Telegraph Avenue

a novel

468 pages

English language

Published Oct. 4, 2012 by HarperCollins Publishers Ltd.

ISBN:
978-1-55468-207-2
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OCLC Number:
794300938

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In this novel the author takes us to Telegraph Avenue. It is a story that explores the profoundly intertwined lives of two Oakland, California families, one black and one white. Here he creates a world grounded in pop culture: Kung Fu, 1970s Blaxploitation films, vinyl LPs, jazz and soul music, and an epic of friendship, race, and secret histories. Longtime band mates Archy and Nat preside over Brokeland Records, a used-record emporium. All is well until a former NFL quarterback, one of the country's richest African Americans, decides to build his latest Dogpile megastore on nearby Telegraph Avenue. Not only could this spell doom for the little shop and its cross-race, cross-class dream, but it opens up past history regarding Archy's untethered dad and a Black Panther-era crime.

19 editions

Review of 'Telegraph Avenue' on 'Goodreads'

This is another beautifully written novel by Michael Chabon, who has a mysterious ability to conjure up irresistible characters, seeing out of their eyes, and becoming a master of any subject. In this case, the subjects are the history and culture of a certain area of Oakland, which form the backdrop and memories of the main characters. As anyone would expect from a Chabon novel, there is more than one storyline, all depicting people trying to find their own meaning and way of life, while attending to their individual road blocks. I found it riveting.

Now, I must look up some of this music--and perhaps a Kung Fu movie.

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Subjects

  • Family secrets
  • Fiction
  • Male friendship
  • Domestic fiction

Places

  • Oakland (Calif.)
  • Berkeley (Calif.)
  • California
  • Berkeley
  • Oakland