Immersive fits. And I shared your love for Sam, which is why I was so frustrated how the story ended. How it never got past the clichés. Dammit. I still need to edit my review.

I think that's why I liked the ending though, because Sammy finally got a chance to do something for himself. I imagine him in Hollywood writing B movies and having affairs with day players.

But it only happened because Chabon wanted Sam out of Joe's way. The how of the ending killed it for me. Also "Sammy" stayed Sammy throughout the book and never grew up like Joe "did."

I has lots of feels for this book and hardly any of them positive.

I have thoughts about that and Joe and the way it ends
but I think I'm going to have to email them later because they're kind of long and rambly and only vaguely coherent. lol

Or you could wait until I get my act together and edit the damn review. *goes to do something other than that*