Welcome to Litsy!

How often does a favorite book get turned into an OPERA? At the MET, no less?! They did a phenomenal job adapting this beautiful, tragic, sweeping story. The visual effects were especially unique. It‘s been years since I read this so I forgot how completely gutting it is, but the heightened emotionality was definitely well-suited for opera.

I‘ve got a print copy of THE AMAZING ADVENTURES OF KAVALIER & CLAY, but it‘s large and heavy and the font is, like, 7-point*, so I decided the library‘s digital copy was the better bet for this long-awaited reread.

I used to cite it as one of my absolute faves. I don‘t think it‘ll retain that title, but I AM glad I finally made the time to go back to it.

*I‘ve read for 1.7 hours and I‘m on page 66 of the print edition. Ridiculous.

“Forget about what you are escaping from. Reserve your anxiety for what you are escaping to.”

Thoroughly enjoyed every one of the 636 pages of this book! It‘s so beautifully written I was even willing to overlook the sexist components.

Doing #ManicMonday on a Friday, like a rebel.

Book: The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay by Michael Chabon

Author: Katherine Addison

Show: Angel

Singer: Tori Amos

Song: don‘t make me choose between Achilles‘ Last Stand (Led Zeppelin) and All Along the Watchtower (Jimi Hendrix‘s version). Ain‘t happening.

Thanks @alwaysbeenaloverofbooks for this great challenge idea and thanks @meshell1313 for encouraging me to join!

“Never worry about what you are escaping from,” he said. “Reserve your anxieties for what you are escaping to.”

#alphabetgame #letterA

A few days late, but I finally had a chance to finish updating this. Another month of lots of audio! The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay was a clear favorite for July.

July #BookSpinBingo #ReadingStats #MonthlyStats

This was a fun listen, with some literal laugh out loud moments, but also well balanced with a serious story. I was a little nervous going in as I realized it was a reasonably long audio very much about comic books and WWII, but I was soon completely invested in the characters and their stories. This is one I would consider a gem from the 1001 list and hope to revisit someday in print.

#audiobook #1001books
#Reading1001 #TBRTakedown July 2022

I remember when, last fall, I found a copy of my grandfather‘s Sensation Comics #1, featuring the very first cover and second appearance of Wonder Woman, in my uncle‘s basement. It got me on the trajectory of getting into the comic book world, and even after myself and my family got $11,500 for that book and three others, I still love the comic book world. Such is the joy Chabon‘s novel has brought me. Every sentence crafted with care. Glorious.

This was a fantastic book and worthy of every piece of praise it has received 😃 I was hoping for a saga that would sweep me up and this book did not disappoint. A no question five star read ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Treated myself to a Half Price Books spree for my birthday last Tuesday 🙌 After reading “The Magnolia Palace” by Fiona Davis I had to get my hands on some more of her books 😍 And the Michael Chabon book got my attention on the shelf, and it sounds good!! I think that‘s the one I‘m going to dive into next 👍

Thank you so much @babyruth2510 for the amazing #bestof2021 package I love the books you picked and the extra goodies and the card is so cute too! I‘ll be making that cookie skillet later while I‘m snowed in today. Can‘t wait to read and use everything! Thanks for the thoughtful gifts! @candority

I wasn‘t expecting to love this book, but I was completely fascinated by the stories of Joe and Sammy. So detailed and rich with absolutely brilliant writing—I loved the real-life historical elements, the setting, the whimsical and magical details, the Jewish lore, the family bonds and the love, and omg the humor! This book is so funny and touching and just damn near perfect. The audio is good, but I preferred the print.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

I‘m enjoying this book so much, especially when it almost makes my pee my pants laughing. 😂

#BookCoverChallenge
Day 69.
Here I will note 365 books (or as many as I will have before I get tired) that have shaped my taste in literature. No explanations, no reviews. Just the cover of the book.
I do not challenge anyone. You are all welcome to take part.

#JulyJourneys Day 30 #FriendshipDay
@Eggs @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

A lifelong friendship formed when 2 cousins met in extraordinary circumstances. This book still stays with me many years after I read it.

Fine. If he won‘t move I‘ll use him as a table.
#CantSleepCauseAGiantDogIsHoggingTheBed

This is such a cool new (I think) feature! I just looked up the tagged book on Google, and it came back with not just options to buy, but borrowing options too! Love it!

(I own, have read, and LOVED the book, but just needed to confirm something. Highly recommend it if you haven't read it!)

Random #shelfie of one of my favourite collections. I loves me some Chabon!

Day 27 - #Amazing #WordsOfOctober
#TheAmazingAdventuresOfKavalierAndClay #MichaelChabon

This book is on the 1001 books to read before you die list. I own a copy but have not read it yet.

Vibrant Historical fiction. What does the golem of Prague have to do w the rise of comics? This NYC story covers much fascinating ground. I m not even a comic book lover. Dazzling like it says on the cover. #historicalfiction #newyorkcity #comicbookheroes

Perfect Saturday afternoon, though my plant feels a bit like me— hot, dehydrated, and overstretched.

Rereading this.
Forgot how much I loved it. Now that I‘ve become more of a comics fan I have an even greater appreciation

Reading while my kids are playing in the backyard. It is 69F today! Amazing for August!

My main book club is reading books with the theme “mask” this month. I‘m rereading this one—- haven‘t picked it up in ten years or so? I forgot how much I loved it.

Any other books spring to mind with masks on the cover or masks as a theme?

I'm so thankful to @TheAromaofBooks for #BookSpinBonanza because I've been reading so many books that have been on my TBR forever.

This book was a bit of a slow burn for me, but it all comes together in one epic story of friendship, love, and comics. 😁 The resilience of the characters is inspirational.

This was my first Michael Chabon read, but I'll definitely try others now.

This one won‘t grab you from the beginning. I started it and put it down a few times, but once I committed it got better as it went on. By the end I was invested in the characters and could have listened to their story for another 26+ hours. This isn‘t my favorite Pulitzer winner, but it‘s one I‘ll remember. Overall rating: 4.39 stars

#QuotsyApr20 Day 16: #Pajamas

Been waiting to start thia one for a long time.

Showtime will be making this a series！https://news.avclub.com/michael-chabon-bringing-kavalier-clay-adaptation-to-s-1840343891

DAY 30 #Amazing | This is an amazing, doorstopper of an adventure. Loved it!

Thanks for a good run, Cindy! 🤗 I wish I had participated more often.

#MOvember
@Cinfhen

Thank you to Cindy for hosting so many #amazing monthly challenges. I haven‘t always participated as much as I‘d like, but I love seeing everyone‘s different takes on the prompts . Always impressed by the wit, intelligence, and humor of the posters. #movember

#7covers7days #covercrush Day 6

Book Haul part 2. Just waiting for three more books.📚

A fascinating walk through the golden age of comics in America during World War II. The book follows two cousins as they create the character “The Escapist”. A fascinating story, though a bit slow a times.

1. The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay, The Essex Serpent
2. I just finished Dark Places by Gillian Flynn
3. The Gormenghast Novels
#weekendreads

This one took me forever to read, but man, it was so worth the time investment. Just a really incredible story about two cousins who get famous in the comic book industry during the Golden Age, but it‘s also so much more than that.

Hopefully I can get back on track with life now. (Also major apologies to @Mynameisacolour for taking forever to write you back. I promise I haven‘t forgotten you!!)

#Wonderwall makes me think of the character Seth Cohen from the TV show The O.C - and Seth‘s starter pack - “We‘ve got Death Cab, we‘ve got Bright Eyes, we‘ve got The Shins. we‘ve got Kavalier and Clay. And we‘ve got Goonies. It‘s not just for kids, Ryan. It‘s not. I don‘t care what they tell you.”

#AnglophileApril

#ImmigrantSong | Because, Joe Kavalier‘s unique trek to NYC. It‘s a chunkster, but worth every second.

#marchintothe70s
📷: bigappledreamimg

If you like magic, New York City, the 1940s, or comic books, then you need to read this one. The story follows the lives of two friends and comic book co-creators. Chabon's characters are eccentric, flawed, and lovable.

Michael Chabon was born in May '63, not #December1963 The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay is easily one of my favorite reads of the year. I will definitely be reading more of his work next year!
#WinterWonderland
@Cinfhen @TrishB

@DoonTheGoon I love the coasters!!! Do you have an Etsy shop? Did you make the envelope? (Swoon!) I love all things paper crafty- and- have never woven but am so excited with the opportunity to try it out 🎉✨🎊This was an excellent swap- thank you 🙏 so much!
Thank you @LibrarianRyan for this #makerswap 😘
😍🤩😍🤩😍🤩😍🤩😍🤩😍🤩😍🤩😍🤩😍

I read this book a couple years ago and loved it. Set against the Golden Age of comic books, the story spans through the years and the world, which is changing fast around the two cousins. If you like historical novels, superhero comics, and interesting and nuanced characters, this is a real fun book to read.

#RoryGilmoresReadingChallenge

I just received this in the mail. How rad is this?!

There were plenty of rockets in the Golden Age comics, & although technically they were cousins, Joe Kavalier & Sammy Clay became as close as brothers.
#RocketBrothers
#SeptemberDanes
@Cinfhen @Kalalalatja

11 of the 21 books my mom got me for my 21st birthday 👀❤

“With patience and calm, persistence and stoicism, good handwriting and careful labeling, they would meet persecution, indignity, and hardship head-on.” (This is to become my teaching slogan!)

This has been sitting on my shelf for years - I‘m finally going to read it!

Hoping to finally finish this one during a little weekend getaway. I started this on 5/19, and I‘m enjoying It immensely, but it‘s definitely going #despacito 😛 Storms were predicted to wash out the entire day but so far so good. Beautiful day but hot AF #bookandcoffee #morningreading #heatofjuly @Cinfhen @BarbaraBB

I adore Michale Chabon‘s writing. One of the main characters at a dreaded party really feels like he‘s being “introduced into a cursed circle of jabber and jazz.” 😂

Only 70 pages in and I'm loving this one! It's not what I expected but I'm really digging Chabon's writing.
#memorialdayweekend