Art Bechstein steps out of the library into the summer of his graduation year. Not yet ready for respectability, he falls in with the exotic, charming Arthur Lecomte, and ricochets between a homosexual relationship and an intense affair with a strange and beautiful girl called Phlox. Before long, the world of his new friends and the underworld of his father must collide, with consequences that Art cannot control.
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Art Bechstein steps out of the library into the summer of his graduation year. Not yet ready for respectability, he falls in with the exotic, charming Arthur Lecomte, and ricochets between a homosexual relationship and an intense affair with a strange and beautiful girl called Phlox. Before long, the world of his new friends and the underworld of his father must collide, with consequences that Art cannot control.
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Add this copy of The Mysteries of Pittsburgh to cart. $1.46, fair condition, Sold by Reuseabook rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Gloucester, GLOS, UNITED KINGDOM, published 1989 by HarperPerennial.
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Seller's Description:
Fair. Dispatched, from the UK, within 48 hours of ordering. The book is perfectly readable and fit for use, although it shows signs of previous ownership. The spine is likely creased and the cover scuffed or slightly torn. Textbooks will typically have an amount of underlining and/or highlighting, as well as notes. If this book is over 5 years old, then please expect the pages to be yellowing or to have age spots. Aged book. Tanned pages and age spots, however, this will not interfere with reading.
Add this copy of The Mysteries of Pittsburgh to cart. $2.06, very good condition, Sold by Reuseabook rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Gloucester, GLOS, UNITED KINGDOM, published 1988 by Sceptre.
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Dispatched, from the UK, within 48 hours of ordering. Though second-hand, the book is still in very good shape. Minimal signs of usage may include very minor creasing on the cover or on the spine.
Add this copy of The Mysteries of Pittsburgh to cart. $3.83, very good condition, Sold by The Guru Bookshop rated 3.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Hereford, WALES, UNITED KINGDOM, published 1988 by Sceptre.
Add this copy of The Mysteries of Pittsburgh (Harper Perennial Deluxe to cart. $4.98, good condition, Sold by Goldstone Books rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Ammanford, CARMS, UNITED KINGDOM, published 2011 by Harper Perennial.
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Good. All orders are dispatched within 1 working day from our UK warehouse. Established in 2004, we are dedicated to recycling unwanted books on behalf of a number of UK charities who benefit from added revenue through the sale of their books plus huge savings in waste disposal. No quibble refund if not completely satisfied.
Add this copy of The Mysteries of Pittsburgh (Sceptre 21'S) to cart. $5.03, very good condition, Sold by Goldstone Books rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Ammanford, CARMS, UNITED KINGDOM, published 2006 by Sceptre.
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Very good. All orders are dispatched within 1 working day from our UK warehouse. Established in 2004, we are dedicated to recycling unwanted books on behalf of a number of UK charities who benefit from added revenue through the sale of their books plus huge savings in waste disposal. No quibble refund if not completely satisfied.
Add this copy of The Mysteries of Pittsburgh to cart. $5.16, good condition, Sold by Goldstone Books rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Ammanford, CARMS, UNITED KINGDOM, published 1988 by Sceptre.
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Seller's Description:
Good. All orders are dispatched within 1 working day from our UK warehouse. Established in 2004, we are dedicated to recycling unwanted books on behalf of a number of UK charities who benefit from added revenue through the sale of their books plus huge savings in waste disposal. No quibble refund if not completely satisfied.
Add this copy of The Mysteries of Pittsburgh to cart. $6.66, like new condition, Sold by HR1Books rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Hereford, HEREFORDSHIRE, UNITED KINGDOM, published 2006 by Sceptre.
Add this copy of The Mysteries of Pittsburgh (Sceptre 21'S) to cart. $6.99, very good condition, Sold by Brit Books rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Milton Keynes, BUCKINGHAMSHIRE, UNITED KINGDOM, published 2006 by Sceptre.
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Very good. Simply Brit – welcome to our online used book store, where affordability meets great quality. Dive into a world of captivating reads without breaking the bank. We take pride in offering a wide selection of used books, from classics to hidden gems, ensuring there's something for every literary palate. All orders are shipped within 24 hours and our lightning fast-delivery within 48 hours coupled with our prompt customer service ensures a smooth journey from ordering to delivery. Discover the joy of reading with us, your trusted source for affordable books that do not compromise on quality.
Add this copy of The Mysteries of Pittsburgh to cart. $6.99, very good condition, Sold by Brit Books rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Milton Keynes, BUCKINGHAMSHIRE, UNITED KINGDOM, published 1988 by Sceptre.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Very good. Simply Brit – welcome to our online used book store, where affordability meets great quality. Dive into a world of captivating reads without breaking the bank. We take pride in offering a wide selection of used books, from classics to hidden gems, ensuring there's something for every literary palate. All orders are shipped within 24 hours and our lightning fast-delivery within 48 hours coupled with our prompt customer service ensures a smooth journey from ordering to delivery. Discover the joy of reading with us, your trusted source for affordable books that do not compromise on quality.
Add this copy of The Mysteries of Pittsburgh to cart. $7.99, good condition, Sold by BookHolders rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Gambrills, MD, UNITED STATES, published 1989 by Harper Perennial.
I'm a latecomer to Chabon, and have been reading his work in roughly newest-to-oldest order. So I was surprised to find that this work is almost as good as his recent work. There's nothing particularly complex in either its structure, tone, or point of view, but it is remarkably assured for a writer in his earlier twenties. And I hadn't known that Chabon had been (essentially) bisexual during this period of his life, so that too was a surprise. He deals with that aspect of the novel in a mature and convincing manner, much to the surprise perhaps of both gay and straight readers who may have doubted that real bisexuals exist.
Ellyb
Mar 24, 2007
Frustrating
I finally finished the long, frustrating, boring read that is The Mysteries of Pittsburgh, by Michael Chabon. Normally I finish books in a month at the most, a weekend at the least, depending on my workload. This took me about 2 months, as I kept not wanting to read it, choosing instead to read my fiancee's old comic books before bed. The story follows a recent college graduate during his first summer out of undergrad. He makes some new friends, as he seems not to have had any worth keeping from school. Shenanigans supposedly ensue. Chabon is skilled at imagery, and although the plot and characterization were flat and dull, I did feel the heat and humidity of the surroundings, and the book did play in my head like a movie. That duly noted, my specific problem with this book is that none of the characters are particularly likable, save one, and only then within the last two chapters. I don't normally mandate likable protagonists, but in this case I could have used someone to give a hoot about. For the first 7/8ths of the book, the plot essentially meandered lazily, following a main character who really doesn't know himself. And then the secondary characters, as they emerge, never develop beyond two dimensions. Anyway, the last two chapters suddenly zing full of life, energy, and character. I deeply wish that the narrative thread had been present in this way throughout the entire book. Those interested in Michael Chabon would be better to stick with the brilliant Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay.
