Jonathan's review of Cloud Atlas > Comments
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Lauren
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Sep 10, 2012 06:43am
I am so excited whenever I see or hear that anyone is reading Cloud Atlas. I LOVED it!
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Hahaha, then people will be saying "I didn't know THAT was a book!" to which I always want to respond "Of course it was a book you dummy. Perhaps you should try reading one!"
"What's a book? Is it like one of those things on electronic screens that you actually have to interpret and like...read?"
It certainly is and with the film coming out bound to become the new popular book to read no doubt. If ever you want to read it before the hype sets in now is the time. I think that most people will like the book but I think some may find it confusing or dislike the different stories. For me it's up there as one of the books of the year now.
Glad you liked this! Great review as well. I like how you saw elements of The Road & Clockwork in the middle story, now that you mention it that totally works. I agree though, that story was just 'okay' while the rest were amazing.
Yeah I didn't think the middle story worked so well but I loved the others and how they were tied into the writing styles of other novels/authors. It was 'entertaining cleverness' on a literary scale.
I would definitely encourage you to read more Mitchell, but don't expect more of the same. "Ghostwritten" is the only one with a slightly similar structure, i.e. multiple but related narratives. "Black Swan Green" is semi-autobiographical account of teenage years in the '70s, "The Thousand Autumns of Autumns of Jacob de Zoet" is a straightforward (structurally) historical novel, and "Number9Dream" somewhat cyberpunky. However, one or two characters from "Cloud Atlas" make appearances in the others (except "The Thousand Autumns", I think).
I wouldn't want more of the same - if it was the same I'd consider it a cheap gimmick. I just want entertaining writing that I perceive as well-written. I can see from this book that Mitchell's other work may appeal to me.
Thanks Neil, it's more a personal thing with how I read the book. I approach each book and see whether I like it regardless of anything. I must admit that I do like your review. And I'm very interested in seeing my response to The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay!
I REALLY enjoyed this novel. I thought it was going to be too cluttered, but it managed to successfully convey a straightforward narrative with several different story archs. WTF?!
Glad you liked the book it is really good. Mine is no where near the best review to give the book justice in comparison to what I thought of it. My friend s.penke does a really good review of it. May I recommend giving his Ghostwritten a try? I've liked all his novels but I liked Ghostwritten and this one the most with their experimental narrative styles.
