Fantastic review! Glad to hear you enjoyed it this is probably one of my favorites books!

What the? What? I'm totally confused, but still, great review!

Amazing review Bonnie. I reconnected with what I loved so much about this book when I read it some two years ago. How do you feel about the movie? It's either going to be a disaster or one of the most epic movies ever made.

Another winning review--many thanks.

Megan wrote: "Fantastic review! Glad to hear you enjoyed it this is probably one of my favorites books!"

Didn't you just love Somni?

(Jenn)ifer wrote: "What the? What? I'm totally confused, but still, great review!"

Read it Jenn, it all becomes clear ;-0

Stephen M wrote: "Amazing review Bonnie. I reconnected with what I loved so much about this book when I read it some two years ago. How do you feel about the movie? It's either going to be a disaster or one of the m..."

Thanks Stephen. I can hardly wait for the movie! I'm thinking epic...

Mike wrote: "Another winning review--many thanks."

Mike, you'll love it...

The Sloosha section in this novel killed me. Otherwise I worship at its feet also. Really liked this review, it's a lovely Mitchellian homage.

MJ wrote: "The Sloosha section in this novel killed me. Otherwise I worship at its feet also. Really liked this review, it's a lovely Mitchellian homage."

Give it another go, young man...it is amazing. Reading dialect is a pain but you get into it, you really do. I'm in love with this book.

B0nnie wrote: "Megan wrote: "Fantastic review! Glad to hear you enjoyed it this is probably one of my favorites books!"

Didn't you just love Somni?"

Oh my goodness yes! That story was my favorite part of the whole book! The Papa Song's scene near the end was amazing... as was the rest of it haha

Damn, another book still on my tbr. I have never seen a review explained this way, so incredibly profound!

switterbug (Betsey) wrote: "Damn, another book still on my tbr. I have never seen a review explained this way, so incredibly profound!"

Or you can see the movie in October...

Megan wrote: "B0nnie wrote: "Megan wrote: "Fantastic review! Glad to hear you enjoyed it this is probably one of my favorites books!"

Didn't you just love Somni?"

Oh my goodness yes! That story was my favorite part of the whole book! The Papa Song's scene near the end was amazing... as was the rest of it haha... "

Papa Song’s is people!!! and Hae-Joo (!) yes, that was something. Oh, Frobisher's last letter :'-(

This is one of the best reviews ever. I'm so glad the book has inspired yet another astute reader to get so much out of it. And if you can convince Jenn and Switterbug (astute readers in their own rights) to give it a try, too, you'll have given this book its highest honor.

Hope you continue to enjoy Mitchell books. He's one of the few authors that impel me to proselytize openly. His next one, set in Ireland, is due to be out fairly soon.

Steve wrote: "This is one of the best reviews ever. I'm so glad the book has inspired yet another astute reader to get so much out of it. And if you can convince Jenn and Switterbug (astute readers in their ow..."

Thanks very much Steve. I do know about Jenn and Switterbug! they are astute readers, rights or no. I get that urge to proselytize too - I guess that's why I do these crazy reviews. Do you know anything else about the new book?

Steve wrote: "His next one, set in Ireland, is due to be out fairly soon."

Whatwhatwhatwhatwhatwhatwhatwhatwhatwhatwhatwhatwhatwhatwhatwhatwhatwhatwhat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! When?

Stephen M wrote: "
Whatwhatwhatwhatwhatwhatwhatwhatwhatwhatwhatwhatwhatwhatwhatwhatwhatwhatwhat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! When?"

Uh oh, I think my "fairly soon" might have gotten your hopes up, Stephen. I don't have an exact date, but I don't think it's, like, imminent. I'll try to look up more on it, though. Maybe I can find the article I saw on it for Bonnie's benefit, too.

Well if I start making plans for the groupreads a year ahead of time that's okay too....

OK, just ordered it. Great review, how have I missed this one?

Knig-o-lass wrote: "OK, just ordered it. Great review, how have I missed this one?"

um, because you've been drinking up Nietzsche like a good uberwench should? keep up the great work, lass!

Superb review Bonnie - Mitchell can do no wrong in my eyes.

The Irish novel article: http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-ent...

This is great great great great, simply great!
'fact is, you want each of these narratives to be the real one', so true (especially Frobisher for me, my personal favorite story). The way Mitchell teases you that 'oh its all real, or is it?' is fun though. He did that in Ghostwritten too, where its like 'wait, did that not happen or are you throwing me off!?'. And now I'm more excited for the movie again. I think I'll reread it that week.

Bettie wrote: "The Irish novel article: http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-ent..."

Thanks, Betty. There does not appear to be much out there about his newest one. (I stupidly googled "David Mitchell newest" but he's had a whole history of newest ones ever since Ghostwritten. One of the more recent pieces on Mitchell had nothing to say about his upcoming book, but did have some interesting thoughts on the importance of story. Bonnie would probably appreciate this given her review's emphasis on the different storytelling styles. (And Switterbug, among others, will no doubt like the references to The Wire.)

http://www.3news.co.nz/David-Mitchell...

How much longer do we have to wait?

In three days it'll be two years since TAoJdZ. Is that enough time to ask of an author? When can we start in with the vandalism and threats to get a release date within the year?

I know what you mean, Stephen. I'm tempted to send Kathy Bates over there to tell him, "I'm your biggest fan," and that he really needs to get to it.

A good review but I'm not going to say what I really thought of the book as that gets me into too much trouble on this site. I'll just say that I'm never going to forgive Mitchell for his oh-so-cutesy references to Larkin.

Thanks very much Bettie & Mr. s.penkevich & Justin (which references to Larkin, Justin?)

I was reading someone's review of an advance screening on IMDb, many spoilers, if any one is interested: (view spoiler)[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1371111/b...
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1371111/

I saw Cloud Atlas in Pasadena on Thursday May 17th. I have not read the Cloud Atlas novel or heard any of the story prior to attending the screening. The film is comprised of 6 different stories, in six different eras. The core actors (Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Jim Sturgess, Hugh Grant, Hugo Weaving, Susan Sarandon, Jim Broadbent, Keith David, Zhu Zhu, Doona Bae, and David Gyasi) pop up in multiple roles throughout the six separate stories. During the credit sequence (extremely, extremely rare for an advanced screening) each of the aforementioned actors, with the exception of David Gyasi, were shown in costume as six different characters. One from each of the six stories. In the final cut that we were shown (appr. 3 hours long) each actor averaged about four characters that had significant screen time.

I believe Tom Hanks and Halle Berry each had six characters in the final cut. Most of the actors had either a cross-gender or cross-ethnic role. Notable mentions are Halle Berry as a white woman from the early 1900s, Zhu Zhu as a Mexican house cleaner, and Hugo Weaving as the biggest, ugliest geriatric nurse I have ever seen. For the most part, this works. It's definitely a bit odd to see it on screen but with the help of some truly phenomenal makeup work and great performances by the actors, the portrayals go from funny to believable pretty quickly.

The different stories:
The oldest story is set on a sailing ship circa 1879 (there are so many details in this film that I can't remember them all, names and dates, specific locations all tough to remember). Jim Sturess is a young, wealthy, new officer who is sailing home to the United States. Tom Hanks plays his friend/doctor and David Gyasi is a a stowaway. Sweeping shots of the boat sailing and some action on deck, lend a grandiose scope to this story that feels right out of a Peter Weir film.

Chronologically next is the story of Ben Whishaw as Robert Frobisher, a young and extremely gifted composer who has landed the job of helping the greatest known composer get his thoughts down on paper. Together they write an amazing piece. Whishaw is great and so is D'arcy as his secret lover. This feels like a period drama with some lighthearted comedy. Jim Broadbent is great as the egotistical older composer.

1975 and Halle Berry is on the verge of blowing the whistle on a major American nuclear plant (basically a fictionalized Karen Silkwood) Hugh Grant plays the Nuclear Reactor's President, Tom Hanks is a source, and Keith David is her bodyguard. Well done 70's period ambiance.

2012 and Jim Broadbent is down on his luck and needs some money from his successful and over tanned brother Hugh Grant. This is by far the funniest storyline and it actually gets a bit jarring towards the end when this story is the only funny one being spliced with more serious stories. This is where we get to see Hugo in drag as a mean nurse.

2175 New Seoul is a technological metropolis. Sonmi 451 is a genetically engineered waitress who gets a peak behind the curtain of how the world around her works. Jim Sturgess is the Neo-like protagonist of this story. I won't give away too much plot-wise but I will say the cityscapes are breathtaking and there are some great sic-fi moments in this storyline. Also some Matrix-like action takes place, though the cgi was unfinished during my screening.

The final story is probably the one that gets the most screen time. It opens and closes the film. It's the year 1187 AF (after fall, and I know I got the year wrong) and society has returned to a primal state of small villages and superstitious religion. The language they speak is a jumbled version of English with no subtitles that I loved but my friend found very difficult to follow. Halle Berry plays Meronym, a woman from what appears to be a more advanced, human hybrid species who has come to learn and explore.

This film is incredibly ambitious. The six stories are edited into one so there is little to no downtime during the film. The makeup and costumes will absolutely be nominated for Oscars while visual effects have a great chance as well because of how subtle and artistically done they are. This film is a bit goofy in ways. You have to be ok with Tom Hanks playing six different characters in the movie. You have to be ok with realistic stories being interlaced with far future stories. Self referential humor about absurd things. Overall our audience very much enjoyed the film. They gave it a decent round of applause at the end and it was pin drop quiet while everyone was filling out their opinion cards. I'm very interested to see how the public and critics enjoy it.

Of course, Zachary from the distant future. I think I forgot his name because the language was so odd. Zachary is played by Tom Hanks and could possibly be considered "the main character" because he gets the most screen time (along with Halle Berry as Meronym and Luisa Rey) Tom Hanks did a great job of lending a sincerity and fragility to Zachary even though he looks like a badass. Hthe story of him takjng Meronym up to the top of the mountain is pretty awesome. Hugo Weaving plays a "devil" that follows him around whispering doubts in his ear. Who Hugo Weaving exactly was is never fully explained. In the Somni-451 story, which has the most action, romance, and striking visuals, the characters speak English. They speak an exact and robotic style English.

::Spoilers::


I did not read the book so I don't know how Frobisher's story differs in the film. I don't know who Eve was in the story so I can't say what is different without her. Basically the film sets up Frobisher and Sixsmith as lovers from scene one. From there Frobisher moves away to compose and the rest of the film writes letters to Sixsmith, keeping him in the loop. Frobisher's motivation for his final act comes from his attempted murder of Jim Broadbent's composer character.

Also, I do not remember seeing Susan Sarandon or Halle Berry in the Somni-451 story or Ben Whishaw
(hide spoiler)]

Thanks for including that Bonnie. My only question is (view spoiler)[isn't the comet birthmark the same soul through time? They have that character portrayed by different people who show up in other stories as different characters. I guess my interpretation is off. (hide spoiler)]

"which references to Larkin, Justin?"

Oh, God. I would have thrown the book but I listened to this on CD which is the only way I can finish these kind of books.

They're all in the Cavendish story. "I had a librarian friend in Hull I was going to see." ISN'T THAT CLEVER AND SLY AND OH SO EFFING CUTE????!!!!

Much of the Cavendish plot is related to Larkin in some way. The nursing home = "The Old Fools". He describes "High Windows" at some point. The train sequence might have been related to Whitsun Weddings. And the worst one of all: When Cavendish first encounters the male orderly at the home during his first attempt to leave, the orderly is described as removing the corpse of a hedgehog from his lawnmower.

FUCK YOU MITCHELL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! seriously

I am so embarrassed.

I am a David Mitchell virgin. Yep, I'm shaming myself publicly, sacrificing my self esteem at the feet of your wonderfully awe inspiring epic review.

I can only hope that by shaming myself that I will fix this rather embarrassing affliction as quickly as possible.

Awesome link Bonnie. That only bolsters my confidence in the movie. FIngers crossed! S.penk (view spoiler)[that's how it's supposed to be, but maybe it is not done in the movie. Or the reviewer forgot to mention the birthmark bit, if they did. Either way, I wonder how or if the movie justifies the use of actors in multiple roles. I'm loving Hugo Weaving as the large nurse in Timothy Cavendish's section. (hide spoiler)] We should group read Cloud Atlas before the movie comes out.

Justin wrote: ""which references to Larkin, Justin?"

Oh, God. I would have thrown the book but I listened to this on CD which is the only way I can finish these kind of books.

They're all in the Cavendish stor..."

In the second half of the book, Cavendish says that he quotes famous literature because most people are ignorant to the references and doing so makes him believe he sounds 'witty and charming' to others. He often 'steals' from Salinger too. The smuggery is part of a smug character.

aww christ. what is going on here? Jeffrey, I was just looking at your profile before you posted here. What town in central Kansas did you grow up nearest? I think we're cut from the same russian-red-hard-winter wheat cloth. I grew up in Ottawa county but have family that farmed in Marion county.

You're all just a manifestation of my subconscious.

I'm going to pretend the last line of message 31 doesn't exist. Entering electro shock therapy ZZZZZZZZ! ZZZZZZZZ! okay okay, memory wiped, phew.

s.penkevich wrote: "Thanks for including that Bonnie. My only question is [spoilers removed]"

Like you said, Mitchell teases you and 'oh its all real, or is it?' (view spoiler)[ the whole birthmark thing is only implied as a sign of rebirth, maybe take it or leave it? From the comments of the advance screening I read, there's a lot of changes in the movie from the book - I guess they decided to leave it. I don't know how seriously we can take the opinions of the characters themselves, as they cast doubt on the idea, like Luisa "I just don’t believe in this crap. I just don’t believe it. I don’t." and later, "Luisa shunts these aside to get a clearer view of a birthmark between her shoulder blade and collarbone. Her encounter with Hal is displaced. Coincidences happen all the time. But it is undeniably shaped like a comet. The mirror mists over. Facts are your bread and butter. Birthmarks can look like anything you choose, not only comets." Later as he reads this, Cavendish says "One or two things will have to go: the insinuation that Luisa Rey is this Robert Frobisher chap reincarnated, for example. Far too hippie-druggy–new age. (I, too, have a birthmark, below my left armpit, but no lover ever compared it to a comet. Georgette nicknamed it Timbo’s Turd.)" (hide spoiler)]

s.penkevich wrote: "The smuggery is part of a smug character.

Penk, don't you think the reference smuggery is present throughout all the stories?

"FUCK YOU MITCHELL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! seriously" and "I am a David Mitchell virgin" could get together and it's all good?

Jeffrey wrote: "I am so embarrassed.

I am a David Mitchell virgin. Yep, I'm shaming myself publicly, sacrificing my self esteem at the feet of your wonderfully awe inspiring epic review.

I can only hope that b..."

How dare you. I expect you to have read every book in the universe! Tsk.

Justin, you should check out S.penke's review of the book. It's very well written and addresses that question.

Justin wrote: "s.penkevich wrote: "The smuggery is part of a smug character.

Penk, don't you think the reference smuggery is present throughout all the stories?"

Perhaps, but the book was inspired by Calvion's If on a Winter's Night a Traveler, so my impression was that a big point of the book was about referencing books. In a way, it was his exercising in style and form, so each was full of nods towards authors of each genre. I can see why people dislike this, but I felt it as more of an easter egg hunt than showing off per se. But then again, I like T.S. Eliot so I'm okay with allusions.

B0nnie wrote: ""FUCK YOU MITCHELL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! seriously" and "I am a David Mitchell virgin" could get together and it's all good?"

KANSAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAS!

B0nnie wrote: "s.penkevich wrote: "Thanks for including that Bonnie. My only question is [spoilers removed]"

Like you said, Mitchell teases you and 'oh its all real, or is it?' [spoilers removed]"

Great points. Alas, it is time to leave work and I cant type. But i'll be back for that

Justin wrote: "B0nnie wrote: ""FUCK YOU MITCHELL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! seriously" and "I am a David Mitchell virgin" could get together and it's all good?"

KANSAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA..."
Oh MY!!!

Justin wrote: ""which references to Larkin, Justin?"

Oh, God. I would have thrown the book but I listened to this on CD which is the only way I can finish these kind of books.

They're all in the Cavendish stor..."

Thanks Justin, your argument is backfiring on me...! I like it more now, lol. But if you don't like that sort of thing, then I understand your dislike. I have a low tolerance for certain literary tricks too.

I've read Penkevich's review and thought it was good too. I understand the book. I understand what Mitchell was trying to do. I just really hate it. I'm going to stop commenting here so I don't make a bunch of people mad with my horrible tact.

Justin wrote: "B0nnie wrote: ""FUCK YOU MITCHELL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! seriously" and "I am a David Mitchell virgin" could get together and it's all good?"

KANSAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA..."


What are you doing on this site? I thought Kemper and I were the only yahoos from Kansas on goodreads. haha

Jeffrey...your problem will soon be solved...

s.penkevich wrote: "B0nnie wrote: "s.penkevich wrote: "Thanks for including that Bonnie. My only question is [spoilers removed]"

Like you said, Mitchell teases you and 'oh its all real, or is it?' [spoilers removed]..."

Because of the Nietzsche references, the birthmark idea might be real - a connection to the idea of "eternal recurrence".