What to Read: Book Reviews From Real Simple Readers

Telegraph Avenue, by Michael Chabon

Reviewer: Seana Norvell; age 28; married with one child; Santa Cruz, California.

Seana’s assessment: This latest work from the Pulitzer Prize–winning novelist immerses the reader in the lives of two couples—Archy and Gwen, and Nat and Aviva—who co-own a used-vinyl shop in Berkeley, California. Through music and flashbacks, the story jumps from the early 2000s to the 1970s and back again. At times Chabon’s descriptions of the stress of daily life were so real that I had to put the book down and take a deep breath. The story of Archy and Gwen, who are expecting a baby, resonated with me most. I have a 7-month-old daughter, so I found it easy to relate to their anxiety as they prepared for their child’s birth. The book reminded me to enjoy every moment—no matter what the future holds.

To buy: $28, amazon.com.