There was something very right about finishing this book over Labor Day Weekend, that great American demarcation of the end of summer, “The Mysteries of Pittsburgh” being the tale of a mobster’s son coming of age in the summer following his graduation from college in which he falls in love with girl, falls in love with boy, falls in love with girl.

I’m sorry, spoiler alert? I hope that doesn’t ruin anything for anyone. As a matter of principle, I do not alert of spoilers if the book is older than 10 years. Mysteries was originally published back in 1988.

I just now got around to it as it was 90% off at a recent bargain sale. It just takes a while before books are affordable to the Authwhore. We are sophisticated. But sophisticated misers. My life is nothing more than a to-read list of books that I’m waiting to go on sale.

Mysteries of Pittsburgh is good. Not Great Gatsby or Catcher in the Rye good, but much better than the novel I wrote when I was 22. Good job, Mr. Chabon.

I am a Michael Chabon fan. Wonder Boys. Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay. Maps and Legends. Manhood for Amateurs. Yiddish Policeman’s Union. All good. I have even read Final Solution. With this recent consumption of Mysteries, I have almost completed the entire Chabon canon. I am only lacking the 2 collections of short stories and Summerland and the recent Gentlemen of the Road.

Just make sure you pronounce his name correctly. (“Shea” as in stadium and “Bon” as in Jovi.)

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