The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay

This book is the story of Joe Kavalier, a refugee from Prague, and Sammy Clay, a boy from Brooklyn. Together they are Kavalier & Clay, and they write comic books. The story follows them, from youth (through flashbacks) to the start of their comic book carreer with their hero The Escapist, to later life. It is not only about their life in comics, but also about Joe’s struggle to save his family in Prague from the nazis, and the struggle of Sammy to find meaning in his life and work.

Like the previous Chabon book I read (The Yiddish Policemen’s Union) I loved the flow of the story and the writing. Because of the real people mixed in with the characters, I sometimes got the feeling more of the story was true than probably was. The ending I found… too abrupt. There could have been a whole extra section after the ending, but instead the story just ends. However, it is a great story, full of romance, betrayal, action and adventure. A great read. Four out of four stars.