This book was one of my book group's favorite selections. When we first selected it, I had not anticipated enjoying a story about a couple of comic book creators, but I was pleasantly surprised as the story of these two men was filled with much humor and wisdom about the human condition. My group found much to discuss about the times, the characters, comic books, and more. I'm now definitely a fan of Michael Chabon.

This book was a surprise for me. I really thought I would not like a story about a man who wrote comic books. Was I wrong. I was caught up from the beginning and fascinated. It is a story like no other.

Take a few hours to really get into the book; the characters (even minor ones) come alive and resonate long after you put the book down. Besides being an amalgamation of epic novel, comic book, and Citizen Kane, the book also portrays the debvastating effects of the holocaust on individual lives without being a "holocaust story."

I picked this book up because it had gotten high marks on this website. I hated it,and finally stopped reading it after getting 3/4 of the way through, and I probably only have done that once or twice in my life. The story dragged, there was nothing catchy about it. The author's writing style was too wordy, and difficult to connect with--the metaphors and similies did not make sense, at least to me. Then there were the graphic portrayals of gay love, which got more descriptive as the book went on, which I found repulsive. I would never recomend this book to anyone.

Hated it. Couldn't finish the book. Lots of gay love scenes, it you like that kind of thing. Don't read this book for book clubs.

Wow. This book really did not have anything reedeeming about it

Agree with the last several reviews--picked it up because of the original high ratings and hated it. Particularly revolting as it drags on and on.

Nery wordy, and the story was all over the place.

I'm truly amazed at being able to finish this book. The story line of the book is extremely confusing and all over the place.
This book may have been better if it was condensed to about 250 pages.

Well,I would have never read this book if it had not been for our bookclub. I found it a little too wordy. There was an incredible amount of research that was involved in writing this story as well as an extensive outline. Mr Chabon really did his homework on this one. So many subject matters and characters.

I loved this book,and found it to be very engaging. I was turning the pages as fast as I could. Also enjoyed the history of the era,and history of comics. Awesome book!
Very well written,and a very articulate story,and writer!

This book was a great read. I enjoyed every bit of it. Although, I am not a comic book fan, I found this book engaging. Clay was a hero in this novel for marrying Joe's girl when she became pregnant just before Joe joined the Navy to take revenge on the Nazis for his family's deaths. Read the book and get to know the characters as they welcome you into their lives.

My book club either didn't finish this one or didn't like it. It was too uninteresting to capture - or keep - anyone's attention and no one cared about the characters. Even the member who gives '10' to every book only gave it a '6'. There was nothing to say about this story. We talked about it for five minutes and decided to order bottomless mimosas.