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The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay (平装)
by Michael Chabon
| Category:
Genre fiction, Comic, Action & Adventure, Fiction |
| Market price: ¥ 158.00
MSL price:
¥ 148.00
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| Stock:
Pre-order item, lead time 3-7 weeks upon payment [ COD term does not apply to pre-order items ] |
MSL rating:
 Good for Gifts |
| MSL Pointer Review:
An interesting tale illuminating many aspects of human nature in all its foibles, this book will satisfy lovers of fine prose as well as adventurous and historical minded readers. |
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AllReviews |
1 Total 1 pages 9 items |
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Donna Seaman (Booklist, MSL quote), USA
<2007-10-14 00:00>
Virtuoso Chabon takes intense delight in the practice of his art, and never has his joy been more palpable than in this funny and profound tale of exile, love, and magic. In his last novel, The Wonder Boys (1995), Chabon explored the shadow side of literary aspirations. Here he revels in the crass yet inventive and comforting world of comic-book superheroes, those masked men with mysterious powers who were born in the wake of the Great Depression and who carried their fans through the horrors of war with the guarantee that good always triumphs over evil. In a luxuriant narrative that is jubilant and purposeful, graceful and complex, hilarious and enrapturing, Chabon chronicles the fantastic adventures of two Jewish cousins, one American, one Czech. It's 1939 and Brooklynite Sammy Klayman dreams of making it big in the nascent world of comic books. Joseph Kavalier has never seen a comic book, but he is an accomplished artist versed in the "autoliberation" techniques of his hero, Harry Houdini. He effects a great (and surreal) escape from the Nazis, arrives in New York, and joins forces with Sammy. They rapidly create the Escapist, the first of many superheroes emblematic of their temperaments and predicaments, and attain phenomenal success. But Joe, tormented by guilt and grief for his lost family, abruptly joins the navy, abandoning Sammy, their work, and his lover, the marvelous artist and free spirit Rosa, who, unbeknownst to him, is carrying his child. As Chabon - equally adept at atmosphere, action, dialogue, and cultural commentary - whips up wildly imaginative escapades punctuated by schtick that rivals the best of Jewish comedians, he plumbs the depths of the human heart and celebrates the healing properties of escapism and the "genuine magic of art" with exuberance and wisdom.
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Ken Kalfus (The New York Times Book Review, MSL quote), USA
<2007-10-14 00:00>
It would make a nice comic book series - the cousins square-jawed and ham-fisted - but the depth of Chabon's thought, his sharp language, his inventiveness and his ambition make this a novel of towering achievement. |
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Gregory Baird (MSL quote), USA
<2007-10-14 00:00>
Michael Chabon's spectacular, Pulitzer Prize winning, The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay is unlike anything else you'll find on the bookshelves of your local bookstore (or Amazon, of course). It is a quirky, unique story with an enormously talented writer whose keen eye for description and characterization make what could have been a tired plot (the rise, fall, and possible reunion of a partnership between a pair of cousins who collaborate to build a comic book empire) dazzlingly fresh and new instead. The hallmark of a great writer is that they can make the old seem new again, and Chabon is truly gifted in this regard.
The titular duo whose amazing adventures the narrative chronicles are Josef Kavalier, a former magician's apprentice who escaped Europe and the Nazis to come to the U.S. but is haunted by the family he left behind, and Sammy Clay (nee Klayman), whose talent and fierce ambition set him and his cousin on a path to success in the then new field of comic books, but whose tortured sexuality keeps him from satisfaction as he must continue to live a lie. Together they create the Escapist, a masked superhero whose story embodies all of their hopes, fears and insecurities. Sammy subconsciously relates to the Escapist's dual identity and secret life - carefully hidden behind a public persona - while Joe uses the Escapist's fictional missions to Europe to fight the Nazis that are holding his family captive (the first half of the novel takes place before Pearl Harbor spurred U.S, involvement in the war, so Joe waged war on the Nazis in the pages of his comic in the hope that it would inspire the U.S. to get involved sooner). While these "Amazing Adventures" truly shine in the novel's first half, the fact that the last half is hampered by melodramatic twists (such as Joe's Antarctic revenge scenario, a leap from the Empire State Building, etc.) is imminently forgivable because of Chabon's tight control of the plot and how it impacts his characters.
Ostensibly, Amazing Adventures is about the friendship between Joe, Sammy, and Joe's girlfriend Rosa as they make comic book history, but there is so much more. We also get themes regarding family, love, and loss that are rendered all the more poignant thanks to the novel's WWII-era setting, and the fact that Joe and Sammy garner inspiration from their own personal hopes and disappointments says a great deal about the power of fiction and where it comes from. Chabon is a fiercely talented and thorough writer (the amount of research that must have gone in to his sumptuous period details is staggering), and reading this novel is pure, unadulterated bliss. |
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Ben (MSL quote), UK
<2007-10-14 00:00>
Superbly written and engrossing story about two cousins, American Samuel Klayman, and Polish refuge Josef Kavalier, who first meet as the young refuge is shoved into bed alongside his cousin. Before that happens though Josef has to engineer his escape from the Nazi threat in Poland. They grow up and establish themselves as a partnership in comics. The story is complex and meaningful, and any attempt to give a synopsis would only spoil the pleasure for the reader. That it covers a lifetime; trauma, love, devotion, loyalty, loss and sacrifice and much more should suffice.
What shines through is a most beautiful story of the developing relationship between the two cousins and Rosa, the extravagant young girl who becomes inextricably involved with the two boys. There is a beautiful air of melancholy that pervades the story at times, including circumstances that surround Sam in relation to the isolation his sexual inclinations create for him. Full of wit and humour and humanity, the writing is superb, a sheer pleasure to read. This is truly a book that cannot be recommended too highly, an absolute must read.
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Julee Rudolf (MSL quote), USA
<2007-10-14 00:00>
Joseph Kavalier, fresh from a barely successful, ingenious escape from Prague arrives in the bedroom of his cousin, Samuel Clayman, in New York city in October of 1939. Together, they create comic books, including their appropriately chosen first hero, The Escapist, who battles the Nazis as Joe tries to rescue his parents and younger brother. Sam strives to be successful at the comic book business, while hiding secret feelings he sometimes has for members of his own sex, but eventually succumbs to the advances of Tracy Bacon, the man who does the voice of The Escapist for a radio show. Joe falls for artist, Rosa Saks, who introduces him to a man who owns a ship used to rescue Jewish children and transport them to America. Although Joe finally secures passage for his brother, the rescue turns out badly. Sam is caught with friends of similar proclivities and his secret is eventually leaked. Distraught in his failure to save his brother, Joe joins the military, ends up in Alaska, and survives against all odds (my favorite part of the novel). In yet another attempt to avenge the demise of his family members at the hands of the Germans, he sets his sights on a German geologist, where once again things don't turn out as planned. He reappears in New York years later, curious about his almost teenaged son, who is being brought up by the now married Rosa and Sam.
The book is long at over 600 pages (and a small font) and may take a while to "get into," but those with patience and perseverance will be rewarded as it is an interesting, well-written, unique novel. Much shorter but also great, The Book Thief takes an original look at life during the time of the Holocaust. Additionally, The History of Love, although confusing at times, would be a good companion read. |
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Chester Morrison (MSL quote), USA
<2007-10-14 00:00>
This novel is not just about comic books. If that's all you got out of it you are a very shallow reader and even narrower reviewer. This novel develops in the finest Phillip Roth traditions but with myriad layers, yet maintaining a theme Mr Chabon's creates with the opening scenes in Prague following along in a seamless thread through Joe and Sam's experience. The reader is transported from prewar Europe to prewar New York in Joe's journey and very plausibly introduced to two young cousins and their introduction to the burgeoning world of comic book creation.
It is a wonderful journey supplemented with a wonderful romance and the unspeakable horror of the holocaust so skillfully interwoven by the author through Joe that the reader carries the weight of this part of history effortlessly throughout the novel.
Did I mention romance? Mr. Chabon gives us the heterosexual and homosexual romance quite guilelessly. He gives us the poignant sorrow, the excitement and the joy. He takes us on wild trips to the South Pole, train escapes from Eichmann's grasp, leaps from the empire state building, and all with a incredibly unraveling cast of characters that leap from the page.
Mr Chabon is funny, sad, historical, enlightenling, romantic and highly readable.
This is a great novel fully worthy of its Pulitzer status. |
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Peter Shermeta (MSL quote), USA
<2007-10-14 00:00>
Joe Kavalier and Sammy Clay seek to carve out their piece of the budding American Dream. In a time when the true American Spirit lies in opportunity, the two boys make a proposal to Sammy's boss to begin making comic books. They offer to write and draw the books if the man will fund their adventure. The man agrees and before the next weekend is over, their serial superhero The Escapist is born. As the book continues from the 1930s into the 40s, the war in Europe plays a greater and greater role in the story. Joe, who left his family in Europe, is affected most of all.
When the book transitioned away from comic books I thought that it was unnecessary and absurd. I thought the author droned on about the comics too long and that the contrast between old and new was too sharp. I thought that Chabon had two, maybe even three, book ideas in his head and rather than write them separately he held a private ceremony and married them into one. By the time the book was finished I could see clearly how wrong I had been. He did not talk too long about their lives as comic book creators, he did not transition too quickly into the war, he did not do anything wrong. It all came together perfectly. It was wildly imaginative and an incredibly touching story. Have faith. As you lose yourself in Michael Chabon's writing, you are in capable hands.
This is the type of book that makes you glad that people recommend books. My friend's mother, whose opinions have incalculable value to me, suggested a long time ago that I read this book. For months I put it off due to the length of the novel. I was afraid that at 636 pages the book would be too long, based on subject matter, for me to zip through. I waited and I waited. Enough was enough, I said, and I decided it was time. It was actually past time. I should have read this book before so I could pass her recommendation on to others.
I had not read Mr. Chabon's work before, though I am a big fan of the movie adaptation of his book Wonder Boys, which I am adding to my to-read list. I keep reading in search of books like The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay. |
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Howard Schulman (MSL quote), USA
<2007-10-14 00:00>
After reading the first 350 pages of The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay, I almost permanently put the book down. I knew that the book had won a Pulitzer Prize and my mother and sister recommended it to me, so I pushed myself to finish it, though I couldn't figure out where the book was going. Luckily, I persevered one more day and in that day ended up reading the remaining 280 pages!! I had never read more than 100 pages in one day previously. So, just persevere and you will be glad you did.
This is definitely a book with a lot of depth, though this isn't immediately obvious. Some depth is revealed as the story unfolds, some, after doing research. For one, the author doesn't ever explain the story from Jewish mysticism called the Golem of Prague, allusions to which come up several times. It is a well known story in the Jewish mystical literature called the Kabballah and has a central roll in the story here. Google "Golem of Prague" and read about it, it's interesting.
One of the main characters is named Sammy Kleiman, shortened to Sammy "Clay". The Golem was made of "clay"; this is not a coincidence. Accordingly, the Golem was created in 1580 by the most holy rabbis and as a result of secret spells came alive to save the Jews of Prague when they were being persecuted for supposedly making matzo with the blood of Christian children. This is very powerful stuff.
The main theme in the book is "escape" and "escapism". This theme is played out in many permutations: Escape from persecution in Nazi-occupied Prague and the horrors of the Holocaust, escape from everyday life by reading and writing comic books, escape from the fear of being discovered for being homosexual in 1950's America. Joe Kavalier is highly trained in Prague in the fine art of escape from locks and mannacles and boxes, etc, just like Houdini, and the wildly successful comic book series is named after the lead character, The Escapist.
The book is a little lengthy, but the reading is easy. There aren't many characters and the narrative is relatively straightforward. Occasionally the narrative will skip around in time, but this is done in big blocks and the effect, that of a dreamy memory, is effective.
Several reviewers have commented that the author uses too many "SAT" words. The million-dollar words don't seem to add much most of the time, though they didn't bother me either. I always read with a dictionary next to me as I like learning new words. So look the words up. $100 to the person who knows what a "codpiece" is, mentioned on page 410. You'll appreciate that joke much better. |
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Christine Park (MSL quote), USA
<2007-10-14 00:00>
I hate comic books. Sure, my husband loves anime and I respect its brand of creativity and artistry. I'm just not a fan. Ironic, because I was a cartoon-junkie as a kid. Thunder, thunder, thundercats!! Um, anyway...
...ergo, I'm the least likely candidate to read a novel on comic books. I picked it up only because of its melodramatic title and a small gold sticker on the cover ("Winner of the Pulitzer Prize"-trivial thing that piques my interest periodically). Also, I find it rare to find good literature with action and fun. Two deterrances made me hesitate: 636 pages, small type. Snail-reader that I am, I assumed it'd take me 3 months to finish. I dove in regardless. It better be worth it, I sneered.
I read the first few pages with great pessimism, as usual. It's an indavertant preconception that I have of every book that I read. Yea, it's not fair but so what. The author had to have spilled his blood on the pages before I start to loosen my reserved admiration. After 200 pages, I told peeps, "This book sucks. Don't read it." Then at page 300-something I learn that Joe Kavalier/Cavalieri has a heroic mission greater than that of sketching the muscle-man Escapist or the scantily-clad Luna Moth. He has a passion to save his family back in Prague. Sam Clay, too, has a mission but for himself-to freely be and to unabashedly love.
And man, can Chabon write. His vocabulary nauseated me at times-he seemed to have barfed up the thesaurus-and his details were too minute but I gotta give it to the man: he can sure weave words that oft left my mouth agape, muttering "How the hell did he just do that?"
Really a unique writer with a penchant to overthrow vanilla-thoughts.
Towards the end, when (not to give away the plot) Joe rips open 12 years' worth of letters from Rosa, I nearly cried. I did. It was 2:30am and I couldn't put the book down.
I do have some gripes about Tommy's sudden appearance and such but I don't regret having read The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay by M. Chabon. It was a fun ride and I miss Joe, Sammy, and Rosa already. |
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1 Total 1 pages 9 items |
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