoning it in March 31, 2008
41 out of 49 found this review helpful
Wow. The PW excerpt is worthless. Worse yet, the reviewer doesn't understand Chabon's stance throughout the book. But what do I know? I'm just one of those "comic-book lovers" degraded in the review. (I'm also a professor. Should I be conflicted?)
Excellent Collection April 1, 2008
38 out of 40 found this review helpful
I know a lot of these essays from other sources and have lived with them a while. They're good pieces, and the PW critic *did* phone it in with such a soft-boiled review.
Chabon's defense of genre isn't confined to comics. His right concern is that most genre writers are marginalized to some degree, regardless of their talents and achievements. It takes a Patrick O'Brian or JRR Tolkien longer to garner critical praise simply because they're "merely" writing sea novels or fantasy epics, and however good a sci-fi or western writer might be, chances are his or her book is stuck in a corner at the bookstore. In 1984 and Hound of the Baskervilles and Frankenstein appeared for the first time this year, they might get lost in the genre aisle, and would almost certainly confront dismissive criticism. All of which Chabon elucidates far better than I.
Genre aside, Chabon's essays about his own career are terrific and entertaining. If PW wants to imagine this book's audience, it's people who enjoy reading or writing fiction--literary *or* genre--and those who like Chabon and his books. That's a big readership.
There certainly is a point worth making. April 23, 2008
11 out of 12 found this review helpful
I agree in spirit with with comments chastising PW for the review, but overall I appreciate it more than I disapprove. Attempting to disprove Chabon's stance -- genre fiction deserves a good, strong defense -- the PW reviewer's snide effort complete with shells lobbed out of some book beau monde, the whole works merely bolsters his position. The subject isn't a job Chabon puts up for the purpose of building a empty argument: In the past, when I set out to write weighty material and still wound up framing it in genre, I was near mortified. I've gotten over that, but sometimes I still feel skittish browsing the science fiction aisle. I take responsibility for my own foolishness, but something happened along the way; in my youth I unselfconsciously inspected the fantastical spines of at least every third book on those shelves.
Since we are now so fond of the likes of Lost through Transformers -- our culture has indeed always loved these sorts of things -- while certain literary connoisseurs lament an apparently lame-brained passion for these genre entertainments, at the same time mourning the demise of wholesale American literacy, what's the plan for bringing people back to good books? Stomping out the fun stuff?
So, yes, I'd say we could use a bold defense of genre fiction, comic books and -- gasp! -- entertaining authors. A fiery "tirade" may well suit. And, my stars, please don't confuse "emphatic" or "adamant" with "bitter". Otherwise published in this volume, Chabon's short-form memoirs collected are a welcome addition to his catalog.
 Chutzpah and Creativity July 4, 2008
9 out of 9 found this review helpful
A friend presented me with this gorgeous book as a gift, and I found myself drawn in by the artwork, the layout, the traditional book binding. I've only read one Chabon novel, and, although I enjoyed the style of writing immensely, I wasn't a big fan of the story itself. Here, Chabon gives us an entirely different thing: essays into the nature of art, literary criticism, genres, and the places from which writers draw inspiration.
"Maps and Legends" can hardly be considered mainstream nonfiction. It's appeal may be to his fans and to those who pine for the days of short stories and comics and highly-regarded genre fiction. There is no doubting the man's skill and passion, though. Publishers Weekly seems to have an ax of their own to grind by slamming this collection as a bitter diatribe from a Pulitzer-winning author. I felt very little of that "bitterness"; instead, I found a lot of nostalgic ruminations and words of wisdom. Some of it is cautionary, some humorous, and much of it autobiographical.
I have to thank Chabon for writing about something dear to his heart, despite the perceptions of jaded critics. I may not always agree with the man's ideas, or buy into his stories, but I cannot help but admire his chutzpah--even if he'd rather I just called it "courage."
Point well made in this series of essays June 7, 2008
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
I eagerly awaited Michael Chabon's first book of essays. Many of these had been published before, but I had never read any. This is a collection of essays defending the writing of genre fiction. In Chabon's view, a serious writer who embarks on writing science fiction, comic books, or ghost stories is doomed to scorn and ridicule. Presumably the scorners are academics and professional reviewers.
In some quarters, this book has been dismissed as bitter ranting. Certainly, there is some bitterness (although with Chabon's success, I am not sure why he seems to take the bigotry personally) but I think there is also too much wisdom here to dismiss so easily. In the end, I think Chabon makes his point effectively.
There are also some wonderful insights into how Chabon came to write many of his popular novels. Also, I loved his perspective on golems, which figured so prominently in Kavalier and Clay.
I believe this book will have great appeal to most Michael Chabon fans. Those not familiar with his major works may be a bit lost as to what the hubbub is about. Even then, the essays have a good deal of appeal, because I think most readers will realize the discrimination Chabon claims is true.
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