Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell (Participants in the first post; Eavesdroppers: Angus, Mae, Monique, Tricia) Start Date: Sept 1

[Reev]

I think the delivery sched for bookstores is still in October(!) But I'll find a way—ayoko ebook talaga. Haha. Where there's a will...there's a death. Nyehe. No prob, I just skim through the comments. :) Thanks Tina!

[Aldrin]

What The Heck Is Cloud Atlas? - Everything you need to know about the genre-bending epic

[Louize]

Just so Monique may see how her book looked like with me...

Fullytabbed

Monique, just tell me when I can return it and how you want it done.

[Aldrin]

Huwag mo nang ibalik, Louize! Bibili naman ng multiple editions si Monique sa Book Depository. Haha.

[Louize]

Aldrin wrote: "Huwag mo nang ibalik, Louize! Bibili naman ng multiple editions si Monique sa Book Depository. Haha."

Huwaw!

[Aldrin]

Cloud Atlas given a standing ovation at TIFF: http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/09/08/toronto-gets-a-look-at-cloud-atlas/

[Louize]

5 An Orison of Somni 451 (Sci-fi)

“We are only what we know, and I wished to be so much more than I was, sorely.” -Somni 451

(view spoiler)[
To begin, An Orison means a prayer. Before I read this part, I thought the whole lot would be a conversation between a maker and his creation –a prayer. Instead, it was a long recording of a clone’s interrogation before execution. Then, I realized the second part of her interrogation will make things clearer.

Assumingly, clones should be devoid of feelings and sense of being. Somni 451, on the other hand, was an ascended fabricant. She’s a clone beyond her norm adapted to learning and excellent intellect. How come, when her service at the restaurant merely completes an everyday cycle of Matins, Vespers, Soapsac and Catechisms?

This section did not clearly say why she will be executed; only that she was out of bed after curfew, had found her dead seer, and was transferred from Papa Song’s diner to a university. And although an educated fabricant was not normal, it was not made clear to me if there was such a law against it. Nevertheless, she surreptitiously hid her sony (computer) where she learned her lessons.

This was one of the most interesting parts for me. Again, as I said from my status update, it was curious how a soulless being gets to have the most poetic lines. I’m not a sci-fi fan, but the Somni 451 section squeezed my heart. Is being soulless makes someone less human? Is the future ascension of our kind, or a descent? Why has the future gone back to slavery –pretty high-tech slavery?
(hide spoiler)]

[H]

Favorite part ko yang kay Sonmi~451 :)

[Monique]

Aldrin wrote: "Huwag mo nang ibalik, Louize! Bibili naman ng multiple editions si Monique sa Book Depository. Haha."

Huy! I want that copy ah. Bigay yan ni Buddy sa kin noh. :P I also have the Kindle edition, might check if I want to get the movie tie-in one. Haha.

Hey Louize, thank you for keeping my book in pristine condition! :) Appreciate it. ;)

[Alexa]

I like the Sonmi ~451 part too!! :)

[Tina]

Still running a little late with the schedule, so Timothy Cavendish muna. :D

(view spoiler)[I like how he's such an unreliable narrator, and somewhere along the narrative, I wondered if everything was true, or if he was remembering it correctly. For all we know, he could have been in Aurora House all the time and was just recalling memories mixed up with other stories. Haha but I liked it a lot, and I remember reading it in a British accent in my head. :D (hide spoiler)]

[Aaron Vincent]

Finished it! I enjoyed it more than I thought I would.

As I said on a status update, the Sloosha chapter was like learning a new language. It was initially hard to read, but I got used to the "rhythm" of it after a few pages.

Somni 451 reminds me of the Rise of the Cylon in Battlestar Galactica. BSG's prequel series, Caprica, would have been like this had it not for Writer's Strike. Somni 451's ascension parallels Cylon Model No. 8's Athena's storyarc for the entire show. In fact, I was imagining Sharon Valerii while I was reading this chapter.

I have a few questions for those who finished it. (Please don't open unless you're finished.)
(view spoiler)[
1. Frabicants are manufactured --man-made-- and yet Somni 451 is implied to be a reincarnation of the "Comet Persona". How did this happened?

2. Zachry's brother that was captured by the Kona shares the same name with Adam Ewing. Is there any significance in this?

3. I noticed too that only in the Sloosha chapter were the main POV chapter is not the "Comet Persona".(Luisa Rey's chapter has shifting POVs but majority of it are Luisa Rey's )

4. Robert Frobisher's suicide. (This was actually spoiled in this thread before. Boo. :P) I don't get it. It doesn't follow the pattern of the endings of the other stories. Or am I just too cynical for suicide to notice the point?

...I can't remember few more that I thought about last night. Will post when I remembered. And oh...

5. I love this book. If I am to continue reading David Mitchell, what should I read next? Is his others books' scale as grand as this one?

(hide spoiler)]

And oh, Felix Finch's jadedness reminds me of someone. hahaha

[H]

Aaron Vincent wrote: "If I am to continue reading David Mitchell, what should I read next?"

The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet. :)

[Alexa]

Aaron Vincent wrote: "Somni 451's ascension parallels Cylon Model No. 8's Athena's storyarc for the entire season."

YES YES but wait, isn't it supposed to be Boomer?

[Aaron Vincent]

Blue wrote: "YES YES but wait, isn't it supposed to be Boomer?"

No. Athena and Boomer's arc are opposite. Boomer was the 8 Line that has the human -> cylon arc while No. 8 Line Athena has the cylon -> human arc. Boomer was the one who shot Adama. Athena was the one Helo married.

[Alexa]

Aaron Vincent wrote: "No. Athena and Boomer's arc are opposite. Boomer was the 8 Line that has the human -> cylon arc. No. 8 Line Athena has the cylon -> ..."

Oh yeah, I just remembered Athena saying something about wanting to be accepted, like Somni 451. (view spoiler)[But she reminded me of Boomer din kasi when the latter had trouble fitting in with the Cylons, when the former went back to Papa Song's (sa first part, before Sloosha's) and suddenly everything was foreign to her. Hehe. (hide spoiler)]

[Angus]

Parang pang F2F ang mga questions ni Aaron! I'll try my best to answer:

(view spoiler)[
1. Frabicants are manufactured --man-made-- and yet Somni 451 is implied to be a reincarnation of the "Comet Persona". How did this happened?

-This is similar to the themes of Never Let Me Go and Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?: do clones (fabricants) have souls? In this novel, apparently, they do.

2. Zachry's brother that was captured by the Kona shares the same name with Adam Ewing. Is there any significance in this?

-I. Can't. Remember. Anyway, I think it has something to do with the world eating itself up to come up with a new order. A cycle. Parang karma na uulit-ulit until you learn your lesson. But no, violence still rules. Eh di ba patayan din yung Sloosha's Crossin'? Kasi yung setting ng Sloosha's ay back to zero. The world has a chance to start anew, but instead of living in peace, patayan pa rin. What I'm trying to say is best reflected in the novel's last pages.

4. Robert Frobisher's suicide. (This was actually spoiled in this thread before. Boo. :P) I don't get it. It doesn't follow the pattern of the endings of the other stories. Or am I just too cynical for suicide to notice the point?

-Hmm. This is my second favorite part. Anyway, since death is one of the themes of the novel and suicide is one form of it, the novel might as well tackle it? *tongue in cheek

5. I love this book. If I am to continue reading David Mitchell, what should I read next? Is his others books' scale as grand as this one?

-Hurray! The Mitchell Mafia will spare you, hahaha! A similar structure would be Ghostwritten, but the chapters all occur on the same time. There are recurring characters there. Actually, they recurred on Cloud Atlas since Ghostwritten was published first.

There is one character in Ghostwritten who was not included in Cloud Atlas but also has the comet birthmark! I suspect that this character must have been considered to have a main part in Cloud Atlas.

Black Swan Green might also appeal to you because it has YA themes. Go for number9dream if you like Japanese culture and delectable madness. Yung Jacob De Zoet hindi ko pa nababasa, hahaha.
(hide spoiler)]

[Aaron Vincent]

Angus...

(view spoiler)[
1. Right! But it is still hard to believe, scientifically.

2. Gets ko yan! I was just wondering if there's a parallelism between the two Adams that I didn't noticed.

4. So Robert Frobisher is the quintessential artist. You know the artists' reputation for being the usual victims of crippling depression or suicide.

5. Thanks! Will take note of those. :)
(hide spoiler)]

[Aaron Vincent]

Blue...

(view spoiler)[
But Boomer didn't start a revolution. Athena did. Athena what with everything that happened to her was the martyr 8. And Athena had trouble reconciling too with the line cylons that allied themselves with the humans at the latter part of the show.
(hide spoiler)]

[Alexa]

(view spoiler)[Ah, I see. Latter part of the show? THAT I haven't seen. Shush. (hide spoiler)]

[Monique]

AARON: (view spoiler)[ YEHEEEEEEYYYYY!!! I knew you would love it! Chos. Haha. :D

About Frobisher's suicide. I think Frobisher's story naman is the one that's supposed to be all about unrequited love and all romantic stuff. It's his story that's supposed to provide the romanticism or drama in the novel, so I guess, nothing could be more dramatic than committing suicide, and for love, right? :)

I strongly suggest Ghostwritten next. I would presume you loved this book because of its style, so I think you'll also appreciate Ghostwritten. :)

David Mitchell rocks! \m/ (Ay, hindi bagay, hahaha!)
(hide spoiler)]

TINA: So, which chapter are you liking the best, by far? :D

BEEJAY: Weee! Welcome to the thread, haha. I am betting you will give this no less than 5 stars, as well. :D

[Louize]

Aaron wrote: "I have a few questions for those who finished it. (Please don't open unless you're finished.)"

(view spoiler)[
1. Frabicants are manufactured --man-made-- and yet Somni 451 is implied to be a reincarnation of the "Comet Persona". How did this happened?

I guess Mitchell chose the word ‘fabricant’ to give the character a lesser sense of being. More like a Frankenstein monster fabricated together. But the book fact was that Somni 451 and her kind were born from womb tanks, fully generated from human genes, and then suspended there until adulthood (for work force). Parang MATRIX movie lang din; so humans sila.

So, ‘yung slavery and cannibalism sa chapter 1 inulit lang dito sa chapter na ito, pero futuristic.

2. Zachry's brother that was captured by the Kona shares the same name with Adam Ewing. Is there any significance in this?

I don’t think there was e… let’s wait for the others reply.

3. I noticed too that only in the Sloosha chapter were the main POV chapter is not the "Comet Persona".(Luisa Rey's chapter has shifting POVs but majority of it are Luisa Rey's )

I did notice that too; but it did not mean he was not an incarnate diba? For me he was Autua, Joseph Napier, and Ernie Blacksmith too. Those who existed to help (make sure) that each main character finishes their purpose. And maybe, to mark the palindrome effect too.

4. Robert Frobisher's suicide. (This was actually spoiled in this thread before. Boo. :P) I don't get it. It doesn't follow the pattern of the endings of the other stories. Or am I just too cynical for suicide to notice the point?

I don’t see any purpose for suicide either, except for fiction. The completion of the Cloud Atlas Sextet was the end of his life. For an inert reason, he knew he should die. His life purpose was done, and so the next person’s life should begin.

“Cloud Atlas Sextet holds my life, is my life, now I’m a spent firework; but at least I’ve been a firework.”

“Time cannot permeate this sabbatical. We do not stay dead long. Once my Luger lets me go, my birth, next time around, will be upon me in a heartbeat. Thirteen years from now we’ll meet again at Gresham, ten years later I’ll be back in this same room, holding this same gun, composing this same letter, my resolution as perfect as my many-headed sextet. Such elegant certainties comfort me at this quiet hour.”

What I like most about this chapter was his closing: Sunt lacrimæ rerum –"there are tears for things". He quoted Aeneas crying inside the Carthaginian temple, sunt lacrimae rerum et mentem mortalia tangunt - "these are the tears of things, and our mortality cuts to the heart".
(hide spoiler)]

[Aaron Vincent]

Louize

(view spoiler)[
On RF's suicide...

Thanks! That made a lot of sense.

Pero kasi...(ayaw talaga paawat. haha) if we look at the the endings of the other stories, the indomitability of the human spirit is very apparent. Isn't RF's suicide against the point? For me, suicide is simply giving up. I don't blame the suicide victims, but I just abhor the act. Masyado siguro clouded(pun not intended) yung utak ko ng opinions ko about suicide para maappreciate ko yung ending ng kay Frobisher.
(hide spoiler)]

[Tina]

MONIQUE: I still like Luisa Rey best, but I'm just a third through Sonmi. I'll get back to you this afternoon (free period I mean, time after lunch sa office, yay!). Naiinggit ako sa mga nakakarami na, sandali, ayoko ma-OP. Haha!

[Angus]

The Sense of an Ending can be a supplementary reading for Letters from Zedelghem to further understand the theme of ...(view spoiler)[ ... suicide. After reading this, I figured out that suicide is not usually a way out or a cowardly thing to do. (hide spoiler)]

[Louize]

Aaron Vincent wrote: "Pero kasi..."

Naku, sabi na nga ba 'yan ang follow up question mo e.

(view spoiler)[
I believe it has something to do with life's purpose. All of them are fighters, yes, but up to what point? Up until their purpose was spent. Frobisher's purpose was to create and finish the Sextet for Luisa Rey. Same with Somni and Zachary. Somni gave in after she wrote the new catechisms, right? Zachary exhausted his life after he relayed the story to his son, after he made sure that his line will continue. Ewing's purpose was not done yet in his narration; he still has a purpose for the Abolitionist cause. Cavendish needs to finish his story and make it into a film. Somni needs to see that film for inspiration, diba? And, he needs to edit and publish the Luisa Rey Mystery pa. Each has a purpose for the next lifetime. So, in a sense, Frobisher did not gave up on life, he wanted it to continue; but he also knew that life will have to continue without him... kaya ganun ang closing remark n'ya. (hide spoiler)]

[Aldrin]

To further understand the theme of (view spoiler)[suicide (hide spoiler)], I recommend (view spoiler)[ Suicide (hide spoiler)].

[Tina]

Finished first part of Orison of Sonmi~451 yesterday and (view spoiler)[*shakes fist*! This is probably the cliffhanger ending of all cliffhanger endings in this book. Even more frustrating to suddenly end there compared to Luisa Rey! (hide spoiler)]

And Monique, like what I said on Twitter yesterday, you're right -- (view spoiler)[I like Sonmi just a bit more than Luisa Rey. The entire sci-fi/dystopia setting totally worked for me. It reminded me of those really good dystopia books I read when I was discovering the subgenre, and I realized I missed that reading those books! The world totally worked for me, and even if I couldn't understand half the terms at first, it started making sense when Sonmi's story unfolds. The clone aspect reminds me of Never Let Me Go, with a shades of The Giver, 1984 and Unwind. (hide spoiler)] :)

And Louize, with what you said -- (view spoiler)[ it was curious how a soulless being gets to have the most poetic lines (hide spoiler)] -- I agree! I think I dog-eared the most number of pages in this chapter. (Non-dog-earing people, don't kill me :P)

(view spoiler)[Thinking about human cloning and the ethics and religious things connected to the issue makes my head hurt, but I guess this chapter makes me wonder: does being a clone necessarily mean you are soulless? They were made artificially, but they're essentially humans, too, right? It's also kind of sad that Sonmi~451 is more of a human compared to some real humans in the story. (hide spoiler)]

And to those who have read Deadline and Blackout by Mira Grant, (view spoiler)[Doesn't this chapter remind you of Georgia, too? :P (hide spoiler)]

On another note, I think I've gotten the hang of the language in Sloosha, but I am really excited to get back to Sonmi. Grr, must be patient. :D

[Louize]

Tina wrote: "And Louize, with what you s..."

(view spoiler)[ I used the term soulless to be in-themed with the book, since they have to insert that thingy into their finger to have a soul. In that future, they probably refer to their trackers or bar codes as souls; and probably their way of segregating fabricants from purebloods. (hide spoiler)]

Tina, Sloosha is very important to appreciate the next Somni narrations better. :)

[Tina]

Louize wrote: "Tina wrote: "And Louize, with what you s..."

[spoilers removed]

Tina, Sloosha is very important to appreciate the next Somni narrations better. :)"

(view spoiler)[I got that. :) Although I was thinking about souls, as in spirits, in general. :D But that's for another discussion. :D (hide spoiler)]

[Monique]

TINA: (view spoiler)[Sonmi is the only non-human character in the novel, but she's the one with the most humane emotions - pure heart and soul. Buddy and I also thought that her story reminded us a lot of Never Let Me Go. Really, really glad you're liking the book so far! (hide spoiler)]

[Ranee]

Aldrin wrote: "To further understand the theme of [spoilers removed], I recommend
Suicide
."

is there a like button for this?
hahaha

[Tina]

About 3/4 done with Sloosha, and I figured out what the dialogue reminds me of: The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness! :D

Also, FYI: I will start planning (for reals) the Cloud Atlas meet-up (not the movie meet-up, that's an entirely different one) after this weekend. :) Sa mga sasama: we're all good for October 6? (Happy birthday, Aaron! :D)

[Monique]

Sa mga sasama: we're all good for October 6? (Happy birthday, Aaron! :D)

YEP!

[Louize]

This one is for those who are done reading the last entry on Orison of Somni 451:

(view spoiler)[
[image error]
(hide spoiler)]

This ripped my heart from where it should be. :(

[Aaron Vincent]

Louize...

(view spoiler)[Was that how they executed her? I can't remember reading something like that. Will they execute her the same way they 'sent to paradise' those spent fabricants? (hide spoiler)]

[Tina]

Beejay: takot mo lang kay Angus. :P See his message # 136. :))

Monique: Noted!

Louize: Wala pa ako dyaaan. :D Although I started the second part na.

Finished Sloosha earlier today (I stayed home a bit longer before work just so I can finish it -- I regret nothing!!!) and I won't post a recap, kasi I should be working, but I want to say na (view spoiler)[I liked it better than I thought I would. Zachary grew on me, although the brutality of the Kona tribe kind of made me cringe. Zachary's dreams reminded me of Aslan's instructions to Jill in The Silver Chair, for some reason.

I had several "Aha!" moments, and I got excited for the next parts. Plus, it was kind of nice to read a chapter na hindi bitin. Haha. (hide spoiler)]

And Louize, since sinabi mo to: This ripped my heart from where it should be. :( -- I am now off to borrow Aaron's bubble wrap for my heart. Haha!

[Louize]

Aaron Vincent wrote: "Louize..."

(view spoiler)[
That's not Somni 451. Hindi ko rin alam kung ganyan nga; but this one was from when the starred fabricants were suppose to go to paradise.
(hide spoiler)]

[Angus]

Tina: I'm good with Oct. 6.

Aaron: EHEM!

(view spoiler)[Yes, I remember that's how the fabricants are disposed. Diba excited pa nga silang pumunta sa Hawaii nga ba? Basta some island/beach. Tapos dinescribe pa nga yung amoy ng nasusunog na fabricant flesh? Brrr! (hide spoiler)]

[Ingrid]

DAY 1
About time, haha
Will read spoiler posts in a while

(view spoiler)[ As expected, I found it difficult to read. Agh, I hate history, or whatever that was. Ang hirap intindihin but surprisingly interesting yung story. The ending was abrupt. Nabitin ako! I was tempted to read the last chapter just to see how the journal entries end. :))

Dr. Henry Goose and Autua were memorable characters.
Hee. (hide spoiler)]

[Alexa]

It is so beautiful. Omg. I'm still trying to gather my bearings after finishing this book a few hours ago. I told myself to make a list of questions as I think them, but I never got around to doing it so I'm just going to dump them all in one go. Or two. Kasi there are some things that are still unclear to me but I might not remember them all now, hehe.

Oh, btw don't read it until you're done with the book!
(view spoiler)[
1. Are there any more connections between the stories other than the comet characters, recurring phrases, and them reading/watching/finding out more about the characters in the other stories?
2. Are they all fact, or fiction, or a combination of both? Like Luisa Rey's story. Did it really happen?
3. What happened between the stories of Sonmi and Zachry? Kasi diba Sonmi is seen as some sort of god in Sloosha's? Do you think there were revolts and whatever that sensationalized Sonmi's contributions, hence her godlike status sa next story? Or is it just a coincidence?
4. What's the significance of the reincarnations? Is it just to show how human nature and greed and society are the same throughout, in any era, time, and place?
5. If they are indeed reincarnations, the timelines don't make sense. Diba Luisa's story is around the 60's or 70's? Won't her timeline coincide with Cavendish? Nahati ang soul? Chos. Unless fiction nga lang talaga siya. (hide spoiler)]


Okay nag-ring na ang bell. I have to go to class, but if I think of more, I'll add! Reflections and comments later. Heehee.

[Aaron Vincent]

Other questions needs a lot of thinking so I will answer 5 lang muna...

(view spoiler)[I think Timothy Cavendish is the present time incarnation. Notice his pop culture references. Some of them were past 60s or 70s time. I think the two incarnations that could have overlapped is Luisa Rey's and Robert Frobisher. I guess it implies that Luisa Rey was born shortly right after Robert Frobisher's suicide. (hide spoiler)]

[Alexa]

Aaron Vincent wrote: "Other questions needs a lot of thinking so I will answer 5 lang muna...

[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[But isn't Timothy Cavendish old enough to be put in a nursing home? So if present time nga mag ooverlap pa rin.

If I'm not mistaken, Luisa's story ended mga 1975 pala, and she was 35, so she was born 1940. Frobisher died 1931, so short interval lang.

Edit: Okay, I checked again and not specific yung date, about early 21st century pala yung kay Cavendish, so pwedeng hindi umabot. Shuri sabaw pa :))

One more thought: Luisa didn't die agad though! (hide spoiler)]

[Tina]

Louize wrote: "This one is for those who are done reading the last entry on Orison of Somni 451:





This ripped my heart from where it should be. :("

Finally finished this part and ack! (view spoiler)[I had a horrified look on my face for a long time that my teammate had to ask if I was okay. (hide spoiler)] ACK, MY HEART! :(

[Reev]

Several copies of Cloud Atlas found at the Book Fair. Now to catch up... :)

[Monique]

BLUE: I want to answer all your questions as accurately as possible kaso I could hardly remember the details! I think I should browse this before the discussion! I'll try to answer a couple of your queries, though:

(view spoiler)[
2. As far as I know, they're all fiction, including Luisa Rey's. There is no Buenas Yerbas in Calif. Her name is lifted from Thornton Wilder's The Bridge of San Luis Rey (which I'm set to read next). Wilder is named as one of Mitchell's influences. Cloud Atlas is supposed to have the same style as Bridge, so I can't wait to read it.

3. I have the same thoughts as you as to Sonmi's status. Parang, someone got ahold of her orison and, over the centuries, people considered her as some sort of god. Remember that Zachary's story is post-apocalyptic. So yes, there was probably a revolt, a revolution that happened gradually na na-spur nung orison. :)

4. I didn't even consider that these are "reincarnations" because it has a religious tinge to it, and I dissociate religion from the theme of this book. I prefer to think that these characters are interconnected, but they are not reincarnations of each other. I will study this thought further ha. Hehe.
(hide spoiler)]

[Alexa]

Monique wrote: "BLUE: I want to answer all your questions as accurately as possible kaso I could hardly remember the details! I think I should browse this before the discussion! I'll try to answer a couple of your..."

(view spoiler)[2. OH. That sort of changes things a bit. So Ewing's journal, Frobisher's sextet, everything else were like interconnected art forms built on one another? I thought it would be Luisa Rey lang because she was from a mystery novel, and the others really existed in that world. Wait. I got confused in my thoughts na. Gotta think more about this, haha!

3. Makes sense! Yes. Something I somehow understand :))

4. Ooh so the comet birthmarks are just symbols to show that they are connected? Because there is no overall story, is this merely a plot device that is used to show that the stories are related to each other?

Hehe, sorry andaming tanong :)) (hide spoiler)]

Not really related to my questions, but a few observations/comments (ingat if you're not yet done!):

(view spoiler)[I noticed that the stories show some form of escape for the main characters. I would say the suicide of Frobisher comes to mind. I guess if I were to stick to my theory, he sees this as some sort of 'escape' too because he knows he can no longer make something better than the sextet, and being the impassioned artist that he is, not being satisfied with a product of something you love to do must feel like death to him. I don't know, I'll think on this further, haha! :))

I really love Letters to Zedelghem and Orison of Sonmi ~451 :) the former, because Frobisher's a really passionate person and his story has lots of elements of romance (not the love definition ha). And it feels so nostalgic! The latter naman because I loved the concept of robots having souls, and Sonmi showed that hers is purer than some humans pa. And I like how, when she says she wanted to be in the Abbess's colony when she get rebirthed (if I remember correctly), and tas in Sloosha's, Meronym comes from somewhere with an Abbess. Hehe. (hide spoiler)]

[Tina]

So I just finished! That was SO good. I was toying with four stars lang when I finished the second part of Cavendish, especially since my reading groove was disturbed because I had to finish In Cold Blood for the weekend. Then when I got to the last line, I couldn't give it anything less. :) Ang galing galing.

I think it really appealed to me kasi I love (view spoiler)[spin-offs. I love it when a character from another book cameos in another book, or even had a pretty major role. Kaya feel ko rin I'll like other Mitchell books kasi parang may cameos lahat ng characters nya in every book diba? :D (hide spoiler)] Na-excite ako bigla. :D

If I would rank the stories...

1. An Orison of Sonmi~451
2. Half-Lives: The First Luisa Rey Mystery
3. The Pacific Journal of Adam Ewing
4. Letters from Zedelghem
5. Sloosha's Crossin' an' Ev'rythin' After
6. The Ghastly Ordeal of Timothy Cavendish

One question lang actually. Haha. (view spoiler)[Can't remember if Adam Ewing mentioned the comet birthmark? Na-mention ba sa first or second? If it's the second, baka inaantok ako nung binasa ko. (hide spoiler)]

Okay wait a minute lang while I gather more thoughts. Can't move on to my next book, so magbabasa muna ako ng reviews. :D

[Angus]

Tina: Yay! Hep hep hep! To answer your question, I also have the same question. Ano raw??? Hahaha! I couldn't find anything about it. (view spoiler)[Ang tamad ko talagang maglagay ng spoiler tag! Anyway, I rescanned Ewing's Journal after finishing the book, but I couldn't find anything about the birthmark. I even entertained the idea that Autua might have been the one with it. (hide spoiler)]

Ranking the stories...

1. An Orison of Sonmi~451
2. Letters from Zedelghem
3. The Pacific Journal of Adam Ewing
4. Sloosha's Crossin' an' Ev'rythin' After
5. Half-Lives: The First Luisa Rey Mystery
6. The Ghastly Ordeal of Timothy Cavendish

[Tina]

I didn't think I'll like The Pacific Journal, really, pero yung ending talaga. :) Parang sa Sloosha lang, I got really good chills when I got to the last parts. :)