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  • The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay

  • By: Michael Chabon
  • Narrated by: David Colacci
  • Length: 26 hrs and 20 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (5,533 ratings)

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The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay

By: Michael Chabon
Narrated by: David Colacci
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Publisher's summary

Pulitzer Prize, Fiction, 2001

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 otherworldly 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 has created a hero for the century.

©2012 Brilliance Audio, Inc. (P)2000 Michael Chabon

Critic reviews

"Michael Chabon can write like a magical spider, effortlessly spinning out elaborate webs of words that ensnare the reader with their beauty and their style." (Michiko Kakutani, The New York Times)

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What listeners say about The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Good until it wasn’t

I liked this until I started to hate one of the characters towards the end. I felt the other characters reactions to the situation in question were unrealistic and quite infuriating. It sort of ruined the book for me. Other than that the rest of the book was good.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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super great

it said I wouldn't have to write anything but it's making me. I liked the book.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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AMAZING

loved this novel. lovable characters, fun and captivating plot, outstanding style.
and the performer of this audio version has got real talent. LOVE

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Phenomenal all around!

There's a reason this won the Pulitzer. The gorgeous language of Chabon, the intricate, detailed storytelling; the spot-on narration, inclusive of colloquial accents, all lend themselves to such an unforgettable experience that I need to listen to this a second time, immediately. Don't miss this gem.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Amazing Adventure Indeed

I loved this book. Micheal Chabon crafts some of the largest most complex sentences for no reason. It’s a beautiful thing.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Great read

Everything great. Really enjoyed it
Well written and performed
Highly recommend it
Looking forward to his other books

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Superb, Original and BAM!

This is a wonderful story perfectly read. I would say no more but would fail to meet the Audible review requirements!

There is some real history here---read also The Ten Cent Plague---wrapped around the stories of two cousins. The stories are tragic but not overly depressing. The author somewhat gets us to a happy place by the end---not a perfect story book ending but that would demean some of the serious points this book makes. I love books that build compassion for people.

I have around 1500 audio books in my library. When I finish something really, really good, it can be insanely difficult to start, or rather get into, a new book. If you find yourself in that position, here you go! I had to listen to the first half hour a couple of times and then I was completely hooked.

Highly recommend.

Chris Reich

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33 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Pow! Wham! Zoom!

The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay is Michael Chabon’s own personal love letter to the Golden Age of Comics and one of my all time favorite novels. Joe Kavalier & Sam Clay are two young Jewish boys growing up in New York City on the eve of America’s entry into WW2. Soon the two are swept up into the halcyon world of Superheroes comic books and make their mark on it with The Escapist, their own Nazi-punching masked Avenger. I wouldn’t dare risk any further spoilers, but I found the story of thsee two men just as American and heartfelt as that of Superman himself.

First of all, Chabon clearly did his research as he gets the details of the era spot on. American history buffs, and especially Comic book fans, will find a lot to love in this book. Second, all the characters are beautifully well developed and stand as a testament to Chabon’s incredible skill as a writer. Third, David Colacci’s narration is absolutely prefect for this story, nailing Joe Kavalier’s Eastern European accent just as seamlessly as Sam Clay’s Brooklyn accent. What are you waiting for?! This is not one to miss. Beyond highly recommended!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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I Want The ROsa To My Joe...

Any additional comments?

This is a beautifully written, richly imagined story that ties in real world historical events into to the fictitious world that the characters live in. The relationships between Joe and Sam, between Joe and ROsa, and between Sam and Tracy are complex and dynamic thins that kept me hooked. I absolutely loved this book and was thrilled when I saw that Audible finally had an unabridged version of it.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A masterpiece.

This is a beautifully written novel with very human characters who are brilliantly brought to life in this audio production. The heading for my review, 'masterpiece,' says it all though. Having listened to well over 200 audio titles, this is one of my top five.

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1 person found this helpful