A Model World and Other Stories
by Michael Chabon
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Read in March, 2008
Years ago I read The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Klay and loved it. Earlier this year I read The Final Solution and loved it as well. So I decided to check out the rest of Chabon’s works, starting with his first publication, this book of short stories. The book is divided into two halves – the first half includes six unrelated stories, while the second half includes five stories involving the same character (Nathan Shapiro) at different ages of his young life. This book began rather...more
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Read in September, 2007
Early in Michael Chabon's career as a published writer he published this small collection of short stories, many of which had been seen in The New Yorker first. Following his Mysteries of Pittsburgh these short stories are in many ways a continuation of what he started - several stories take place in the Pittsburgh area, and, as always with Chabon, deal heavily with relationships (between men and women, boys and their fathers, boys and their brothers, boys and their first loves/lu...more
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Read in June, 2007
Perhaps this collection should have been titled, A Flawed World, because the characters and situations present broken promises, unfulfilled love, and a small measure of disappointment. But then again, flaws are inherent in any model, especially the worlds of love, friendship, and life.
This collection is a perfect transition from Chabon's very good first novel (The Mysteries of Pittsburgh) to his exciting roller coaster of a second novel (Wonder Boys). For me, the stori...more
This collection is a perfect transition from Chabon's very good first novel (The Mysteries of Pittsburgh) to his exciting roller coaster of a second novel (Wonder Boys). For me, the stori...more
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The fact that this was only Chabon's second book is fairly apparent. He was already a dazzling writer at this stage, but not as consistently, with some images capturing a moment or emotion perfectly and others striking the page with a conspicuous clunk. These stories are especially interesting in the context of the writer Chabon has become, a man who now openly criticizes (albeit lovingly) "the contemporary, quotidian, plotless, moment-of-truth revelatory story," which is what many of...more
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Read in April, 2008
I was already a fan of Chabon's novels and just picked this one up during a short stories binge. The first few stories are fine but not mind blowing. But the last few stories (The stories about Nathan Shapiro) are in the same vein as Wonder Boys and Mysteries of Pittsburgh but so much more endearing. Nathan is a fairly normal suburban kid dealing with just growing up but with the added confusion of parents divorcing and moving on. What I liked is that the stories are not in any way melodramatic ...more
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Read in October, 2007
there is a line in one of the stories that made me want to gasp and scream "No, Fucking way"!!! and thrown it across the room because it was so perfect - i mean it was really, really perfect. but it didn't cuz it was 6:00 in the morning and the rest of the house was asleep and i was a guest and i didn't think that would be very guest like of me. but if I weren't, if i was reading it at home (and my kids had on really thick earplugs) i would have totaly screamed "No, Fucking Way&q...more
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The short stories in the book are underwhelming. The literary equivalent of Chabon cracking his knuckles. They’re small and minamalistic, two adjectives I never thought I’d use for Chabon and not in a good way either. They’re like Raymond Carver if Carver was a really bad novelist. Just when I was about to right the whole thing off as a loss though, the nigh unbearably wistful novella that ends the book came and saved the day.
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Read in February, 2007
recommends it for:
Anyone who likes to read contemporary literature.
A great collection of short stories. I think I liked this one better than his other collection, Wolves in Their Youth. Some of the stories fit together loosely in the second half of the book. It's amazing how far Chabon can pull you in in such a short number of pages. hands down, my favorite living writer since Vonnegut is now dead. P( sad pirate.
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short stories by michael chabon! And I got it from B&N bargain bin for $3! score. Except, it was in that bin because it's kind of bad. The writing is still Chabon-y just kind of unpolished? I wouldn't recommend this for anyone but hardcore fans who will still love him despite the semi-crappiness. Werewolves definitely a better collection.
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Read in January, 2007
recommends it for:
hardcore chabon fans
i just couldn't get into it. the first half lacked depth, even for a short story compilation. the stories in the second half all dealt with the same family during various stages of disintegration. this semi-continuous story was much more enjoyable. i'd recommend werewolves in their youth over this collection.
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Read in October, 2006
Short stories aren't Chabon's strength - he's such a richly detailed writer that you've barely got an idea of who's in the story and where it is before it's over - but anything he writes is a treat and better than most anything else out there.
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Read in November, 2007
I'd only read Chabon's Summerland when I found this book in a pile of remainders at the airport. This is as far from being for children as possible! Very adult stories, with some surprising endings.
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Read in March, 2008
I think I've figured out what I like about Chabon's style--he creates these anachronistic characters and voices, but places them in obviously contemporary settings.
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Read in August, 2007
Reading, I felt like I'd caught him masturbating his style muscle -- in the best possible way. He just so obviously knows what he's doing.
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Includes one of the coolest short stories ever - published as written by a character from one of his other books! (Wonder Boys)
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Read in July, 2007
Starts and ends *very* strongly, but nothing in between can compare. "S ANGEL" and "The Kiss" are highly recommended.
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Read in June, 2007
recommends it for:
people who like things
This is great, I really like short stories, and Micheal Chabon. He kicks ass and has great style.
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I liked this a lot. I think his short stories are better than the Amazing Adventures deal.
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Read in December, 2007
I really enjoyed these stories and felt the endings were especially strong.
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Chabon is as skilled with short fiction as he is with sprawling epics.
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book data (includes all editions)
avg rating (all editions): 3.48 (441 ratings) avg rating (this edition): 3.47 (424 ratings) number of reviews: 28popular shelves
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"... But he believed that every great love was in some measure a terrible mistake."
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