How does Michael Chabon use alternate history to explore the relationship between resettled people and people who have lived in communities like Sitka, Alaska? Does one need chess experience to understand the great metaphorical resonance of the game in The Yiddish Policemen’s Union? How does the book fit into the noir genre? Join a chess expert* (Rosianna Halse Rojas) and a chess novice (John Green) as they mull over Chabon’s 2007 novel.

This episode was originally released to subscribers in July 2019. The Life’s Library Discord and subscriptions are now closed after a wonderful three years of reading together. Check out past books at www.lifeslibrarybookclub.com, Twitter, and Instagram.

Episode transcript.

Life’s Library logo by Bethany Mannion.

*ran her street’s chess club when she was five