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The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

Michael Chabon (Author), David Colacci (Narrator), Brilliance Audio (Publisher)
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 5,272 ratings
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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.

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  1. Listening Length
    26 hours and 20 minutes
  2. Author
    Michael Chabon
  3. Narrator
    David Colacci
  4. Audible release date
    June 12, 2012
  5. Language
    English
  6. Publisher
    Brilliance Audio
  7. ASIN
    B008ARPKNW
  8. Version
    Unabridged
  9. Program Type
    Audiobook
  10. See all details
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Product details

Listening Length 26 hours and 20 minutes
Author Michael Chabon
Narrator David Colacci
Whispersync for Voice Ready
Audible.com Release Date June 12, 2012
Publisher Brilliance Audio
Program Type Audiobook
Version Unabridged
Language English
ASIN B008ARPKNW
Best Sellers Rank #7,586 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals)
#101 in Humorous Fiction & Satire
#204 in Humorous Fiction
#333 in Literary Fiction (Audible Books & Originals)

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
5,272 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers enjoy the story's detailed and interesting plot. They praise the nice prose with colorful images and finely crafted sentences. They love the characters, especially the wise female characters. The book is described as creative, clever, and inventive, with great historical elements and references. Readers appreciate the humor and writing style that shifts seamlessly from humorous to tragic and magical.

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Story qualityWriting qualityCharacter developmentCreativityHistoryHumorEmotional contentDepth
285 customers mention "Story quality"253 positive32 negative

Customers enjoy the story's quality. They find it well-written and detailed, with richly developed episodes and deliberate diversions from the main plot. The book is well-researched in terms of period detail, and the author is described as a great storyteller with a rare gift for bringing life and adventures to the characters.

"...Chabon's masterful storytelling blends truth and fiction to form an often hilarious, often poignant epic that spans decades...." Read more

"...Quite often interesting, but more often a moment of "wait, what?" and a subsequent interruption if the flow of the story...." Read more

"...of Kavalier and Clay is filled with asides, and deliberate diversions from the main plot...." Read more

"...For all its tragic content, this book is incredibly light and hopeful - and funny. There are a bunch of laugh out loud interludes...." Read more

197 customers mention "Writing quality"168 positive29 negative

Customers praise the book's writing quality. They find the prose nice, with rich vocabulary and colorful images. The author expertly captures accents and conveys the tones and emotions of characters. Many describe the writing as descriptive, witty, and thought-provoking.

"...This is a wildly entertaining, beautifully executed, and thought-provoking work." Read more

"...of the book is more fluid, with fewer "interruptions" as the author stays on point, whereas the first part of the book he is easily distracted by..." Read more

"...The Amazing Adventures is relatively discrete in it use of language, violence and sex, but the more sensitive reader may want to consider that all..." Read more

"...to live - and more than any book in recent memory, this book makes want to write. I only wish I could write with this kind of verve and skill...." Read more

103 customers mention "Character development"92 positive11 negative

Customers enjoy the well-developed characters with interesting stories. They appreciate the good dialogue and interplay between the young characters. The characters are described as flawed, hilarious, and true. Readers also like the strong and wise female characters.

"...- the author paints his picture well and the characters continue to evolve throughout the story...." Read more

"...These characters are sharply drawn, their reactions to world and local events makes good sense for the type of people they are...." Read more

"...The novel has cameo appearances of Al Smith, Salvador Dali, Orson Welles and Dolores del Rio, Stan Lee, Gil Kane, and Senators Hendrickson and..." Read more

"...of all his fiction though is an ability to establish plot, create vital characters, and do so with a flurry of style and control...." Read more

60 customers mention "Creativity"60 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's inventive style and realistic characters. They find the writing clever and enjoyable, reminding them of the joys of reading. The book offers grand themes and symbolism that are unique and interesting. Overall, readers describe it as an amazing and inspiring read.

"...The characters of Sammy, Joe and Rosa are marvelously realized, and like life itself, the writing style shifts seamlessly from hilarious to tragic..." Read more

"...are in the market for a long read and have the time to commit, it has some very nice - not overly done - writing in it, and characters that you wind..." Read more

"...way that is beautiful, exhilerating, heartbreaking, and ultimately uplifting...." Read more

"...The "Radioman" section, for instance, has beautiful elements but stops the book dead in its tracks..." Read more

56 customers mention "History"56 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the historical aspects of the book. They appreciate the seamless blend of fiction and history, as well as the time period and locations. The book fills them with nostalgia for an era they are too young to have known. It serves as a record of a generation.

"...A good walk through of history - especially American culture and how it evolved - our tolerances and lack thereof, through out the years...." Read more

"...I definitely enjoyed the aspects of the book that involved comic book history, (enjoying the cameos by some of the field's greats of those days) and..." Read more

"...I never go bored. Great character development, historical context and story line. Love it!" Read more

"Comic books are the stuff of escape -- probably never more so than at their inception toward the end of The Great Depression and their heyday during..." Read more

43 customers mention "Humor"41 positive2 negative

Customers enjoy the book's humor. They find the writing style humorous, gripping, and tragic at times. The writing style seamlessly shifts from hilarious to tragic to magical. Readers appreciate the well-crafted phrases and gentle teasing. They find the characters witty and likable. There is romance, irony, escape, and self-blame interwoven into the story.

"...marvelously realized, and like life itself, the writing style shifts seamlessly from hilarious to tragic to magical...." Read more

"...Riveting, humorous, human, and thematically consistent and resonant - these scenes mesh and build and reflect with dazzling skill...." Read more

"...Sammy is a witty character and had some great lines. He kept the story afloat and moving forward, unlike Joe's character...." Read more

"...Each artist had a distinct personality. Initially, there was good dialogue and interplay between all these young characters...." Read more

42 customers mention "Emotional content"42 positive0 negative

Customers find the book engaging and emotional. They describe it as a great-hearted tale about life, love, and self-worth. The story captures the feelings of that era and explores the many different ways men love.

"...But far more than detail - this book's heart is about the many different ways men love; from moving mountains to fulfill a promise, all the way to..." Read more

"...Their emotions were no strangers to me: regret, embarrassment, triumph, joy, fear; I knew where they all went, and I placed them without any..." Read more

"...can get, with symbolism expertly woven throughout and such a touching human element that I can only compare Chabon's work to that of Steinbeck...." Read more

"...appreciating their beauty and purpose as never before, appreciating the thought and emotion (and talent) that has gone into the creation of powerful..." Read more

39 customers mention "Depth"39 positive0 negative

Customers find the book engaging and thought-provoking. They appreciate its depth, humor, and insight into personal experiences. The author weaves fiction and fact together into an awesome whole. Readers find the book consuming their thoughts and giving an interesting perspective into the way the world thought about things in the 1940s. The book provides commentary and insights, making it intellectual and descriptive.

"...the writing style shifts seamlessly from hilarious to tragic to magical. Tongue-in-cheek "footnotes" lend the authority of a history text...." Read more

"...Riveting, humorous, human, and thematically consistent and resonant - these scenes mesh and build and reflect with dazzling skill...." Read more

"...& Clay' is as powerful as literature can get, with symbolism expertly woven throughout and such a touching human element that I can only compare..." Read more

"...it is also sufficiently decent, in the meaningful definition, to allow any reader of even modest experience to appreciate both the scope and the..." Read more

A True Fictional Period Piece
4 out of 5 stars
A True Fictional Period Piece
The story eclipsed ten years in the lives of two Jewish cousins who took a stab at the comic book business in its infancy during the Golden Age, and had their lives change from the events of Pearl Harbor. Stan Lee even made a cameo, which is awesome because he's in everything...
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Top reviews from the United States

  • S. Williams
    5.0 out of 5 stars Witty, Fun and Poignant
    Reviewed in the United States on January 30, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    In 1938, young Joe Kavalier escapes Nazi-controlled Prague and arrives at his cousin Sam Klayman's doorstep in New York City. Joe's family has sacrificed everything to get him to safety and he struggles with frustration and guilt—he is safe, while they are not.

    Sammy recognizes his moody cousin's artistic talent and, desperate to get in on the ground floor of the new "comics books" craze, enlists his help in creating their own Superman-inspired hero.

    Thus commences the captivating tale of two fictional pioneers of the "Golden Age" of American comics. Chabon's masterful storytelling blends truth and fiction to form an often hilarious, often poignant epic that spans decades.

    The characters of Sammy, Joe and Rosa are marvelously realized, and like life itself, the writing style shifts seamlessly from hilarious to tragic to magical. Tongue-in-cheek "footnotes" lend the authority of a history text. Ultimately, the story drives home the theme that true heroism lies not in the exploits of superhumanly talented individuals but in quiet acts of self-sacrifice.

    This is a wildly entertaining, beautifully executed, and thought-provoking work.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Rory Wade-Easley
    4.0 out of 5 stars Comic book cool
    Reviewed in the United States on January 25, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    Full disclosure- this book is LONG. If you do better with paper vs. kindle over the long run, keep that in mind when tackling this tome. The writing is good - the author paints his picture well and the characters continue to evolve throughout the story. The second half of the book is more fluid, with fewer "interruptions" as the author stays on point, whereas the first part of the book he is easily distracted by back story and filler. Quite often interesting, but more often a moment of "wait, what?" and a subsequent interruption if the flow of the story. Quite often I was surprised to find there was MORE to read as we had come to an "ending", but the book manage to continue to pick up and be interesting.
    A good walk through of history - especially American culture and how it evolved - our tolerances and lack thereof, through out the years. If you are in the market for a long read and have the time to commit, it has some very nice - not overly done - writing in it, and characters that you wind up caring for and about as they find themselves over the years.
    5 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Phred
    5.0 out of 5 stars Surprises, history, adventure, heartfelt emotions and Comic Books!
    Reviewed in the United States on April 8, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Bottom Line First: Michael Chabon’s The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay (Paperback, Picador edition) is one of the best books I have read in years. That statement and the 5 stars insure that many review readers will never see this review. Then again the mere fact that it is a Pulitzer Prize winning novel will keep some folks from considering it. Their loss. Chabon has grasped what it is about the comic book and the pre-World War II era when the industry emblazoned its men in tights into the culture of America. The publishers tended to be a shady bunch and the artists and writers were as obscure as any collection of the nerdy, edge of society types drawn from American depression families and European political refugees. One may reasonably argue that the comic book and Jazz are coequal American Art forms. Chabon gets this notion and enrobes it in a complex, human and magical story. The Amazing Adventures is relatively discrete in it use of language, violence and sex, but the more sensitive reader may want to consider that all of these topics, plus politics are part of the story telling.

    At whatever risk there are two major thoughts that will come back and drive this novel: Concentrate on what you are escaping toward, not what you are escaping from. And The Escapist cannot not fly.

    Author Michael Chabon anchors the history of the comic book in a few concepts. The progenitor of Superman, the first of the super heroes in another creature of imagination, created by an earlier generation of preyed upon Jews, The Golem. Following this argument he personifies the history of this entertainment cum art form in the persons of American hustler and writer Sammy Clay and his cousin Jewish refugee artist Joe Kavalier. Sammy is just another New York Jew with a story that will be told in small reveals. He is like many Americans looking for that one break that will place him and his family beyond material want. Sammy has a complex history including training as an escape artist, magician and the first family member to escape from Hitler. Escape will be a word that will be a key to his life.

    Early in the book they create their super hero the Escapist. A costumed avenger with the special mission to “perform amazing feats and coming to the aid of those who languish in tyranny's chains.” They will create more characters and in so doing tell the story of much of the rise of the comic industry.

    About half way into the book this plot line wears thin. This is when the Chabon magic happens. All of publishing stops being important. The entire plot shift to the adventure of living. Cavalier, Clay and Rosa Saks the female character…
    Major point: Rosa is not just the love interest or the common inspiration. She is a third figure, but a character in her own right who demands respect for her role not just as an inspiration to the main two, but as a person with her heroics and weaknesses. Rosa makes her own sacrifices and mistakes. She is second fiddle in the strictest sense, but she is a lot more.

    Returning to the second half of the book. Chabon presents us with the Amazing adventures of living. There is a war to be won, but it is a personal war, not one of big battles and hand to hand fighting. There is a small technical error that has a German firing a .45 instead of a Lugar, but never mind. Mostly the heroic adventures are about raising a family, continuing after success and money and coming to terms with the guilt of surviving.

    The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay is filled with asides, and deliberate diversions from the main plot. Non-issues inserted just to make you the more ready for the plot to resume. Chabon makes these techniques work. He is doing with literature what the magicians and serial comic book writers do to build suspense and fill out the panels. The magic is in the author’s ability to do in the narrative what he admires in his characters.
    28 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Wade Stillman
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great writer, great book
    Reviewed in Canada on January 25, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Lovely volume of this authors book. Great story, excellent writer.
    Report
  • E.C.M.
    2.0 out of 5 stars Binding problem
    Reviewed in the Netherlands on November 13, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Hard to read because the text goes too far into the middle. Also very flimsy.
    Report
  • Krzysztof Zawisza
    4.0 out of 5 stars An appreciation of a misunderstood art form - COMICS
    Reviewed in the United Arab Emirates on May 16, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Again this isn't a "light" read, Chabon demands you are present to interpret his descriptive delivery. Not a short book by any means but certainly rewarding once you've navigated the twists and turns through Joe and Sam's lives.
    Report
  • Berenice R
    5.0 out of 5 stars Muy buen libro
    Reviewed in Mexico on November 23, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Llego a tiempo y en buen estado y esta divertida la novela :)
    Report
  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars A used book obtained but in fantastic condition.
    Reviewed in India on December 23, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Delivery on time. Packing was good taking care that the book wasn’t folded or creased. The quality of this used book is also good.
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    Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars
    A used book obtained but in fantastic condition.

    Reviewed in India on December 23, 2020
    Delivery on time. Packing was good taking care that the book wasn’t folded or creased. The quality of this used book is also good.
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