CA: New cunning method to make short story format more popular

[Gary]

Haven't I just finished reading a collection of six short stories? Admittedly very well written and engaging short stories but I feel I was dragged along by an expectation of a grand resolution which didn't eventuate or maybe there is a hidden part holding up a bedpost somewhere?

[Steve]

For me, this six story are really related and that's the point of this book.

This six stories cannot be read alone, as each character cannot live without the other. We are not alone. Our lives depend not only on ourselves. We are bound to each other by our actions. That's what I understand of the book. So this form of "collection of short stories" is very important. That's the whole point of the last page with the droplets and ocean's metaphor.

[Charles]

It's more like a well crafted mix-tape. A playlist of stories that both complement each other yet contrast nicely.

I loved that each story was a different genre. I think the author was showing how each genre presented a set of themes differently.

[David(LA,CA)]

Maybe a little too cunning for its own good.

Big spoiler block coming in here.

(view spoiler)[
This is my understanding of the nesting:

Ewing is a journal read by Forbisher. Forbisher writes letters to Sixsmith. Sixsmith is an important character in a fictional story sent to Cavendish for possible publishing. Cavendish is the Disney watched by Sonmi? Sonmi is worshiped by Zachry as a diety.

Note the bolded word in that description.

Mitchel has said that most of the main characters are are "reincarnations of the same soul in different bodies throughout the novel". Now I could be wrong here, but I'm willing to wager that those that believe in reincarnation don't also believe that the reincarnation of a fictional character that never existed except on the printed page or silver screen is possible.

If believeing that Sherlock Holmes was a real life person is enough to get you called a dunce, as Forbisher does, then claiming that I'm the reincarnation of Mr. Holmes should earn me the same title. (hide spoiler)]