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Once in the Long Ago Time, I was a book dealer, and one of my most prized possessions was a hard cover first edition of this title. I read it several times over the years, and then one day was forced to sell it. Such is the way of things. I was delighted to secure this paperback copy and read this wonderful story once more. I won't spoil it with an in depth review - I'll simply say that when I learned how young the author was when he wrote this, I was stunned by his deep understanding of so many facets of the human condition, and his eloquence and skill in communicating it. I was further delighted to learn the story may soon come to life as a limited series on Showtime.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
THE AMAZING ADVENTURES OF KAVALIER AND CLAY BY MICHAEL CHABON: Michael Chabon, author of Wonder Boys, brings us the Pulitzer Prize winning The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay. A riveting novel of the comic book world set against the backdrop of the Second World War. Its two heroes, Joe Kavalier and Sam Clay, fight through the world of color, ink and writing, to compete with the likes of Superman and Batman - the result is an amazing story that has never been told. This is a coming-of-age story for two very distinct characters. One is Sammy Klayman, an aspiring writer trying to make it in New York. Working for Empire Inc., the best he can do, in his diminished capacity, is come up with catchy ad slogans. Though he hopes for so much more, he seems stuck in this rut. During his spare time he draws pictures; though not excellent in skill and look, they are good enough for comics, one of his great loves. Then there is Josef Kavalier: a boy born in the impoverished ghettoes of Prague, where every day is a fight for survival. Taken under the wing of a mentor, Bernard Kornblum, he is taught in the ways of the magician and illusionists - the immortal Houdini. As months pass, he is soon able to break out of any chains, and undo any luck with the help of his small tools (secretly stashed amongst his teeth and gums). Then he performs a might illusion: breaking free of a chained sack that has been hurled into an icy river; he survives barely, but his brother suffers a debilitating accident, and from then on Kavalier will have no more to do with this trickery. His only hope of coming to true fruition is to get to America, where there is insurmountable opportunity. Having failed to get a visa, with the advent of the Germans seizing further control of Eastern Europe, h hides himself in the coffin of a golem and makes it to Lithuania, where he catches a ship bound for New York. There he meets up with none other than Samuel Klayman. The two get together and propose their idea for the first comic book to the head men of Empire Inc. They are given the weekend to come up with the entire comic, and come Monday morning they deliver the first episode of the superhero known as the Escapist - his job: to disperse all evil; there is no lock he cannot pick, no bond he cannot break. And so begins the fulfilling career for these two young mean, covering many years and riches. Chabon is a certified master of the language, taking the reader on sweeps and bounds through imagery set at a new level: "Thunder harried the building like a hound, brushing its crackling coat against the spandrels and mullions, snuffling all the windowpanes." Once the reader finishes this book, they are left with the happy complacency that Amazing Adventure received one of the highest prizes possible. The story is of a quality that is a rarity in the literature of today's world. In short: everyone needs to read this book, be they reader or writer.Read full review
The more I read of Michael Chabon's work, the more I appreciate it. He creates wholly original and believable characters, situations, places. I like the unpretentious poetry of his word choices and sentence structure, and the vast amount of knowledge and research that support his creative choices. Wow - that sounds a little heavy, maybe a bit pretentious. But really, Mr. Chabon's work is a pleasure, you will be swept away by his brilliance but never put off by it - just BUY HIS STUFF AND READ IT! E-Bay is a great way to purchase as much of his work as you can get your hands on! Enjoy!!!
Old novel which I had never read. My son did ad recommended it to me. Let me borrow his book. LOVED IT! Found out afterwards that it's being turned into a miniseries. Can't wait. I liked the book so much - I gave my son back his copy and bought one of my own. A Pulitzer Prize winner, Well deserved. A fascinating story with wonderful characters. Chabon is a terrific writer.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Good story, this book won the Pulitzer Prize. Takes place at the dawn of the comic book age, centered around two distant cousins united by WWII as one escapes to America. Sort of a life long journey it weaves in an out of their lives as they grow, fight for recognition and success.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
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