Book 26 - SHAY-bon

Title: Manhood for Amateurs: The Pleasures and Regrets of a Husband, Father, and Son

Author: Michael Chabon

Genre: Memoir/ collection of essays

So...listen. When I first started this book, my notes were pretty ranty. I was pissed at Chabon (SHAY-bon - finally, after all these years, I can stop trying to pronounce his name with that leftover accent I have from French immersion. All it took was a wikipedia search...). Too many metaphors, I said; "it feels like being slapped in the face with words", I wrote. Metaphors within metaphors - I was ready to throttle the editor that would let him run wild with such rampant disregard for the reading experience.

I officially take it all back.

CHABON. I've forgotten how much I love his writing. I fell in love with Mysteries of Pittsburg and devoured Wonder Boys (and gave up on Kavalier & Clay, but...whatever), and when I finally got back into his particular style, I was hooked. In this collective of personal essays, I feel like an observer of the musings that haunt this man's past and present life and writings.

AND I LOVE IT.

I especially appreciate Chabon's musings on his role in propagating and dismantling the societal influences upon women and men. He never comes across as aw-shucks apologetic, nor does he try to mansplain-elbow his way into the space. Instead, he ponders the nature of masculinity in his lifelong battle and final vanquishing to the purse (sometimes pockets aren't enough! let men have purses, already!), his own ineptitude in the face of tampons (his defeat at the word "applicator" is hilarious and understandable), his criticisms of women in coms, and, finally, his own acceptance of what he does and doesn't know as a son, husband, and father. The final product is a thoughtful, funny, and fully Chabon-esque collective of weirdness of which I am both relieved and sad at having completed.

Also - is there any way the picture on the front of this book could be any better?

Rating: 🍓🍓🍓🍓