This is the "true" story of the birth of the comic book and the comic book industry in America. I've read the fictionalized account, "The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay" by Michael Chabon, at one point and struggled to finish it. My comic book data base tells me I have 53 comics written by the author, Gerard Jones...mostly early 1990s Justice League books.
I did enjoy this more than Kavalier and Clay and really liked some of the insight, but found myself, at times, wanting more. I understand that so much of this story may be lost to history, but the book is filled with so many off-hand phrases like "We will never really know..." and "We can only speculate on...", I often found myself pulled out of the story.
I don't read much non-fiction but this did whet my appetite for the other comic book related books that have been published in the last few years.
School is out this week so I am on vacation. One of my vacation goals was to start reading another book. I exceeded my goal because I actually started AND finished a novel in the last few days.
I enjoy the escapism of the Mitch Rapp series. I haven't read one of the books in a while. They end up on my GoodReads shelf entitled "Credulity Straining Action."
The series took an interesting turn, in that Rapp was given a head injury in this novel. It allowed Flynn to do a few different things with Rapp.
What I didn't know until I went to GoodReads to add that I had read this was that Vince Flynn died last June. Apparently he left behind another Mitch Rapp novel. I've read most but will make an effort to fill in the gaps...
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What is The Cephalopod Coffeehouse, you ask?
The idea is simple: on the last Friday of each month, post about the best book you've finished over the past month while visiting other bloggers doing the same. In this way, we'll all have the opportunity to share our thoughts with other enthusiastic readers.
Why not check out some of the other folks who are writing about what they read this month?
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I really enjoyed Kavalier & Clay but it is a bit of a tome.
ReplyDeleteI used to read (and own) a lot of comic books when I was a kid, and you could buy two used ones for a nickel. (Yeah, I AM old as dirt.) But I don't know that I'd be interested in reading a non-fiction book... a tome, no less... about the comic book business.
ReplyDeleteThe other book, on the other hand, sounds more interesting to me. But I've gota say, what I liked best is the wording you chose for the shelf you placed it in on Goodreads. (Very creative!)
I've met so many people who disliked Chabon's book, and it always surprises me because I liked that one a lot. Oh well.
ReplyDeleteI could really use some good escapist stuff & haven't read Vince Flynn. Thanks for the tip!
Just went back to read my own review...
ReplyDeleteWhat I enjoyed about the book were the connections to broader society. Good material on the rise of the CCA, too.
It can be so frustrating not having the full picture - but I guess that's the reality we often have to accept!
ReplyDeleteCredulity Straining Action! Laughing! :-))
ReplyDeleteI know. Good stuff as always, Mock.
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