The “Amazing” Adventures of Kavalier and Clay
It is with a heavy heart I sit down to write this blog post.
Here is a quick ranking update:
Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver
The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen
The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt
Atonement by Ian McEwan
Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan
Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante
The Overstory by Richard Powers
The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion
Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn Ward
Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides
The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai
The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon.
Tomorrow & Tomorrow & Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
Yes, you read that right. Guys, I really wanted to like this book. But I do not know where to begin with my list of disappointments.
I will try and keep it short. I also know many of you liked this book, so I do apologise. It’s about to get brutal.
Pacing: Crap. This book could have been half the length. I really enjoyed the first two hundred pages and getting into the setting was enjoyable. But sorry, what was the middle part? And every time Chabon started describing a magic… What could possibly be more boring than reading a magic trick? For pages?
Language/Style: I found Chabon’s writing style to be incredibly bloated and difficult to wade through. Like, we get it dude. You’re a writer but for the love of God can you put together a sentence I don’t need google directions to get through? It created a barrier between me and the characters and I just could not get immersed into the narrative at all.
What was the aftertaste? None. I put it down and moved on with my life. In my notes while reading I wrote “The pacing is killing me. I will be overjoyed when I finish.” So there’s that.
Did it teach me anything? Some of the stuff about WWII and the history of comic books was kind of interesting. But not enough to propel me through this bog of a book.
And finally, the biggest issue I had was with the title. It should have been called "The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Oh Crap I Forgot So Here is a Chapter About Clay”. Sammy Clay had the more interesting story, in my opinion, but maybe it was just because I liked him more. He was easier to get a long with. He had a sense of humour and sass. He had depth. Every time Joe Kavalier entered the scene I felt my will to live dwindle. He reminded me of that cloud in those anti-depressant commercials. Or a really selfish, boring Eeyore. No, that’s an insult to Eeyore. He was the most melancholic yet bland character. I’ve ever met. His entire personality was sad. It was exhausting.
Anyways, I guess I can see why this made the list… kind of. I don’t know. If someone wants to try and change my mind, I’m all ears.
What did you think? Did you read it? Did you like? Why? I’m genuinely asking… why?
Next week will be a redemption week, as I have discovered a new favourite author…. I am really excited you guys. We will definitely be reading her in book club in the future.
Happy Reading!
Bryanna