2010 Reading #35: The Escapist

[snurri]

Books 1-10.
Books 11-20.
Books 21-30.
31. Blonde Faith by Walter Mosley.
32. The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros.
33. Justice League of America, Volume 2 by Gardner Fox, Mike Sekowsky, et al.
34. Killer Princesses by Gail Simone and Lea Hernandez.

35. Michael Chabon Presents: The Amazing Adventures of the Escapist, Volume 1 by Michael Chabon, Kevin McCarthy, Glen David Gold, Howard Chaykin, Bill Sienkewicz, etc., etc. I have this massive tension with Chabon's work, which is that I often feel that the meta gets in the way of everything. At his best, he's a wickedly smart synthesist; at worst, his stuff is little better than pastiche. This volume of stories based on the Kavalier and Clay-created hero, is much more the latter, although only a small part of that is Chabon's fault, since he pens only the first story here; the others are by comics professionals (or legends). The collection has moments--and some great art--but mostly it feels derivative and uninspired, weighed down with nostalgia and self-referentiality.

Comments

[snurri.livejournal.com]

I agree about the short fiction, what little I've read of it. Of the novels, I liked Kavalier and Clay and The Yiddish Policeman's Union pretty well, but didn't love either. I liked And Gentlemen of the Road best of the ones I've read, because it was a bit less self-conscious. Summerland, to me, was bloated and dull, and by all rights I should have loved it: baseball and Norse gods! How can you go wrong! . . . and yet.