The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay

[Mr. Palmer]

I'm only midway through this book, but am enjoying what I've read, so far. I'm also a pretty big fan of the Escapists books and current comic.

What's the feedback on this one?

[scratchie]

I'm only midway through this book, but am enjoying what I've read, so far. I'm also a pretty big fan of the Escapists books and current comic.

What's the feedback on this one?Loved it.

Another good, recent comic-book-related novel is Fortress of Solitude by Jonathan Lethem.

[prince hal]

What's the feedback on this one?

I loved it too. It wanders a bit, but I thought much of it was poignant and
perceptive. I even liked the Antarctica episode!

[divinebrown]

I read this last year and it replaced One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest as my favorite book. It's stunning; it's heart-breaking; it is the bee's knees.

[Kan-Man]

Put me down for another big thumbs up.

I sent Michael Chabon an e-mail telling that I gave it as a gift to several friends who used to collect comics and how it brought on waves of nostalgia for all of us. He sent me a very nice reply.

I haven't kept up with the Escapist comics, but I've heard good things. I know they've been trying to get a movie off the ground for several years and there's some talk it might go into production in '07.

[gentlesatirist]

...with the sentiments expressed here.

As a comic book fan, a great follow-up to reading Kavalier & Clay is Men of Tomorrow, Gerard Jones' excellent recent history of the early days of the comic book field. It reinforces and gives context to Chabon's work. Makes you realize how good Chabon's research was.


- FE
Wickliffe OH

[MichikoS]

In the spirit of Kavalier & Clay, may I recommend a couple of other "fictionalized histories" I've enjoyed recently?

1. Carter Beats the Devil by Glen David Gold, and
2. The Chinatown Death Cloud Peril by Paul Malmont

The latter is a fictional account of an investigation into the mysterious death of H.P. Lovecraft by Walter (Maxwell Grant) Gibson, Lester (Kenneth Robeson) Dent and his beautiful wife Norma, and a redheaded young wannabe writer named L. Ron Hubbard. These giants of the pulp era are assisted by a young man on the lam named Bob Heinlein and a wild n' wooly cowboy named Louis L'Amour. Cameo appearances by Jacob Kurtzberg, Stanley Leiber, Chester Himes and Orson Welles. Cool.

Michi

[Kan-Man]

In the spirit of Kavalier & Clay, may I recommend a couple of other "fictionalized histories" I've enjoyed recently?

1. Carter Beats the Devil by Glen David Gold, and
2. The Chinatown Death Cloud Peril by Paul Malmont

The latter is a fictional account of an investigation into the mysterious death of H.P. Lovecraft by Walter (Maxwell Grant) Gibson, Lester (Kenneth Robeson) Dent and his beautiful wife Norma, and a redheaded young wannabe writer named L. Ron Hubbard. These giants of the pulp era are assisted by a young man on the lam named Bob Heinlein and a wild n' wooly cowboy named Louis L'Amour. Cameo appearances by Jacob Kurtzberg, Stanley Leiber, Chester Himes and Orson Welles. Cool.

Michi

It's funny you should mention that because on my bookshelf right next to my copy of Kavalier and Clay is Carter Beats the Devil, a book I bought several years ago and have yet to read. Never heard of the other one, but the premise sounds great.

[MDG]

It's funny you should mention that because on my bookshelf right next to my copy of Kavalier and Clay is Carter Beats the Devil, a book I bought several years ago and have yet to read. Never heard of the other one, but the premise sounds great.

By coincidence--or maybe not--Glen David Gold is also a big-time comics fan and original art collector.

MDG

[Lone Ranger]

I really enjoyed the book when I read, but I am surprised to report that it really has not resonated with me like most great books do. I don't find myself thinking of the characters or the issues raised.

Don't get me wrong - it's a good book, and I always seem to enjoy Pulitzer winner - but I don't recommend it to others nearly as often as I recommend A Confederacy of Dunces, The Killer Angels or Independence Day.

[Aaron King]

I feel pretty much the same way as Lone Ranger does. I enjoyed reading it, but it's not a book I'd buy. It's a nice fictional account set in the comic boom of the forties, which makes it pretty unique, but, yeah, Confederacy of Dunces is waaaay better.

[DJ Sloofus]

I have to admit, I didn't enjoy this book. I'm a nut for the Kirby/Eisner era and the whole sweatshop scene, but this book was a little too dry for me. Can someone please email me what happens at the end? I got about halfway through... the last thing I remember is that Luna Moth (or whatever the character's name is) getting all Eisner-esque in her 'adventures.' I admit that I'm curious enough to see how it ended, but it's been so long since I read the first half, I'd rather not go through it again.

On the other hand, I really enjoyed Tom DeHaven's "funnybook" trilogy (especially the second volume, for some reason). Those were great!

[sheets]

In the spirit of Kavalier & Clay, may I recommend a couple of other "fictionalized histories" I've enjoyed recently?

1. Carter Beats the Devil by Glen David Gold, and
2. The Chinatown Death Cloud Peril by Paul Malmont

I never was able to finish Carter Beats the Devil. I thought the backdrop of the stage magic business was very interesting but the characters and the storyline didn't grab me at all.

The Chinatown Death Cloud Peril was good fun, though. My favorite of the three books mentioned here, even with the errors in the researching :)

[Mr. Palmer]

I really enjoyed Tom DeHaven's "funnybook" trilogy (especially the second volume, for some reason). Those were great!

That sounds interesting. What's the story about?

[Slam_Bradley]

I liked it ok, though it took me two tries to get through it. The ending did not ring true to me, which didn't help at all.

[shyguy]

I loved most of the book, but it lost me around the time of the whole Antarctica thing. Where the hell did that come from?

But still, I love the book not only as an examination of the early days of comic books, but also as a look at being gay in the 1940's (which I find to be the most heartbreaking part of the book).

[Perpetual Failure]

I rented it from the library and only got about half-way through before I lost interest. I enjoyed parts of it alot, I especially liked when the artist broke into the Nazi-guy's headquarters. But I don't know, I thought it was pretty good but I have a short attention span so I couldn't finish it. Maybe I'll try again one day. The non-comic book related stuff bored me I suppose. Relationships and stuff. Maybe I'm not too smart...

[DJ Sloofus]

That sounds interesting. What's the story about?


The first one takes place in the early 20th century, and is centered around the burgeoning comic strip scene. The second was during the late 1800s, and featured an aging strip artist and his ghost artist/writer, and their relationship. The third was basically about Robert Crumb, though it was fictionalized, of course.

These are admittedly pretty brief descriptions, but the books are worth seeking out. It looks like they're back in print in a new edition: here's the first title (http://www.amazon.com/Funny-Papers-Novel-Tom-Haven/dp/0312421346/sr=8-3/qid=1163850821/ref=pd_bbs_3/103-4695098-1864652?ie=UTF8&s=books). Spiegelman did a one page strip for the second volume, and I believe on the first printing Chris Ware did the cover layout (of the second volume, anyway). I could be wrong about that; it's been awhile since I've looked at these. In fact, I don't even remember where they are...

Much more recently, DeHaven wrote a novel about Superman's early days, titled "It's Superman." I've only read about half of that so far, but it seems pretty entertaining. Kind of 'fluffier' than the other three books, but still a decent beach read.