Set against the magnificent backdrop of Alaska in the waning days of World War II, The Cloud Atlas is an enthralling debut novel, a story of...
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reviews
Jan 17, 2012
Mary Lou
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The Cloud Atlas by Liam Callanan is a fascinating story based on the fact that between November 1944 and April 1945, Japan launched more than 9,300 hydrogen balloons carrying bombs that were intended to cause damage in Canadian and American cities, forests, and farmland. Only about 300 balloon bombs were found or observed in North America. They killed six people and caused a small amount of damage, but they were armed and lethal. Told in present time and in flashbacks, by Catholic missionary Lou
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Aug 17, 2009
Marian
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I could wish to like this story more than I do. Liam Callanan is a beautiful lyrical writer, and he has discovered an unexpected setting and story in his tale of a young soldier's life in Alaska during World War II. Within the historically accurate drama of Japanese bombs sent across the ocean in hot air balloons, Sergeant Belk's life is tangled with that of a brutal superior officer, the Eskimo woman they both love, and his top secret mission to search the tundra, find, and diffuse the bombs th
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Aug 20, 2011
Andrea
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
Aug 03, 2009
Debbie
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The premise of this book is so interesting--it's set in WWII, and reveals the attempts by the Japanese military to send bombs (and perhaps even biological weapons) to the US via balloons. The home base for the story, and the investigation into the balloons is in Alaska. While the story and characters are interesting, the story often gets lost in the twists and turns of the sub-plot (the ambitions, jealousies, romances, etc. of the main characters). I wanted to the book to end when I still had ab
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Dec 31, 2008
Carol
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You might notice that there are two books with the same name on my book list. When we started our Book Club meeting it came to light that several people had read this book instead of Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell for the month of September 2007. Since several people did not like the David Mitchell book, we decided to give this one a try on the recommendation of the people who had read it by mistake.
I was fascinated by the story and of the paper balloons and how the stories wove tog
I was fascinated by the story and of the paper balloons and how the stories wove tog
Sep 15, 2008
Gil
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If Jorge Amado and Gabriel Garcia Marquez are South American Magical Realists, then Liam Callanan is a North American Magical Realist - and by North American, I mean TRULY North American, as in Alaska.
The story of a soldier turned priest's experiences during World War II, this first novel is simultaeneously a love story, the story of little known Japanese offensive, and an exploration of the meanings of friendship, love, and ultimately, faith.
Callanan's lyrical writing de More...
The story of a soldier turned priest's experiences during World War II, this first novel is simultaeneously a love story, the story of little known Japanese offensive, and an exploration of the meanings of friendship, love, and ultimately, faith.
Callanan's lyrical writing de More...
Feb 07, 2009
Tom
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At least an A- for this novel. Story of an old priest and his Eskimo shaman friend/nemesis. And of the old priest as a teenage soldier during WWII in Alaska tracking down Japanese balloon bombs that floated from Japan across the Pacific to explode in over a dozen western states. And his attempt at surviving his crazed capitan. This is very much a spiritual quest between native religion and the white man's Christianity. And then there is Lily's story....
Dec 11, 2011
Pj
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A very interesting and well researched book based on an actuakl little known part of WW II, with the Alaskan wilderness as part of the backdrop for the tracking of Japanese balloon bombs to the west coast of the US. At times, the author went into a little too much detail about traditional Eskimo beliefs versus Christianity. Lots of thought provoking situations throughout, not the typical boiler plate moral dilemmas that other books have already exhausted.
Jul 01, 2009
Redheadjen
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What a nice surprise. I really enjoyed this book. Interesting history, interesting characters and Alaska as one of them...a mystery and some spiritual thought thrown in.
The super fine print in the edition I was reading made it sometimes feel longer than it probably was. A different writing style than I usually read, but thoroughly enjoyed. Will be suggesting this one for book club.
I want to see the map book! That sounds like a good read!
The super fine print in the edition I was reading made it sometimes feel longer than it probably was. A different writing style than I usually read, but thoroughly enjoyed. Will be suggesting this one for book club.
I want to see the map book! That sounds like a good read!
Aug 03, 2009
Anita
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This book is about Alaska, WWII, Japan bombing us with balloon bombs, an old priest, with pieces and bits of his shaman friend thrown in here and there. The topics were interesting, but I'm not sure why I kept reading it the first half of the book--oh yeah, the topics were interesting, and then the second half picked up. Disappointingly, the ending didn't provide the tie together I was looking for....I would recommend the book.
Apr 12, 2011
Gita
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While it had a slow start, the book gains depth and insight as it goes along. It provides some truly remarkable characters (Gurley for instance) and opens an unusual and fascinating window into the war games being played out in the US during WWII. It left me with a lot of food for thought. The ending (which was the beginning, actually) was unexpected. Lots of disparate ends did all come together in very well told story.
Sep 23, 2011
Alan
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My wife got this for me thinking it was the other cloud atlas which I have been wanting for a while. I am glad she did. The book starts off slow, but is a very interesting story blending history and mysticism. The last 100 pages are what really sets the book apart. Sometimes the love triangle of the story became annoying, and there were parts of the beginning that seemed to drag on forever. Still, this is a good read that will grab your interest at times and not let go.
Nov 28, 2011
Beth
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I got this book totally on accident. thought I was getting the book CLOUD ATLAS but apparently there is a different book called THE CLOUD ATLAS. This was an interesting historical fiction book that takes places in WWII Alaska. About an army man who deals with bombs. Goes back and fourth between his military career and his adulthood. Good story but got really slow about 2/3 the way through. Loved the ending.
Sep 14, 2011
Sarah
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AHHHHHHAHAHHAHA!
I read this thinking it was the OTHER Cloud Atlas and I was all "I do not understand the reviews."
When you go to the library, Title AND Author, Title AND Author!
Still, I thought it was a pretty good book. Got a little far-fetched there at the end, but I thought the characters were all very interesting people.
I read this thinking it was the OTHER Cloud Atlas and I was all "I do not understand the reviews."
When you go to the library, Title AND Author, Title AND Author!
Still, I thought it was a pretty good book. Got a little far-fetched there at the end, but I thought the characters were all very interesting people.
Mar 27, 2008
Ann
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I wasn't particularly interested in reading this title, but I am presenting Liam Callanan's second book "All Saints" at a workshop so I felt that I needed to be conversant with "The Cloud Atlas" as well. Both books are amazing.
In one of the strangest episodes of World War II, the Japanese created paper balloons, which reached the shores of North America and sometimes detonated and sometimes did not. Thrust into these events in Alaska, 18-year old Sergeant Bel More...
In one of the strangest episodes of World War II, the Japanese created paper balloons, which reached the shores of North America and sometimes detonated and sometimes did not. Thrust into these events in Alaska, 18-year old Sergeant Bel More...
Jul 26, 2011
Patti from Charlotte
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There are apparently a couple of books with this title, but this concerns a part of American history that I had no idea had ever existed: Balloon warfare during the WWII era. Set mainly in Alaska, I enjoyed reading of a part of the country of which I knew very little and a subject that mesmerized me!
Jun 24, 2011
Kathy
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WOW this is one heck of a book. My mother really enjoyed it too.
I tried to not read it! I thought "I'll read it later, or some other time. But I kept picking it up and reading more. What a fascinating story. I'm only about 1/2 way through. My mom has a Nook and I downloaded this book into my phone. I also have a the actual book so I'm reading in two ways. I"m certain this will be a 5 star book for me.
WWII in Alaska. Native Americans. Racism. Shamans. Religion. More...
I tried to not read it! I thought "I'll read it later, or some other time. But I kept picking it up and reading more. What a fascinating story. I'm only about 1/2 way through. My mom has a Nook and I downloaded this book into my phone. I also have a the actual book so I'm reading in two ways. I"m certain this will be a 5 star book for me.
WWII in Alaska. Native Americans. Racism. Shamans. Religion. More...
Jul 26, 2011
Wendy
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This is a book I will never forget because it is well-written, has memorable characters, and taught me about amazing events that took place in WWII. Who knew that the Japanese actually sent thousands of huge rice paper hot air balloons with bombs attached all the way across the Pacific? Who knew that these bombs exploded, killed people, and started fires in places ranging from Alaska and California, all the way into Detroit? Incredible! The hot air balloons were silent, graceful, and beautif
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Jul 13, 2008
Kim
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I really enjoyed this book. Mainly set during the Japanese bombing of Alaska during World War II, it gives us a glimpse into a time that we don't hear much about. This is mostly told as a story from an old Catholic priest to dying old Yup'ik Eskimo shaman. The main characters lies about his age to join the army where, after proving to be the worst shot ever, he becomes a member of the bomb disarmament squad and is sent to Alaska for a top secret mission. In Alaska, everyone he meets seems to
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Mar 01, 2011
Julie
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What the heck? Not sure what to think of this book - it was not at all what I expected. I was more interested in the little-known facts about the WWII balloons armed with explosives and sent to North America by the Japanese than the weird love story going on or the bizarre shamanic Eskimo rituals... I think the story was beautifully written, though. The use of flashbacks was great - I enjoyed the retelling of past stories and events while in the present one priest is at the bedside of another d
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Jan 31, 2012
I requested this from the library by mistake, thinking it was "Cloud Atlas: A Novel" by David Mitchell. Good thing I always check the author photo on the dust jacket before I start reading.
Nov 04, 2011
Michelle
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I got to page 46 before I decided it wasn't worth continuing--there's so much hinting about background information that's going to come up, but it just wasn't enticing enough for me to keep reading.
Mar 27, 2010
Samantha
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Very well written and imaginative. I could clearly visualize where the story was taking place. It flowed well and tied together in the end. I thoroughly enjoyed the characters also. And I learned about the balloons which I had never heard of before. I'm now feeling the urge to research my family history back in WWII and find out more about what my grandfather did. Excellent book!
Jan 08, 2009
i belong to a book group that meets at the capitol hill branch of the seattle public library, once a month. this is january's selection. heard good things about it, so i'm excited.
Apr 29, 2011
Love, love, loved this. Couldn´t put it down when I read the dead tree version. Have now put it on my beloved kindle. Apparently it is to be made into a film with Tom Hanks involved.
Mar 08, 2010
Thorn
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I read this because I saw recommendations for The Cloud Atlas and din't realize there were two of them. I'm still glad I read this one, but I'll have to find the other!
Sep 15, 2010
Devon
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Damn fine novel about love and sex and fear and trembling and military intelligence and a little-known, but really interesting piece of WWII history.
Jul 04, 2011
Maura
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Very good. Characters were well-developed. Interesting time during WWII in Alaska - the ending, however, fizzled out.
Jun 14, 2010
Debbie
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Balloon bombs from Japan to the USA during WWII. Very interesting and well researched. Excellent book discussion.
Aug 03, 2011
This book was AMAZING! Really fantastic detail and a great story line! Absolutely beautiful!
