A Model World and Other Stories by Michael Chabon. 

This is some of Chabon’s earliest work.  And I’m one of those heretics who admits that most short stories leave me feeling unsatisfied.  The first half of the book includes several stories Chabon wrote early in his career.  His facility with language is evident, and he’s on the way to some really interesting characters–it’s clear that the kernel for what became The Mysteries of Pittsburgh is here.  If the book continued in that vein, I would have been glad to read it but not really full–it’s a nice light snack, the first half of the book.  It’s the kind of work a promising student produces when he’s still trying to understand that, while witty is nice, it isn’t always enough to keep folks reading.

The second half of the book is a series of stories about a kid named Nathan, who is growing up in the Northeast and running into the sort of stuff geeky teens in America experience.  This is where Chabon really blossoms as a young story-teller.  I want to know more about Nathan and his family and friends.  I want a novel about Nathan. 

Trackback URI | Comments RSS