Rating: 
Summary: wildly overrated
Review: I guess for any work of art to receive such unanimously positive reviews, it has to be solidly mediocre, or else it would offend someone's sensibilities. It's a perfectly decent novel, just not especially interesting -- and marred, at times, by surprisingly bad writing, as though Chabon were rushing to finish.What shocks me most is what passes for character development. There's a review quoted on the back of the book that speaks of "characters so tightly developed they could walk off the page." What book did these people read? By the end of the book, it suddenly hit me that neither of these characters had any personality whatsoever. Sure, they have the outlines of personality: Kavalier is hurting and angry and finds it difficult to love because of his personal trauma; Clay is -- well, Clay is the closeted gay guy whose father left him. And that's it! The book has its moments, and it's worth reading, but only if you're trying to keep up with contemporary literature or plan to read a LOT of novels.
Rating: 
Summary: Escape Artists
Review: A couple of young Jewish guys living in New York in the thirties and forties become successful by using their wits, nerve and talent, but find that their struggle for happiness is not so easily attained. Sound familiar? Well, if you've ever read Irwin Shaw, William Goldman, Saul Bellow, Harold Robbins, or Phillip Roth, it probably does. But don't let that stop you. This is an excellent novel and a superb addition to the genre. The Jewish characters here are cousins: Sammy Clay, who starts off as an inventory clerk for a novelty-gag company; and Joe Kavalier, who starts off by escaping with his life from 1939 Prague. Kavalier makes it to his cousin's home in Brooklyn, and Clay, recognizing his artistic talent, pushes the idea to his boss that he can sell his novelties and save money by creating themselves the comic books in which they normally advertised. The boss agrees, and wouldn't you know, this turns out to be the beginning of the golden age of the comic book, and Kavalier and Clay's comic books make both themselves and their boss enormously successful. Successful financially, anyway, but these guys have a very tough time achieving happiness. Joe is wracked with guilt and despair over his family, still back in Prague, and despite his efforts he is unable to get them out. Sam has problems coming to terms with his homosexuality at a time in America when having such feelings was cause for great shame and self-contempt. As one would expect with a Chabon novel, there is sparkling and splendid use of the language evident everywhere. He is also superb at setting and describing scenes: they are vivid, believable, and moving. Unfortunately, though, the novel stops dead in its tracks a little too often, with unnecessary descriptions of the city, for example, or buildings, or the architectural make-up of the World's Fair. There is a lot of name-dropping also, as we get to meet and hear about personages of the day, such as Orson Welles, Salvador Dali and Al Smith. Some of it almost feels like a newsreel. Sure, it adds authenticity to the tale, but at great cost to plot tension. Thematically, however, the novel soars, and is likely the reason it won the Pullitzer Prize. The comic book hero the cousins create is called the Escapist, as he has the remarkable ability to get himself in and out of difficult situations while constantly battling evil. Of course, he serves as the perfect metaphor for these young men, both of whom make endless and unsuccessful attempts to escape the often painful and unhappy situations their lives present them. Here is a superb, tragicomic summation, taken from a scene late in the novel and having to do with Sammy's doomed marriage. 'As a rule, they tended to avoid such questions like, 'How sane are we?' and, 'Do our lives have meaning?' The need for avoidance was acute and apparent to both of them. ''What is that [you're reading]?' she said. ''Weird Planet.'' In the end we realize that the title of this novel, 'The Amazing Adventures . . .' is sadly meant to be ironic, as the adventures of these struggling young men aren't particularly amazing or unusual after all. Millions of Americans and soon-to-be Americans suffered the pain and horror of losing loved ones in Europe during World War II, and millions more fail to come to terms with what and whom they are, instead attempting to pretend to be something else. The comic book angle again serves to exemplify this: 'Having lost his mother, father, brother, and grandfather, the friends and foes of his youth, his beloved teacher Bernard Kornblum, his city, his history--his home--the usual charge leveled against comic books, that they offered merely an easy escape from reality, seemed to Joe actually to be a powerful argument on their behalf.' Indeed. The desire for escape is both pervasive, and powerful in many human lives.
Rating: 
Summary: Ambivalence
Review: I was rather tentative on writing this review, but to justify, I'll weigh out its different attributes... When speaking in terms of the art of prose, "The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay" can very easily be listed among the prestige elite - Chabon's vocabulary and its employment is excellent, and the first half of this book was saturated with it - it glistened and shined. For the first few hundred pages, I was enamoured. I was enraptured. I was charmed. The thing about "The Amazing Adventures..." is that, while its telling is among the best, it does not conceal the fact that the story being told is not nearly as strong. Even the most talented authors need firm structure in their works - And for the first half of the book, this had it. But the story began to wear thin. You can't comprise an excellent story out of beautiful prose, just as you can't grow a forest from leaves. The main thought that played itself about in my mind during the reading process was: "What is the point?" Obviously, I understood the primary premise (alliteration!) about the business of Kavalier and Clay - but this did not seem to be the the triumph nor the failure of the story - nay, it appeared rather as a setting - the thread from which the tapestry was to be spun. If so, what was the story? Where was the prominent conflict? There were many conflicts, of course, but which had any bit to do with the real storyline? I found that about 3/4 of the way through the book, I had lost the entire point of the story, other than the progression of life for the characters, which would be a fair premise for a story - were it not for the evident intentions of the beginning. It seemed as though Michael Chabon had forsaken his original plans and gone off on digression after digression. There seemed to be a big exhale, as well, in the characters. All of Chabon's characters were thought-provoking and real ...but in the end, they all seemed more or less burned out. Sammy and Rosa had succumbed to the plebian reign of the suburbs (not to mention their marriage - that disappointed me greatly) - but why? There were no rejuvenations of the old spirit, no nothing. Just characters getting old and tired in spite of everything they had ever been. One big exhalation. Again, I ask: What is the point? This book skyrocketed at first, reaching the heavens ...but then it just sort of drifted on down. There was no climax. There was no distinctive, single, point. The only feeling I had upon completion was simple and honest liberation. I could only sense what a beautiful feeling it was not to be shackled in any more, forcing myself to trudge along. This is highly discouraging. If I would reccomend this book, it would be mainly because of Michael Chabon's excellent tongue and wit. But I would reccomend scores of other books before it.
Rating:
Summary: No way out, never fear...the ESCAPIST is here
Review: ... Chabon breaks some new ground here with his in depth look at the dark and artistic world of comic books. Escapism is a common thread throughout the book. Joe Kavalier escapes Prague just before the serious persecution of the Jews occurs throughout Europe with the Nazi occupation of the late 30's and early 40's. His family is not able to do the same though and this psychological weight drives his darkness to escape into the creation of a comic book superhero that can fight back. Where Chabon slightly goes astray is trying to do too much. There are artistic nods to Magritte, Dali, and others that seem to come off a little contrived. In addition the ending feels a little bit set-up kind of like a John Irving dysfunctional family tale where all the disperse elements come together in the end. It's a projected punch line. In fiction we like to be enveloped in the story and not see the strings hanging from the puppets leading to the puppeteer. Sometimes the strings can be seen jerking the characters about. Those are small things that don't detract largely from the enjoyment of this book. From about page 350 on I was pretty caught up in the story. There are some great scenes throughout and Chabon really brings alive the theme of magic, mythic heroes in the guise of a Joseph Campbell-esque aura, and what people turn to when reality is too much. In this current world where reality appears harsh, a temporary escape isn't such a bad thing. Now I'm ready for that "Beirut to Jerusalem" book again. This time I'll nab it used from Amazon and return to reality again. Thanks Michael Chabon for the reality break. Read on, readers.
Rating: 
Summary: Wow!
Review: Best book I've read in years. Chabon creates completely rounded characters that seem to jump off of the page. Highly recommended!
Rating:
Summary: Clever, Entertaining and Unpredictable.
Review: Michael Chabon's "The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay" is a fascinating novel. Although this was my first Chabon book, I had already heard a lot of praise for his previous writing. Contrary to what I expected, this is an adult novel with adult topics, covering themes such as the Nazi's, love and war, magic and heroism, evil vs. good in business, sexuality etc. This novel has two lead characters; Josef Kavalier (refugee from Prague) and cousin to Samuel Klayman (raised by his mother in Brooklyn, NYC). We enter the story in Prague in the late 1930'ies where we get to meet Josef Kavalier. Josef uses his training as an escape artist to leave the occupied Prague for freedom in America. Josef hid on the train to the border in a casket with a Golem (a Jewish religious figure made of clay). Forced to leave his family behind, he hopes that when he gets to America he can earn enough money so that they can again be reunited. The first part of the book is unbelievably convincing. This is one of my favourite parts of this book, and it could perfectly well work as a separate novel. Samuel is first introduced to Josef when his mother asks him one night to move over in bed, to make room for his refugee cousin from Prague. This is, against all odds, the start of a marvellous friendship. Samuel (Sam) is the gifted storyteller and Josef (Joe), the skilled artist, and together they're an amazing creative duo. Sam who is already working in the comic industry (although he is on the lowest step on the ladder), persuades his boss to take on Joe and to publish "The Escapist" - the comic character they have created together. "The Escapist" becomes a enormous commercial success. As two freshmen to the industry, Sam and Joe, gets cheated by the publisher. They have sold the copyright to "The Escapist" and are left with almost nothing. But unlike Sam, Joe is driven by motives far more complex than money and success. He is fighting his personal war against the Nazi's and Hitler's Germany. We see that the battle of "The Escapist" grows more violent and disturbing, as Joe's attempt to get reunited with his family fails. This book covers an amazing span of topics; and "escape" in all different ways is the theme that holds this book together. Heartbreaking love stories, failures and tragedies leading to the escape from life and reality, business and investment failures, brave soldiers in Antarctica and the most fascinating story, the love so strong leading to the fantastic "escape" back to life and reality again. Chabon has clearly done his research on comic books. His style is very smooth, and his writing is unquestionably talented and imaginative. I loved the way he told this story, although the plot is fragmented and it bounces in all kinds of directions. Time after time the plot catches you off guard. At times the scenes were very short and almost cut off, other times extremely detailed to make sure you have everything "under your skin". The characters are finely drawn, and they develop more slowly than they do in shorter novels. All characters are beautifully developed, even the not so important characters, we get to know well. We get stories within the story, which could easily been stand-alone novels. Despite the sheer weight of the book (at 630 something pages this is not a quick read) I never found the book to be too long or needlessly verbose. I think that Chabon has done a marvellous job mixing it all together, the real with the unreal, together with the story of two young men trying to live the American Dream. Highly deserving of its Pulitzer price. Very highly recommended!
Rating:
Summary: Magic, Comics and more
Review: The book follows the adventures of Josef Kavalier and Sammy Clay. It is a book with magic and comic book heroes where people try to escape from what's happening in their lives by having heroes. The book is factually based, but make no mistake it is very little so. The basic thread is that during the 1930s and 1940s, people tried to escape from Nazi Germany and subsequently from communism. Josef Kavalier grew up in Prague. He's the child of educated Jewish parents. In Prague he studies magic and art. When he escapes from Prague, he joins his cousin Sammy in New York. Josef is a talented artist and Sammy a writer. Sammy persuades the novelty salesman he works for to publish a comics character he and Josef have created. This character is called "The Escapist" and it becomes a great success but Sammy and Josef, alas, are mostly cheated out of much of the financial reward that should have been theirs. It's also a story about sexuality or discovery there of. Josef meets an American woman; Sammy discovers his homosexuality. There's a lot of story but not a lot of focus. Josef enlists and there's a lot of shifting scenes but still an enjoyable book.
Rating:
Summary: Boring
Review: I was disappointed in this book. I didn't even finish it. I tried and tried to like it, but it was just too dense and there wasn't enough reward to keep going. It reminded me a bit of the The Fountainhead, only the story isn't as good and the characters aren't nearly as interesting. They are somewhat intriguing. That's what kept me coming back to it, but after I'd made it halfway through without ever getting to anything that "hooked" me in, I decided it wasn't worth the effort.
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic
Review: A truly amazing adventure of a novel, I did not want this book to end. Would make a terrific film. If you like this book, read "Carter Beats the Devil" by Glen David Gold.
Rating:
Summary: A spectacularly engaging book
Review: Never having read a super-hero comic book, I doubted that a story about two boys who created them would be of much interest. Not only was I wrong about that, but the book turned out to be a semi- historical and psychological tale of epic proportions. Chabon's literate voice is a marvel as he describes the two teenagers discovering their talent as the world is about to break out in war. They may be designing the heroes in the comic books, but their own real struggles to make lives for themselves form the plot of this novel. Like the original Houdini, the two cousins perform bold feats of daring creativity and escape until Chabon leaves them (perhaps safely, but it would take a sequel to find out), in adulthood. Kavalier and Clay appears dense, but from page one the reader is easily transported into a story that incorporates the grief of the Holocaust with the spirit of humor and adventure that makes survival possible even today.
| 
