It Could Be A Book Of The Year, Girls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                         Sweeties, I am telling you, so far Michael Chabon's "Telegraph Avenue," is the best new novel I have read this year.  Whether it turns out to be my, or anyone else's, Book Of The Year, still remains to be seen, but it is sure to turn up on many Ten Best Lists at year's end.

                                         You have to hand it Michael Chabon.  With his sleazy scruffiness, he may, visually, be the Philip Seymour Hoffman of literature, but he can write!  A new Chabon novel is always something to look forward to, but I have to say this is his most satisfying and enjoyable work since his now magnum opus, "The Amazing Adventures Of Kavalier and Clay."

                                          Actually, "Telegraph Avenue" has much in common with that book--a telescoped, yet seeming panoramic story of social change and upheaval in late 20th Century Oakland and Berkeley, California; a gallery of quirky and interesting characters (Gwen and Aviva being my two favorites; especially Gwen!!!!) and more pop culture references scattered throughout than any book since 'Kavalier'.
I think Eleanor Henderson should read this right away, and take a lesson; in many ways this is the book her "Ten Thousand Saints" was desperately trying to be, but she just could not make it work.  Chabon is able to make it all work, even when he shouldn't; like when he writes in the street vernacular of "homeboys."  Yet  he pulls it off!!!!!!!!!!!

                                       The inside jacket described the book as a Nor Cal (for Northern California) "Middlemarch."  Now, darlings, I think that is a little overreaching on the part of the jacket writer, though I can understand where that hyperbole comes from.  But once begun, "Telegraph Avenue" will take the reader on a journey they will not want to finish, until the book comes to its satisfying, conclusive, halt.  Had I the luxury of Time, I would have loved to devour it in a single sitting; and I have no doubt many will.

                                         In fact, when I reached the end, I sighed, sad there was no more, and having to wait for the next Michael Chabon.  "Telegraph Avenue" is not just the highlight of the Literary Season; it is a book for those serious about serious, literary fiction!!!!!!

                                          Yes, darlings, Michael Chabon has done it again.  I was expecting the book to be good, but not THIS good!  Run out, and grab a copy to read!!!!!!!!!!

                                           As Bob Dylan once wrote, "The Times, They Are A' Changing."  But is that always for the best?  "Telegraph Avenue" makes its readers think about this.