Werewolves in Their Youth

by Michael Chabon
Werewolves in Their Youth cover
Good Books rating 3.67
Short Story Collections
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  • ID: 6445
  • Added: 2025-11-17
  • Updated: 2025-11-17
  • ISBN: 9780007499816
  • Publisher: HarperCollins UK
  • Published: 2012-10-02
  • Reviews: 3

Werewolves in Their Youth is the second collection of short stories from the highly acclaimed author of THE AMAZING ADVENTURES OF KAVALIER & CLAY and WONDER BOYS. This collection showcases the author's unique ability to blend the fantastical with the mundane, offering readers a rich tapestry of narratives that explore the depths of human experience. Each story is a testament to the author's skill in crafting compelling characters and immersive worlds, making this a must-read for fans of literary fiction and short story enthusiasts alike. /n/n The stories in this collection span a wide range of themes and settings, from the magical to the realistic, each one offering a glimpse into the lives of its characters. Whether it's a tale of werewolves navigating the complexities of modern life or a poignant exploration of love and loss, the author's prose is both evocative and thought-provoking. This collection is a celebration of the short story form, demonstrating the author's versatility and mastery of the craft.

Reviews
Robin Marx · Robin Marx · 2025-02-04
engaging 3.00

The collection is mostly fluff, but it's highly engaging and well-written fluff. Chabon's reputation is well-deserved.

Robin Marx describes this collection as mostly fluff, but it's highly engaging and well-written fluff. They appreciate Chabon's reputation and feel that this collection lives up to it. The stories are fast-paced and elegant, with a mix of dark and reflective themes. While some might find the stories a bit shallow, Marx finds them enjoyable and well-crafted. The emotional depth and character development are noteworthy, making this a collection worth reading.

Quick quotes

    This collection of short stories is mostly fluff.

    Highly engagingly written fluff, but fluff nonetheless.

    Chabon has a reputation of being a great writer, and this collection lives up to it.

Cannonball Read · Leedock · 2019-09-04
great 4.50

The book is highly recommended, but the ending story feels shoehorned in and ties to another work. The writing is engaging and well-crafted.

Leedock has a lot of love for this book, and it's easy to see why. The stories are engaging, well-written, and full of charm. The characters are rich and complex, and the prose is elegant and fast-paced. However, they do feel that the last story, while interesting, feels a bit tacked on and serves more as a tie-in to another book rather than a standalone piece. Overall, it's a delightful read that fans of Chabon's work will appreciate.

Quick quotes

    I highly recommend the book.

    He does shoehorn a weird Steven King-esque story at the end of the book that has a tie in to Wonder Boys.

    The writing is engaging and well-crafted.

Salon · Adam Goodheart · 1999-02-22
good 3.50

The characters are stylish and melancholic, but their emotional depth is sometimes overdone. The writing is elegant and engaging.

Adam Goodheart's review highlights the stylish and melancholic characters that populate Chabon's stories. They smoke cigarettes with aplomb, fall in love inconveniently, and nurse their melancholy a bit too long. The writing is elegant and engaging, but Goodheart feels that the emotional depth of the characters is sometimes overdone, making their melancholy feel a bit tedious. Despite this, the stories are well-crafted and enjoyable to read.

Quick quotes

    They smoke cigarettes with stylish aplomb, fall inconveniently in love, drink too much, nurse their melancholy too tenderly and too long.

    The writing is elegant and engaging.

    The emotional depth is sometimes overdone.

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