Rating: 
Summary: fantastic, genre-bending epic
Review: Michael Chabon blurs the lines between romance and realism in "The Amazing Adventures of Kavlier & Clay." Romantic fiction, we are told, places action above character. The plot of "Kavlier & Clay" is intricate and grandiose, the pacing swift like that of the pulps several of Chabon's characters pen. But amidst the action and excitement is a cast of finely drawn, complicated characters, who exist harmoniously alongside the sweeping, epic, romantic plot, neither dominating nor letting themselves become obscured by it. Chabon is a writer's writer. He has a genuine love and understanding of language, and uses it like a seamstress uses a thread and needle. His prose is grand and complicated; there isn't a single sentence in this book without a purpose, they hold the book together at the seams instead of just filling space. He also manages to present his material (comic books, WWII, performance magic, the publishing industry) in a way that makes it easy to comprehend for those with no previous knowledge of it, and his treatment of comic books could make even the most virulent non-fan understand the beauty & importance of them. Chabon has always possessed a knack for creating distinct & memorable characters, and he takes that talent to new heights in "The Amazing Adventures of Kavlier & Clay." His two leading men, troubled immigrant Josef and confused, sensitive Sammy, are comprehensively written and the driving force behind the book's drama. They are, ultimately, what makes the book so incredible. With lesser characters, "The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay" could have easily been a self-conscious stab at "The Great American Novel." Chabon's attention to populating his epic with fully-realized characters that ring true is what actually makes it a Great American Novel. "The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay" is not an easy read by any means, but it is an intensely satisfying one. Beyond that, it is an important book. In a market that is so saturated with fluff and where the most innovative, fresh books are memoirs, "Kavlier & Clay" reminds us that fiction can still be incredibly powerful, that there are still great stories to be told.
Rating:
Summary: Superheroes and Ordinary People
Review: If you ever enjoyed comic books, then you should enjoy Michael Chabon's Pulitzer Prize winning novel of two teenager cousins who take on New York, the publishing business, and the Third Reich-and win. Even if you never read the comics (or will not admit to it) you should still enjoy the well-told story of two young men, their girl, and their adventures together as life changed for everyone. Josef Kavalier is a young Jew in Nazi-occupied Prague, whose family sacrifices everything to squeeze him through a loophole to escape to family in New York. Josef is an artist, but has also studied magic and escapism for years, imagining himself following in Houdini's footsteps. He escapes Prague only through an amazing adventure and ends up in New York. There he meets his cousin, Sam Klayman-a boy from Brooklyn who has millions of ideas for ways to escape his life. Together they create a new character for the burgeoning comic book trade and take on the establishment, the publishers of Superman, and the Nazi Empire. Joe meets and falls in love with Rosa, he and Sam, now called Clay, do well for themselves, and do very well for their employers. Then tragedy strikes and Joe escapes New York, by way of the U. S. Navy, and ends up manning a weather station and listening post in Antarctica. Another amazing adventure and escape ensues. This amazing comic book in prose rather than illustration is well written and the characters are interesting. Their action-adventures are exciting. Along the way, the reader gets an overview of the development of the comic book business and a trip down memory lane for those who might remember The Shadow, The Blackhawks, Captain Marvel, Archie, Veronica, and Betty, and many others. The story entertains, but also illustrates the position that people grow and change, and they cannot hold on to their old ways and traditions forever. People need to know who they are, and get on with their lives. I read and enjoyed comic books in the 40's and 50's, the era described in this book. My son read and enjoyed comics in the 70's and 80's, and recommended this book to me. Maybe that contributed something to my enjoyment of it.
Rating: 
Summary: Good story, but is it really Pulitzer material?
Review: Intricate novel about two cousins, Josef Kavalier and Samuel Clayman, who corroborate on a comic book and find themselves at the peak of popularity in the years before WWII. Their character, "The Escapist," becomes iconic in the world of Superheros and the new but fast-growing comic book market. Enter Rosa Saks, who falls in love with Joe - and vice versa. But when the war starts, Joe, longing for his Jewish family and fearing the worst, enlists - and leaves Sam and Rosa to pick up the pieces left behind. Called an epic, this novel has a lot in it. The story sometimes seemed to stray far from the main theme, to me. The characters were interesting, but the book as a whole didn't entirely hold my interest nor draw me to it. Well written, but I can't see what made this one win a Pulitzer.
Rating:
Summary: A Story Of Comings And Goings....
Review: And what an amazing book it is. I was looking up Pulitzer prize winners one day and stumbled across this book, put it on my christmas list, and recieved it from my parents. A week or so later I began to read it, and despite the lack of your "normal" plot-grippers in both comics and novels (deaths, love stories, mysteries) in the beginning, the book immediately drew me in. It follows the lives of two jewish cousins from about the age of 19 till around 32 or so, and the adventures that they come across...normally, not fantastically as their created superheros experience. Joe Kavalier is Sammy Clay's cousin from Prague, escaping right before world war ii really exploded around the world. His goal being to earn money to get his family over to the USA, Joe agrees to team up with Sammy to create a comic book. An empire is established, the boys go through relationships, extremely tough lessons, and radical changes until the end when the real magic act of the book is preformed slowly through the final chapters. Chabon should be praised greatly for his character development, as the thing that kept me desperate to read more is the wondering of what should happen, good or bad, to Sammy and Joe (and Rosa). You feel like you know them, can picture certain aspects of every single character in the book, as whenever one is introduced, their history and physical description is a deliberate afterthought. Sammy has thin weak legs, Joe has dark curly black hair, and Rosa has a sharp nose. Chabon also keeps it interesting by changing perspectives, letting you into the lives of many characters, and providing some fictional relief through the development of the comic book characters. The book itself could really be a comic book, split into dramatic issues of the most exciting parts of the novel. It combines friendship, romance, trust, adventure, crime, hold-your-breath life threats, cheating, heartbreak, and togetherness in such a discreet way you'll simply sail through the 600+ pages. A definate knockout, I look forward to hearing more from Chabon (although in some ways I don't know if he can ever top this 'crown jewel' in his writing empire ;) )
Rating:
Summary: Outstanding novel about WW2, comic books, and New York
Review: This is a wonderful book that I'll read again and again. Kavalier and Clay's adventures begin in New York 1939, the dawn of comic books and superheroes. The reader doesn't need any knowledge of comics to love this book--indeed, even Joe Kavalier has no knowledge of them when he arrives as a Jewish refugee and settles in with his American cousin, Sammy Clay. The pair become a success with their superhero character, The Escapist, modelled after Houdini and Kavalier himself--lucky enough to escape Nazi Europe, but struggling to bring his younger brother over to America. Chabon does a brilliant job of tying together the events in comic books to other political and cultural events in American life. Along a journey that spans the period from 1939 to the early 1950s, Joe Kavalier meets Salvador Dali and Orson Wells, and serves the war effort in Antartica. It's a bittersweet journey, filled with love, loss, greedy comic book publishers, and the need for revenge. Samuel Clay's tale and journey is more introspective, as he struggles with his place in the world as a man. This has to be my favorite fiction book of 2000! I don't think you'll be disappointed in Kavalier & Clay.
Rating:
Summary: I couldn't put it down.
Review: This book is a gem. One of the best I have ever read. Here's some example of what I mean by one of the best: 1. I was emotionally involved in the characters. By the end of the book, I felt sympathy for them, cried with them, and was happy for them. 2. I couldn't put the book down. I am a slow reader, but flew through this book in record time. All of my spare time I wanted to spend reading this book. 3. It won the Pulitzer! 4. Chabon came up with an amazing way of weaving a tale that incorporates both fantasy and reality. This story may be about a seemingly lighthearted topic on the cover synopsis (comics), but in reality, it's a story about human relationships and life. I was deeply moved by the story. 5. The book had an underlying theme of escape. It's a profound statement for times such as those we live in. Escape is noble goal. This book helped me escape, but provoked some good thinking as well. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys good literature.
Rating:
Summary: good, could have been better
Review: I like history (especially WW2) and i like comics, i suppose i was the main audience for this book, but parts of it left me cold. I agree with another review that said the book leaves you mad because they screw around with the best character so much (clay) and Kavalier is a bit of a jerk.
Over all a good book, i especially liked reading about the escapists adventures. In terms of real life (and not comic book life) I question if running away from your problems is considered heroic
Rating:
Summary: This Amazing Adventure Is Highly Recommended!
Review: I have just finished "The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay" and am experiencing the grief and regret one feels after closing the cover on a truly fantastic novel. Michael Chabon is an extremely talented and thoughtful author who has the ability to breathe life into every character who walks across the pages of his book. I grieve at the thought that I will no longer encounter this colorful cast and regret that I couldn't spend more time with them. Mr. Chabon has woven the experiences of two young Jewish cousins, one American and one Czechoslovakian, during the decades of the nineteen-thirties and the nineteen-fifties; how they evolve from strangers to partners and the best of friends, and support one another through the horrifying changes wrought on their lives due to WWII. This book is wonderful and not to be missed!
Rating: 
Summary: Mind-numbingly boring
Review: Chabon has a masterful command of the English language. Either that, or he has a masterful command of a thesaurus. I've never seen such unnecessary vocabulary used anywhere. It was excessive, confusing and at times, it looked like he only wrote these words to show off.
Mr. Chabon - Tell a story. Tell it well. Stop writing.
Unless you have a lot of time to flip the pages of this directionless and frustrating book, skip it. Read something more interesting and exciting. There's plenty out there.
Rating: 
Summary: AMAZING ADVENTURES
Review: This book was recommended to me by my coworker and I'm glad I read it. This book albeit heavy but with a light touch has so much going on, yet it is told with ease. Here were are introduced to Sam Clay a Jewish boy in Brooklyn and Joe Kavalier, Sam's cousin, just in from Nazi occupied Czechoslovakia and a Jew who escaped.
In America Joe and Sam share the same fascination of Comic books and decide to create their own character called the Escapist. A crime fighter who gets out of difficult situations and saves the less fortunate, but the symbol of this character is so significant in that the escapist is a alter ego of Joe, who is throughout the novel trying to find and get his family trapped behind enemy lines out to America.
We are taken through the years of these two cousins, starting a Americana institution, we are shown, how they got there comic off the ground, mingle with celebrities, crooked publishers, Nazi terrorist and eventually expand into going off to war.
The scene where Joe is in Antarctica is a great story and is very exciting, I like that part the best.
Kavalier and Clay is a wonderful book, and has a lot to offer, it is long and the print is tiny, but it is a good story if you can just be patient.
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