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The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay (Nova Audio Books)

The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay (Nova Audio Books)

List Price: $29.95
Your Price: $19.77
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The most satisfying book I've read in a long time
Review: This is a great book. It's a bit of a sophisticated read (you may have to look up some words), but one of the best books I've read. The writing is crisp, well-paced, and sometimes unexpected. The story is well-plotted, interesting, and has a satisfying ending. Even though I could care less about the comic-book world, I had a hard time putting the book down. Read it!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Just gets better and better
Review: I'll keep it short. Fantastically well-written book, and a TOTAL joy to read. Michael Chabon's research is impeccable (especially with regard to the golden age of comics) and it's just about impossible to separate the fact and fiction - definitely where some of the magic lies. Chabon draws characters beautifully, revealing small clues and hints, gently teasing the reader, then revealing only to have more fascinating questions arise. It works beautifully on a huge range of levels. Simply:

It's a masterpiece and reminds one of the awe, beauty, and fun of reading.

Just be ready to stay up til 4 AM to find out what happens next.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: One story from two worlds
Review: The author does a remarkable job of weaving a tapestry from the the horrors of war to the escapism of fantasy. Well done characters that remain true to themselves and a great plot makes this a tremendous read.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: wow...
Review: Unlike many reviewers here, I did not catch onto the allusions to comics nor to Jewish culture. I found that I couldn't read this book without a dictionary on hand; I never would've guessed I needed the dictionary this much reading a book about comic books. Despite all this, this is easily the best fiction I have read in several years. The plot is unforgettable. The character development phenomenal... even though these boys accomplished some outrageous feats, they were still portrayed as the boys next door. The characters come alive as each of them leaves a firm impression of realistic emotions, as they are constantly doubting, blushing, hoping, and more blushing... (I think Chabon used the word "blush" more than 100x in this book).

After finishing, I felt satisfied with an amazing story, enriched with an appreciation for Jewish culture, knowledgeable about the art of comic books, and gained a vastly improved vocabulary. I suggest you go through this experience as well.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Fascinating page turner
Review: I couldn't put this down. It was so interesting and twisty-turny. It was very interesting, very funny at times and still poignant. I highly recommend it.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: I'm done. Now what?
Review: I recently finished this book, and am having a pretty hard time withdrawing from the story, the rich characters, the time in history and Chabon's incredibly cozy command of our language.

The last time I let a writer suck me in so much was when I read Geek Love a few years back. Liked that? You're in for a treat.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Wonderful History
Review: The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay is a wonderful snapshot of America immediately preceding WWII. For anyone who is old enough to have loved comic books, known American culture pre MTV and media immersion, or who just loves recent American History, AAKC is a wonderful book. The characters are interesting, and the command of facts the author brings to his subject superb. It's also one that can be read while commuting or travelling because the inner stories are episodic. Enjoy!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Marvelous, gripping, imaginative
Review: I had so much fun reading this book that it's difficult to write a technical "literary" review. The first chapters are utterly gripping; although the story reaches a lull about 3/4ths of the way through, it nonetheless proves a fascinating and rewarding read. The book is clearly worthy of the acclaim that it has received as a "serious" work, but it is also such a wild adventure that anyone would enjoy it. Case in point, my father who usually reads Tom Clancy loved it, but the most intellectually snobbish members of my circle of friends (sorry, guys) unabashedly gushed about it.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Solid characters, exciting premise and grand themes
Review: I would highly recommend this book to anyone, especially if you have any interest at all in super heroes or comics. Chabon delves into some history which makes this book quite interesting. Joe Kavalier escapes the Jewish ghettoes in Prague during World War II and winds up in New York at the beginning of the super-hero comic book explosion of the late 30's. He and his cousin, Sammy Clay create their own hero called "the Escapist". They are quite successful, yet Joe cannot escape his guilt for not getting the rest of his family out of Prague and Sammy cannot escape his sexual orientation as much as he tries to. Love, war and reconciliation trouble the boys throughout the novel. Chabon is careful to present a realistic picture of comic book history, the effects of World War II on Prague and Antarctica, and gay life in New York before the war.

The theme of "escaping" runs throughout the book. Joe is often found trying to get out of situations both physical and metaphorical. Ultimately, this trait does not serve him well or fulfill him in any way. He finds that only through a reconnection to the living will he ease his restlessness. A grand work that does deal with epic adventures yet one that also succeeds at presenting vivid characters with believable motivations.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: a boy story
Review: strong historical and political intrigue; weak character and relationship development.


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