One of the major plot points of The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay, Michael Chabon’s 2000 novel that’s just been anointed this year’s One Book, One Chicago, involves the Golem of Prague, a giant created from clay sometime in the 16th century and brought to life by Rabbi Judah Loew by some obscure and ancient magic in order to protect the Jews of the city.
“As he watched Joe stand, blazing, on the fire escape, Sammy felt an ache in his chest that turned out to be, as so often occurs when memory and desire conjoin with a transient effect of the weather, the pang of creation. The desire he felt . . . was, in part, a longing—common enough among the inventors of heroes—to be someone else.”
By Michael Chabon (Random House)
Discussion with Angel Ysaguirre Thu 10/9, 6 PM Harold Washington Library Center 400 S. State 312-747-4300chipublib.org Free
