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-j.
You should *not* start with this one.
One storyline in particular in this book builds on "Thousand Summers of Jacob de Zoet", "Bone Clocks" and "Slade House". Without those as a foundation you are very likely to wonder what is going on!
"Cloud Atlas" is his best and "Black Swan Green" his most accessible. Depending on how daring you are, you may want to start with one of those.
One storyline in particular in this book builds on "Thousand Summers of Jacob de Zoet", "Bone Clocks" and "Slade House". Without those as a foundation you are very likely to wonder what is going on!
"Cloud Atlas" is his best and "Black Swan Green" his most accessible. Depending on how daring you are, you may want to start with one of those.
Molly
My favorite of Mitchell's work is The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet. I'd start there.
Cari
That depends on what you genre like because an interesting thing about Mitchell´s novels is that each of them is pretty much a different genre. "Cloud Atlas" is perhaps his most experimental work. But other than that he has historical fiction, coming of age, speculative fiction, light horror, fantasy/sci-fi, etc. This one reads more like a contemporary fiction but maybe (fake) memoir too. (There are lots of real famous musicians featured in this novel along with the fictional band Utopia Avenue.)
Maybe you are asking in regards to ¨the multiverse¨ and if that is the case, I would still say start by reading a novel that seems interesting to you. They are all connected and if you like puzzles and Easter eggs, it is very satisfying to follow the clues. That said, each novel has an independent plot and stands alone.
So basically what I am saying is that you cannot go wrong. Have fun! ;)
PS-
Please note that "Utopia Avenue" contains major plot spoilers for "The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet." That might be something to consider too.
Maybe you are asking in regards to ¨the multiverse¨ and if that is the case, I would still say start by reading a novel that seems interesting to you. They are all connected and if you like puzzles and Easter eggs, it is very satisfying to follow the clues. That said, each novel has an independent plot and stands alone.
So basically what I am saying is that you cannot go wrong. Have fun! ;)
PS-
Please note that "Utopia Avenue" contains major plot spoilers for "The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet." That might be something to consider too.
Ronnie
Under no circumstances should you read this before reading The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet. It basically spoils the whole story of what is, frankly, a much better book. Go read that instead.
Dan Martin
They're all outstanding, Jeremy! I'd go chronologically, starting the brilliant Ghostwritten. Enjoy!!! :)
Nick J Taylor
Actually, I would say this is a good place to start. I've read almost all his books and so far this is the easiest to read. His early works are quite "experimental" if I can use that word. Working back reverse chronologically from here to his first, Ghostwritten would work. They're all great novels. If you just want to read one and move on, though, Cloud Atlas.
Michael Chapman
You could start with this and enjoy it - but miss a mind-blowing amount of references from all (I mean all) his previous books. Some parts of UA may appear a bit weird without knowledge of the back catalogue.
My humble advice - start with Ghostwritten, and work your way forward.
OR - start with Utopia Avenue. If you love it, go back to Ghostwritten and move forward. By the time you get back to UA, you'll want to read it again, now that you have the context.
My humble advice - start with Ghostwritten, and work your way forward.
OR - start with Utopia Avenue. If you love it, go back to Ghostwritten and move forward. By the time you get back to UA, you'll want to read it again, now that you have the context.
Andrew Metadrouid
David Mitchell is absolutely best to read in the order of publishing. You see the return of certain characters, and it makes the most sense if you experience the books in order. No doubt about it.
Wendy Patten
I haven't read this book yet but I agree with Elizabeth. Cloud Atlas is great but take notes from the beginning of the book because it is written like nesting dolls and depending on how fast you read, you may not recall well what happened at the beginning. That said, I have read it three times and loved it every time. It is brilliantly written. I also read Ghostwritten, Number 9 Dream, the Bone Clocks and Slade House. Slade House seems to be the only one that doesn't have much to do with his universe. All are great but Ghostwritten would definitely be my second choice. Slade House is a stand-alone but a bit more of a horror.
Elizabeth Weinberg
I'd say something else. First, the reviews of this book are a bit lukewarm so far, and his earlier books are outstanding. Second, he does have a universe that at least appears in this book. I'd recommend Ghostwritten or Cloud Atlas. Cloud Atlas is a hefty challenge but fascinating, and it would give you a sense of whether you like his basic approach.
Rachel
I agree with Molly: The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet is also my favorite. But, while I did get the connection with this novel, I think you can read most of it without it. I didn't remember most the plot of that book or Mitchell's other novels and still really liked "Utopia Avenue."
Scott Langston
Ghostwritten, I think. Not this one, as it'll ruin Thousand Autumns (well, not ruin, but spoil a surprise or three) and that book is definitely worth a read. Cloud Atlas is difficult. Excellent, but difficult. Bone Clocks is also a fantastic novel.
Eileen Merriman
My favourite books are Bone Clocks and Cloud Atlas.
Ryan
I think Cloud Atlas is the place to begin with Mitchell. It's a brilliant book and can be read without knowing anything about his extended universe.
Utopia Avenue has some ties to The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet, The Bone Clocks, and Ghostwritten. You can still enjoy Utopia without having read those, but you'll run into spoilers for Thousand Autumns. Which I think is a good second read, after Cloud Atlas. If you like Cloud Atlas and its experimental structure, Ghostwritten is a good third read.
Utopia Avenue has some ties to The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet, The Bone Clocks, and Ghostwritten. You can still enjoy Utopia without having read those, but you'll run into spoilers for Thousand Autumns. Which I think is a good second read, after Cloud Atlas. If you like Cloud Atlas and its experimental structure, Ghostwritten is a good third read.
Matthew
I agree with Dan. Ghostwritten was his first, and remains my favorite out of a remarkable series of books. Could easily call any my favorite while I am reading and rereading each.
Sylvain
Ah well, I realise now that I shouldn't have started with Utopia Avenue, but I had picked it up somewhat randomly (I love band stories, real of fictitious) and had no idea. As I read it, I could see that I was missing some reference, though. So here I go...
D.J. Harrison
no, start with Ghostwritten.
Jason
I've read much of Mitchell's other works bud have yet to get to "The Thousand Summers of Jacob de Zoet". I would agree that that book is somewhat spoiled for me from reading Utopia Avenue, though it actually encourages me to read it a bit more. But that might have been good to know and be able to choose.
I think most of the book can survive and be an enjoyable read without reading TSoJZ first, but up to you.
I think most of the book can survive and be an enjoyable read without reading TSoJZ first, but up to you.
Paul Bifford
Having read this book first, I am lost on what the point is. I love Bowie, John Lennon and Leonard Cohen, but almost feel badly that they're co-opted. I don't know of a story where someone met John Lennon under a table and he said, "I'm losing my mind."
Cheryl McEnaney
I read Cloud Atlas first and it's the one that got me intrigued by Mitchell. I loved it. My other favorites of his are Jacob de Zoet and Black Swan Green (which has elements of autobiography from his childhood in England). Some of the others border more on sci-fi than is my preference, but I've enjoyed them all. I'm about to start Utopia Avenue now. I would suggest you start with Cloud Atlas.
Mariann
Great book. If you want to read The thousand autumns of Jacob deZoet, you will get part of the back story of the character, Jasper. THis book is only a little like most of his others, and I found that interesting; but if you’d prefer to see what his others are like. Cari is right, his books are all pretty unique and different genres.
My personal favorite might be Cloud Atlas or Bone Clocks.
I LOOOOVE David Mitchell
My personal favorite might be Cloud Atlas or Bone Clocks.
I LOOOOVE David Mitchell
Laurie
My first Mitchell was Bone Clocks, then I went back and read in order of publication date. I would not read Cloud Atlas first because it is the most weirdly structured and if you haven't developed trust in the author you might quit. Jacob de Zoet is very accessible, as is Black Swan Green.
Jeff
I agree, start with de Zoet. 😉 To me, this book was atypical of Mitchell.
Lynda
How lovely to live in a world where you still have ALL the David Mitchell books left to read. I started with Cloud Atlas. :)
Colin Myers
This is his worst book. Like others have said, it contains spoilers from The Thousand Autumns, which is a way better book. Read that, or Cloud Atlas, or my favorite, Black Swan Green.
Marie Stackbom
I started with Bone Clocks. Then Slade House and "Jacob de Zoet" I return to Bone Clocks just because I discover new things in it after reading the other two..
Joe Moss
I would start with "Ghostwritten", his first novel. That's usually a good place to start. It sets the scene for Mitchell's style and his concerns and is the way into his "universe".
Utopia Avenue is a stand-alone novel and can be read as such but it does feed off the rest of the author's work and you will definitely miss quite a number of references from earlier novels/characters if you read this first.
Utopia Avenue is a stand-alone novel and can be read as such but it does feed off the rest of the author's work and you will definitely miss quite a number of references from earlier novels/characters if you read this first.
Steve Sokol
I'd actually start with Cloud Atlas as his most complete work. The other books all relate back, almost creating a meta-Cloud Atlas.
I agree that Jacob de Zoet was the best book by far. But all of them are enlightened having read the others.
Utopia Ave. would be fine as a standalone. It could be interesting to see a reader approach it without the additional baggage.
I agree that Jacob de Zoet was the best book by far. But all of them are enlightened having read the others.
Utopia Ave. would be fine as a standalone. It could be interesting to see a reader approach it without the additional baggage.
Jason
This answer contains spoilers…
(view spoiler)
Scott
Start with Cloud Atlas. The Bone Clocks. Then Slade House. Then The Thousand Autumns. Then Utopia Avenue.
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