Telegraph Avenue

More about the book

As summer 2004 ends, Archy Stallings and Nat Jaffe, longtime friends and co-owners of Brokeland Records, navigate life in the borderlands of Berkeley and Oakland. Their wives, Gwen and Aviva, are renowned midwives known as the Berkeley Birth Partners, who have welcomed countless new lives into their community centered around Brokeland, a unique blend of tavern and temple. When ex-NFL quarterback Gibson Goode, one of the wealthiest black men in America, plans to build a Dogpile megastore nearby, Nat and Archy fear for the future of their beloved record store. Simultaneously, Gwen and Aviva face challenges that threaten their professional lives and test their friendship. Complicating matters further is the unexpected arrival of Titus Joyner, Archy’s estranged teenage son, who is also the object of affection for fifteen-year-old Julius Jaffe. This intimate epic unfolds like a NorCal Middlemarch, infused with the rhythms of classic vinyl soul-jazz and a distinctive, vibrant narrative style. It captures the essence of friendship, community, and the trials of modern life, showcasing Michael Chabon's most dazzling storytelling yet.