The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay

[Nick]

Kirstin wrote: "This book just keeps taking the most unexpected twists and turns! I made it to part 6. I can't wait to see what you all think! Crazy."

Not quite to part 6 yet... maybe later today, but I have to say this whole business about the antarctic (that point isn't really much of a spoiler) really came out of nowhere. Can't imagine how the author thought of that. I sometimes feel that this book is based on real life... but I guess it's not.

[Kirstin]

Yes, I definitely didn't think we would end up there! I think that's a part of the charm of the book. I love that it feels real.

[Kirstin]

So, I just finished the book. Sorry for reading ahead but I could not stop myself! Once I got into Part 4 the book took off for me.

[Jeff]

I am hoping to make up some ground. My wife has the flu, so I am on kid duty. Plus, Omega Minor is absolutely astounding and drawing some of my attention. But I will catch up:-)

[Nick]

Kirstin wrote: "So, I just finished the book. Sorry for reading ahead but I could not stop myself! Once I got into Part 4 the book took off for me."

I'm with the crowd outside the empire state building as the police chief decides to call it a day... I did too. More this evening. But now I'm wondering WTF.

[Kirstin]

Nick wrote: "Kirstin wrote: "So, I just finished the book. Sorry for reading ahead but I could not stop myself! Once I got into Part 4 the book took off for me."

I'm with the crowd outside the empire state bui..."

Ha! I've wondered that a few times in this book! :-)

[Michael]

Hey guys. I feel like I made some good progress over the weekend, but I'm still not close to finishing. Its good to hear of your experiences with the book. I will check in later.

[Nick]

Kirstin wrote: "Nick wrote: "Kirstin wrote: "So, I just finished the book. Sorry for reading ahead but I could not stop myself! Once I got into Part 4 the book took off for me."

I'm with the crowd outside the emp..."

So the empire state building adventures work out and make sense. But there is a famous rule of writing that says if the reader ever says, "why didn't they just..." then maybe the events are a little far fetched. And Rosa actually says "Why didn't you just...." right in the text of the book." I guess this speaks to the complexity the characters in many ways... that they could all be friends, that there is something strangely twisted about them... it doesn't destroy them but it sure messes them up. BTW, love the portrayal of Rosa as a comic book artist and author. Great stuff. I really enjoy reading descriptions of the creative process.

[Kirstin]

I liked the descriptions as well, Nick. I especially liked how (view spoiler)[Citizen Kane affected Joe and made him want to turn out higher quality comics. (hide spoiler)]
As for "Why didn't they just..." I like to sit back and let the author tell me a story. I search out horror/weird/strange books. If the characters I loved didn't do far fetched things I would have nothing to read! Lol! In that specific instance (view spoiler)[I was almost convinced Joe was going to be killed off. Man I was sweating during that scene! I do see your point about his stunt being a tad over the top. ;-) (hide spoiler)]

[Nick]

Yeah, farfetched is not the right word for what I was getting at... it's more like the actions "aren't logical within the world of the story." However, (and I'm not yet done)(view spoiler)[Joe is such a strange and unexpected character in so many ways. You can see that his heart has been broken over and over again and that's why he can't just return to his friends and his son, after all his best friend and cousin married his pregnant girlfriend - though more out of honor than anything else, he is very gay after all... not interested in women romantically. I think the scenes in the antarctic are brilliant and really show us just what kind of a complex guy Joe is. (hide spoiler)] Anyway, I'm looking forward to getting to the end of this book tonight and finding out what happens to all of them. I like all the characters very much.

[Kirstin]

I know what you mean (view spoiler)[ I think Joe was truly lost when he returned from Antarctica. PSTD maybe? He had given up his life to go kill Germans and when he did kill one it made no difference( In fact, it made it worse) he still hadn't come to terms with the death of his whole family and after a 12 year absence from Sam and Rosa, knowing that he had abandoned his son, he didn't know how to return. He was telling himself that they were a happy family and he would be an unwelcome intruder, a stranger. It was convoluted but I see the Empire stunt as Joe escaping his own psychological chains. I know he says he didn't think he would die, but I have to wonder if it wasn't a bit of a 'good-bye world' kind of plan. (hide spoiler)] Sorry for my rambling. I should wait til I've had more coffee before I try and put down my thoughts!

[Nick]

Kirstin wrote: "I know what you mean [spoilers removed] Sorry for my rambling. I should wait til I've had more coffee before I try and put down my thoughts!"

I didn't quite make it to the end, but our discussion pretty much parallels the comments of the author in the story itself. Joe clearly has a suicidal streak. He did try to kill himself didn't he in that escape in the fountain just after he heard the news about his brother's death... or was he just so overcome with grief that he couldn't function?

[Nick]

Okay finished the book and really enjoyed it. I did like the ending and the fact that it was kind of open... more than many other books, there are different possibilities (view spoiler)[though everything is in place for things to work out nicely for all of them. Let the reader decide, huh? In my mind it all one big happy ending... finally. (hide spoiler)] BTW I did read much of the added info in the book, but not the short stories that were added. I'm happy with the ending I've decided on.

[Michael]

Finished today. I really liked the book and probably would consider it among my favorites. The ending wasn't great in my opinion, but it wasn't bad either. Maybe we'll see a sequel at some point. I would love to follow Sammy's further adventures. I will definitely start paying more attention to Chabon in the future. Thank you guys for recommending it!

[Kirstin]

I'm so happy that you both liked it! I've been working so much but I want to review it and add more to the discussion. I liked the end.

[Jeff]

Ok....I'm in the minority but halfway through I am kinda finding it meh....just okay. Maybe it gets better....hoping so.

[Nick]

TheLongWait wrote: "Ok....I'm in the minority but halfway through I am kinda finding it meh....just okay. Maybe it gets better....hoping so."

Where are you halfway through? there are a couple of dead spots.

[Jeff]

Sammy just met Tracy...Jozef is starting magic again. up to now though I just kept thinking "pulitzer prize....really?"

[Nick]

Things do pick up... or get worse for the characters... or however you want to say it. I really like Rosa though.

[Jeff]

ok. I trust you nick.

[Nick]

TheLongWait wrote: "ok. I trust you nick."

Not sure I'd go that far... :-)

[Jeff]

I will at least finish it to give it an honest opinion.

[Nick]

TheLongWait wrote: "I will at least finish it to give it an honest opinion."

GREAT