21st Century Literature discussion

Comments for Part I: The Escape Artist.

I just finished this part today, and I have to say that I was very impressed and pleased! I came into this book with a number of poor recommendations of it, and while I wouldn't have expected things to unfold as they did based upon the first few pages, it was fairly riveting reading.

The connection with history through the Golem story is especially effective, and it's something I usually feel is poorly done, but here seemed to add a great deal to me. I'd be interested to hear thoughts on what other people thought of part I.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golem#Th...

I agree that this section was very well written and engaging. I knew little of the story coming into it other than it centered on two young men creating comics. Consequently, the chronicle of Josef's escape from Europe was unexpected. I really liked the character of Kornblum and the detail with which the escape was described. Reflecting upon it now, I recalled learning about several prominent Jewish refugees and intellectuals who undertook perilous treks to escape Nazism (Arendt, Horkheimer, Adorno)in a class on refugees. Walter Benjamin's attempted escape is detailed here. http://walterbenjaminportbou.cat/en/c...
very good read so far!

I was not familiar with the Golem story before skimming the link that you posted. I meant to google the Golem of Prague when reading that part, but did not get around to it - so thanks.

I guess that I did not read much into the usage of the Golem in the story, rather considered it to be comparable to other shrine artifacts or cultural items that are deemed important to a people and need protection. Did see a symbolism there that connects to the story? The usage of it to spirit Josef out of Prague was entertaining.

I only heard of the Golem by seeing it within the last month on some weird documentary on history channel, or youtube or something like that. As you said so well, it was unexpected and I also greatly enjoyed the Kornblum character.

The best thing about re-reading is that you get things that you don't get on the first read. Given is about to come the first sentence is just brilliant:
In later years, holding forth to an interviewer or to an audience of aging fans at a comic book convention, Sam Clay liked to declare, apropos of his and Joe Kavalier's greatest creation, that back when he was a boy, sealed and hog-tied inside the airtight vessel known as Brooklyn, New York, he had been haunted by dreams of Harry Houdini.

Will wrote: "I just finished this part today, and I have to say that I was very impressed and pleased ... while I wouldn't have expected things to unfold as they did based upon the first few pages, it was fairly riveting reading."

Yes, it is riveting. Which surprised me. I didn't imagine I would be interested in the subject at all!

Adam wrote: "I was not familiar with the Golem story before skimming the link that you posted. I meant to google the Golem of Prague when reading that part, but did not get around to it - so thanks."

Yes, thank you. Oh, the things you learn when you read a book!

Just about everything I know about the Golem I learned from reading He, She and It by Marge Piercy or Watch Your Mouth by Daniel Handler.

I didn't know much about the plot coming into this, and though I'm not very far along, I'm pleasantly surprised where it's gone so far.

Tangentially, I have to say that I find the typeface used in my hardback edition a rather odd choice. It's blockish and looks almost semi-bold, more like a display font than for text. I don't think type that calls attention to itself, even for the most oblivious of readers like me, is particularly good design.

Logophile wrote: "I have to say that I find the typeface used in my hardback edition a rather odd choice. It's blockish and looks almost semi-bold, more like a display font than for text. I don't think type that calls attention to itself, even for the most oblivious of readers like me, is particularly good design. "

I would find a display font very annoying. Mind, as I read my edition on a Kindle, I may have I've missed out out on something pertinent.

Thanks for alerting me to 'He, she and it' Looks good!