Summerland: A Novel: Summerland - Michael Chabon

Very Enjoyable Book

Quite simply this is a very enjoyable book. Its structure is a well woven blend of ancient and modern myths and legends, primarily fairies and baseball; that is, the summer country and the good ole summertime. The book also features everyone's favorite trickster: Coyote.

The adventure is well written and believable regardless of its unbelievable content. The story line is fast paced and kept me reading. I cared about the characters good and bad. The conclusion is satisfying. All in all the book has genuine literary content and intriguing ideas. It is worth reading more than once.

For Young and Old

This is a fun read. Chabon is a true literary talent, and in Summerland he sets aside the complicated, down-to-earth troubles of humans and their relationships for a charming world of fantasy. It's fun, it's easy, it's well written, and little Elroy will ask you to read another chapter before bedtime, every night, until it's done.

A very creative take on real heroes

Heroes are born of circumstance. Ordinary people are called upon to be extraordinary and they answer the call despite overwhelming mortal threat and no chance of a material reward. It is always an inspiring surprise when the ordinary schmoe steps it up and saves the world. Take that context, throw in a love letter to baseball, and you've got the gist of this book. It is a bit like Tolkien. Substitute children for the hobbits, baseball games for the battles, and you've got yourself a great yarn on good versus evil. I enjoyed it. It is a bit derivative, but so what. It is a fun read that I did not want to end.

Forget that it's Chabon we're talking about.

I picked up this book when it first came out, quite unaware as to who exactly Michael Chabon was, and therefore, held no expectations of what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised, and instantly hooked.

The tone immediately transfers the reader to a hot, sunny, summer day, as the journey unfolds. The story is set to a baseball theme, with each portion of the book dedicated to different moments in a baseball game. Ethan, the hero, is easy to root for, as he searches for his father, kidnapped by the nasty Coyote. The Coyote is planning on killing the tree of life, and therefore controlling the universe. Helped along by Thor, a kid who thinks he's actually a robot, and Jennifer T. Rideout, a girl striving to prove her worth to the world, two ferishers, and a Sasquatch named Taffy, Ethan battles his way through baseball games with all sorts of creatures.

This book is amazingly beautiful, with backstories and such vivid details that the book almost reads like a movie reel. Don't be fooled by the disappointed Chabon fans. I've since read the rest of Chabon's books, and Summerland is quite unlike the rest. In fact, Summerland almost reads like a Neil Gaiman "American Gods." Please, if you love epic journeys and battles between good and evil, pick up this book. If you're a baseball lover, pick up this book. I promise you won't be disappointed.

Great Book for Young at Heart

I loved this book. I read it twice, originally getting it for my kids to read. I loved the imaginary world, the baseball stuff, the characters and the wackiness of the plot. "Summerland" falls into the category of books that includes "His Dark Materials" trilogy, "Holes," or "Wrinkle in Time," where the fantasy element is closely tied to character development. It won't appeal to everyone, but that's how books are.