The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay

By: Michael Chabon

Narrated by: David Colacci

Length: 8 hrs and 53 mins

Publisher's summary

It's 1939, in New York City. Joe Kavalier, a young artist who has also been trained in the art of Houdiniesque escape, has just pulled off his greatest feat: smuggling himself out of Hitler's Prague. He's looking to make big money, fast, so that he can bring his family to freedom. His cousin, Brooklyn's own Sammy Clay, is looking for a partner in creating the heroes, stories, and art for the latest novelty to hit the American dreamscape: the comic book.

Inspired by their own fantasies, fears, and dreams, Kavalier and Clay create the Escapist, the Monitor, and the otherworldy Mistress of the Night, Luna Moth, inspired by the beautiful Rosa Saks, who will become linked by powerful ties to both men. The golden age of comic books has begun, even as the shadow of Hitler falls across Europe.

The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay is a stunning novel of endless comic invention and unforgettable characters, written in the exhilarating prose that has led critics to compare Michael Chabon to Cheever and Nabokov. In Joe Kavalier, Chabon, writing "like a magical spider, effortlessly spinning out elaborate webs of words that ensnare the reader" (Michiko Kakutani, The New York Times), has created a hero for the century.

©2000 Michael Chabon (P)2000 Brilliance Audio

Critic reviews

"Virtuoso Chabon takes intense delight in the practice of his art, and never has his joy been more palpable than in this funny and profound tale of exile, love, and magic." ( Booklist)

"This thoughtful and entertaining work is so well presented by Colacci - even down to the Yiddish accents - that his performance is a truly memorable experience." ( AudioFile)

Better Performance Than The Unabridged Version!

So, this abridgement is rather severe——it’s 1/3 the length of the original book and there’s a lot let out.

However, this version has one strong, redeeming quality, which is David Colacci’s delightful performance as reader. It’s just spot on, so funny, so good.

They brought him back in years later to do the unabridged version and it is sorely, sorely lacking. All his accents and timing are completely off.

After listening to this Abridged version for years, over and over again just for the pleasure of it (especially chapter 2), the Unabridged version is like a dagger to the heart. Rather than giving me 16 more hours of my favorite book it’s been a chore to listen to. Bummer.

I wish they would give Colacci another crack at recording the Unabridged version, but at least we’ll always have this one to show us how it should be done.

Didn't realize it was edited version of the whole book

The story got 3 stars instead of five, only because the narration skips over the actual book.

No real surprises!

Michael Chabon's _The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay_ receives two stars from me due to wondering plot with no surprises.

First the reader: David Colacci's reading is good. His voice is clear, some variety of voices help with dialog. Overall well done but just a lame story.

I have no idea what I expected from this work, but honestly, what I got was the only true surprise of the experience. Overall, I didn't find the plot engaging, there were no twists or any surprises. At first, I was enjoying the work, but then I realized I simply didn't care about any of the characters, or really sit on the edge of my seat asking what's going to happen next.

A book with so little tension that I don't understand why it was published. I don't mean this to be mean, just an honest observation. I never felt anyone was in danger, or something might happen. When tragedy hits, I wasn't surprised. For me, this is where the text fails--no surprises, no tension.

Regarding the writing: Well, there is nothing that stands out to me as particularly beautiful or particularly boring. It is solid, but average writing.

When I was nearly finished, I decided to look up (for a second time) themes in the book. I got: search for identity; the appeal of comics; and I think art for money. In this respect, I feel the book falls way short. I simply didn't see any of this truly developed, truly discussed. Identity was certainly not.

Perhaps, someone who enjoyed the book could fill me in on this, and I reserve the right to change my mind later. However, I don't think I'll be coming back to this book.

Recommended: I think you should choose for yourself. read other reviews and see what others are saying. I feel that would be important because I simply didn't enjoy the book and my assessment may not be without my bias.

Enjoyed this and wanted more

Would you consider the audio edition of The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay to be better than the print version?

It's like having a friend tell you an awesome story while commenting to and from work.

Any additional comments?

Just a great story and a great listen. I'm a comic book fan - so it was in my area of interest, but I think it would appeal to anyone. While the business takes place in a comic creator world, it's really about the human drama. Loved it.

It's a great story.

Would you listen to The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay again? Why?

Yes

What did you like best about this story?

I especially liked the part on the Golem From Prague who fled what Nzai. I asked myself if Michael Chabon was suggested that computers are the Golem. Since we all know that computers where created at the post-war time 1946.

Which scene was your favorite?

-

If you could take any character from The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay out to dinner, who would it be and why?

-

Any additional comments?

no

Disappointed

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

The quality of the narration was the most redeeming feature and it almost made the story worth while. Perhaps the unabridged copy would have been better by filling in the story gaps.

Good but want unabridged

This is a great book, I really enjoyed listening to it, and the Cavid Colacci is a great narrator. As many others have noted, I just don't understand doing abridged versions unless is some super mammoth book ?? This would be much better unabridged.

Wonderful story, unfortunate abridgement

I thoroughly enjoyed the story and became very fond of the characters, but as others have written, the abridged version is not well done and several times I was startled by the sudden jump in the story. Because I knew this was an abridged version, I understood my need to fill in the gaps, but why offer an abridged version in the first place? I would have preferred the entire book. Having said all that, I would recommend it.

Please give us an Unabridged version

Why abridged? Left gaps and joyful passages out of the experience. Minimum words in review.

Wonderful find!

It took me a while to understand where Chabon was trying to point me. But when I got it, the book was a delight, so well written I didn't want to stop listening.
Great narration too.