At once, Chabon’s prose transports you over a thousand years into the past to a world of swordsmen and swindlers. If the text seems verbose, that’s because it is and the prolific use of virtually unknown and archaic words may get you down (especially we younger folk). My advice, just go with it and stop reaching for the dictionary. By page forty, many of the terms became self-explanatory and I enjoyed the story without worrying about them. And as far as the story goes, it’s great – a true adventure tale that reminds me of The Hobbit without the fantastic dragon. Don’t get me wrong, Gentlemen is historical fiction and not fantasy. But two unlikely friends, on the road in search of glory and fortune, do remind me of hobbits and dwarfs in Tolkien’s story. I’ve read Chabon’s short story collection, Werewolves in Their Youth (which I didn’t care for), but Gentlemen is completely different. It’s got plenty of humor, fight scenes, elephants and a twist I didn’t see coming. Chabon’s style is elegant and his recreation of a lost era masterful.
Rating: 3 stars Pages: with afterword, 204
Publisher: Del Rey Books Trade Paperback Edition, copyright 2007
Source: Barnes and Noble More on this author at: http://www.southwestern.edu/library/writers-voice/chabon.html
You had me at elephants.
ReplyDeleteI've heard never read anything by Michael Chabon, he's definitely on my list of authors to try at some point. The historical adventure without dragons or dwarves definitely appeals, and at only a couple hundred pages, I could hardly go wrong, right?
Lots of people highly recommend The Mysteries of Pittsburgh by Chabon, too. Chabon dabbles in every genre so if you don't like one book, try another, is what I'd say.
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