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Underground > Books, Criticism & Writing >

The ADVENTURES of Kavalier & Clay

Mr Tricks

09:44 / 16.11.01

Just finished this book and I'm bummed... I tried to stretch it out as long as I could but alas... the end DID arrive...

Still has anyone else read this excellent piece of fiction???

Graeme McMillan

09:44 / 16.11.01

Yup. It's great, isn't it? Although the end seemed, simultaneously, a bit rushed and drawn out (As in, The last "Part" of the book felt too long, but when the end actually appeared, it seemed forced and "Huh? That was it?"). I saw Chabon do a reading last month, during which he announced that he's in talks with Dark Horse to do a real "Escapist" series... surprised Marvel didn't ask first, really...

bio k9

09:44 / 16.11.01

...he's in talks with Dark Horse to do a real "Escapist" series...glad Marvel didn't ask first, really...

Kit-Cat Club

09:44 / 16.11.01

quote:Originally posted by Guy Grand:
[QB]Although the end seemed, simultaneously, a bit rushed and drawn out (As in, The last "Part" of the book felt too long, but when the end actually appeared, it seemed forced and "Huh? That was it?"). QB]

I too was taken aback to reach the end, and quite gutted to do so. I felt Chabon was really interested in the first part of the book, and rushed the ending. He is also definitely more interested in Joe than in Sam, and I thought the book could have done with more on what happened to Sammy in his later life.

The Return Of Rothkoid

09:44 / 16.11.01

If anyone in London hasn't read this, there's copies of the US paperback (large format) available for £3 in the second Soho Bookshop (the one with the DVDs in).

DaveBCooper

13:19 / 16.11.01

Enjoyed it a lot – written with obvious knowledge of, and love for, the comics medium, but not in a way that would make it impenetrable to the non-comic reader. Which is as it should be, I feel.

Liked some of the little touches in particular – the Escapist-Houdini-Walter B Gibson-Shadow-OrsonWelles-Citizen Kane chain of association was perhaps my favourite.

DBC

Mr Tricks

22:52 / 16.11.01

Yeah... there could have been So much more explored with Sam... & Rosa!!! There could have been Great explorations on her process of art & her evolution there of. He did a great job on this aspect when she was a surealist, and his lack of doing so once she became 1st an inker & then more almost implied reflected Sammy's own disdain for having returned to that very medium. That may have been intended, but if it was it could have been made More so!!!

I also felt they could easily hav brought their story well into modern times... early in the story there are little references of their signing works at a comic-con and such. Considering how the story as a whole followed "comics" from it's start, it might as well have continued to follow the parallele (hi)story into modern times... Perhaps even drawing aspects of the Kuburt family history with young Thomas growing into the forefront of the story.
Perhaps even Sammy's influence on T.V. of the time...

King Of My Castle

11:10 / 18.11.01

I read it but apart from the scenes in the bullpens I found it a bit boring. The escape from Prague was great, designing and setting up the comcis was fun but overall it left me cold.

I had just finished reading Crytonomicom when I started this so maybe I was expecting something even more bigger and adventurous.

Just my opinion.

JK..

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