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Maps and Legends
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Manufacturer: McSweeney's
Author: Michael Chabon
Publisher: McSweeney's
Average Customer Rating:
Our Price: $16.32
You Save: $ 7.68 ( 32% )
Usually ships in 24 hours
Manufacturer: McSweeney's
Author: Michael Chabon
Publisher: McSweeney's
Average Customer Rating:
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Maps and Legends Description
Binding: Hardcover
Dewey Decimal Number: 801.95
EAN: 9781932416893
ISBN: 1932416897
Label: McSweeney's
Manufacturer: McSweeney's
Number Of Items: 1
Book Pages: 200
Publication Date: 2008-05-01
Publisher: McSweeney's
Studio: McSweeney's
Dewey Decimal Number: 801.95
EAN: 9781932416893
ISBN: 1932416897
Label: McSweeney's
Manufacturer: McSweeney's
Number Of Items: 1
Book Pages: 200
Publication Date: 2008-05-01
Publisher: McSweeney's
Studio: McSweeney's
Editorial Review of Maps and Legends
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.
Customer Reviews of Maps and Legends
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Inspiring collection
Review: I sought out this collection after reading the Harper's Magazine review. I knew of Mr. Chabon, but I hadn't read any of his fiction other than a short story from an issue of McSweeney's. Harper's made this sound as though it was such an incredibly wide ranging and eclectic collection that I thought I'd try it.
To an extent, the subjects do range over the hills and back again, but oddly enough, they also seem to hang together, like a novel written out of short stories. I suppose it isn't that odd, considering that Mr. Chabon seems to have one thing in mind, and that is defending his idols and heroes against any perceived slights, real or imagined - and considering the PW review, they are more real than imagined.
Personally, I found this collection immediately engaging. Many of the subjects were, as the PW reviewer rightly guessed, favorites of my own, but, like the genre fiction Mr. Chabon defends, I also dislike being pigeonholed into a category, regardless of whether the category involves comic book lovers or any other stereotype. I do like to be entertained, but entertainment to me means any method or presentation that inspires me to think. If that comes from the serious fiction of today, fine. If it comes from Jack Kirby, that's fine too.
As I read through the essays here, I did feel inspired - both to seek out some of the unfamiliar subjects Mr. Chabon covers here, and, as a struggling writer, to make use of the maps he provides, to draw from this landscape that we've both traveled through. It reminded me of what fiction is really about, regardless of what sort of blurbs and tags are appended onto the book's cover. It's all about the story - in fact, that's what legends are made of.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: There certainly is a point worth making.
Review: 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.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Excellent Collection
Review: 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.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: PW reviewer -- thanks for phoning it in
Review: 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?)
Review Summary: Inspiring collection
Review: I sought out this collection after reading the Harper's Magazine review. I knew of Mr. Chabon, but I hadn't read any of his fiction other than a short story from an issue of McSweeney's. Harper's made this sound as though it was such an incredibly wide ranging and eclectic collection that I thought I'd try it.
To an extent, the subjects do range over the hills and back again, but oddly enough, they also seem to hang together, like a novel written out of short stories. I suppose it isn't that odd, considering that Mr. Chabon seems to have one thing in mind, and that is defending his idols and heroes against any perceived slights, real or imagined - and considering the PW review, they are more real than imagined.
Personally, I found this collection immediately engaging. Many of the subjects were, as the PW reviewer rightly guessed, favorites of my own, but, like the genre fiction Mr. Chabon defends, I also dislike being pigeonholed into a category, regardless of whether the category involves comic book lovers or any other stereotype. I do like to be entertained, but entertainment to me means any method or presentation that inspires me to think. If that comes from the serious fiction of today, fine. If it comes from Jack Kirby, that's fine too.
As I read through the essays here, I did feel inspired - both to seek out some of the unfamiliar subjects Mr. Chabon covers here, and, as a struggling writer, to make use of the maps he provides, to draw from this landscape that we've both traveled through. It reminded me of what fiction is really about, regardless of what sort of blurbs and tags are appended onto the book's cover. It's all about the story - in fact, that's what legends are made of.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: There certainly is a point worth making.
Review: 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.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Excellent Collection
Review: 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.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: PW reviewer -- thanks for phoning it in
Review: 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?)