Bill answers “How should Mitchell's books be read? In...”

Morgan asked this question about Ghostwritten:

How should Mitchell's books be read? In publishing order?

Bill I'm in the middle of a David Mitchell reading spree myself and plotting this course too.

I was introduced by Utopia Avenue which I absolutely adored, t…moreI'm in the middle of a David Mitchell reading spree myself and plotting this course too.

I was introduced by Utopia Avenue which I absolutely adored, though the Wikipedia entry confirms the interpretation of one character's narrative depends greatly on if you've read The Bone Clocks or not.

That said, I opted to read Cloud Atlas second given that's his best known work and though I enjoyed it I must say Utopia Avenue edges it out for me. Robert Frobisher may be my favourite character of all three books I've read thus far but the middle section was a bit of a slog.

As at 10 minutes ago, I've just finished Ghostwritten and would say it's on par with Cloud Atlas. Mitchell's toying with narrative and literary form bolsters the themes wonderfully in each case, though in Ghostwritten it's more restrained (for the better, in my opinion.) Each chapter tips into the next like a chain of dominoes which ties in brilliantly with the cause and effect theme of the book.

While all three are still thoroughly enjoyable as singular works, interpretation is coloured by allusions to characters and concepts of novels both future and past.

Luisa Rey's recognition of the Cloud Atlas Sextet is easily explained in 'real' terms by certain events of Utopia Avenue, rather than the spiritual level of recognition suggested if you've only ever read Cloud Atlas.

On the flip side, the mention of a comet-shaped birthmark on one character in Ghostwritten is much less significant if you haven't read Cloud Atlas (published some five years later, mind you).

The Bone Clocks is next on my to-read list, then Thousand Autumns, then Black Swan Green. I've not yet made up my what the order will be thereafter.

My advice though as far as reading order is concerned, go where your heart takes you. I'm personally determined to read it in an order as few people as possible have tried it in so my interpretations are truly my own along the way(less)

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