Helpful Score: 8
Interesting little tale with a fitting play on words, considering the setting of World War II London.
This somewhat recentâand shortâoffering from one of this generation's finest was tightly spun. But as Chabon himself said in current interviews about THE YIDDISH POLICEMEN'S UNION, he tends to overwrite. At 113 pages or so, I can imagine this book would have been shorter with a more relentless swipe at the prose.
I still enjoyed this little book. A lot.
I can't wait to read TYPU.
This somewhat recentâand shortâoffering from one of this generation's finest was tightly spun. But as Chabon himself said in current interviews about THE YIDDISH POLICEMEN'S UNION, he tends to overwrite. At 113 pages or so, I can imagine this book would have been shorter with a more relentless swipe at the prose.
I still enjoyed this little book. A lot.
I can't wait to read TYPU.
Helpful Score: 4
Fascinating tale based on a retired Sherlock Holmes character and a Jewish refugee child with a puzzling parrot who recites only sequences of numbers. Unlike a Conan Doyle tale, the mystery is not tied up in a neat bow at the conclusion of the novel. Some horrors cannot be deduced from the facts uncovered and extrapolations of their meanings.
Helpful Score: 3
a very nice, short read. I love the older detective stories, Sherlock Holmes and the like, and this was an interesting angle on the genre.
Helpful Score: 3
The Pulitzer Prize-winning author has created a charming homage to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's famous detective. All of his fans will want to read this story, which picks up with the once-famous detective, now 89, living in retirement and keeping bees. When a 9-year-old mute boy with an African parrot happens by his cottage, you just know a mystery will follow. Beautifully done. Mr. Chabon, please write more.
Helpful Score: 3
This was a quiet, contemplative mystery regarding a missing parrot who may know some secret information. While the mystery itself was not that engaging, I did enjoy reading about Sherlock Holmes in his retirement years and how taking care of bees became a solace to him after years of detection.
Karen F. (lovelylibrarian) -
Helpful Score: 3
I enjoyed this clever short detective story. The writing was excellent and I read this story more slowly than I would usually read so that I could better appreciate Chabon's style.
Helpful Score: 2
A brief but eloquent mystery involving a parrot uttering sequences of numbers....in German. Of course this is unusual, but even more intriguing in wartime England. Beautifully written with charming pencil illustrations.
Helpful Score: 1
Michael Chabon spins a short and highly clever story of one of the last true adventures of favorite detective Sherlock Holmes. Great for discussions!
Helpful Score: 1
I am always amazed at the facility some writers have in using language itself to establish characters and scenes. Michael Chabon does this as well as any author. The problem is that this time, the language seemed to get in the way of the story. It is a first rate mystery but, again, the language.
Thomas F. (hardtack) -
Helpful Score: 1
Alas, despite being a fan of any of Holmes' adventures, I found this novel to be somewhat of a disappointment. It just seem to stumble along to no purpose except the author's fascination with words. It would have done better as a short story than as a novelette.
Helpful Score: 1
A quick read - very unique style. I really enjoyed it!
Stephanie B. (stephanierbm) reviewed The Final Solution: A Story of Detection on + 23 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Nice entertaining short read.
Helpful Score: 1
Not my favorite Chabon book (I kept feeling like I must have missed a chapter somewhere) but still worthwhile reading.
Sherlock Holmes is everywhere - and this novella is a great, fresh play on the famous detective. Chabon's writing is witty and he develops a smart, playful story.
If you like Sherlock Holmes, you'll probably appreciate this book. It was a bit too fruity for me and the solution to the mystery was pretty weak.
Kristin M. (MissKristin66) - , reviewed The Final Solution: A Story of Detection on + 80 more book reviews
A very strange book.
Rather uninspiring.
