Cloud Atlas: Buddy Read

[Liz]

Here we go! This is for a buddy read: Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell. We're starting May 1, and reading 3 chapters a week.

[Jon]

This should be a good one.

[Pink]

Can't wait to start with this one... Has anyone seen the film version? It looked weird but prompted me to dig out my book from the depths of my bookshelf!

[Liz]

Agreed. I'm super excited to read it. :)

[Liz]

Pink wrote: "Can't wait to start with this one... Has anyone seen the film version? It looked weird but prompted me to dig out my book from the depths of my bookshelf!"

Yes, I saw it. I thought it was quite good. I liked how they re-used the actors in the various story lines - I'm interested to see how the book weaves all the stories together.

[Liz]

Oh I'm glad to hear you liked it! I just started reading it today. You should join in our discussion of it.

[Pink]

I have just started, so only a few pages in so far and it seems puzzling.

[Liz]

I'm about halfway through the first chapter, but I'll read some more tonight.

[Pink]

I finished the first chapter - it took me a while to get into it, as I was confused over what was going on, but it really picked up for me in the second half. I'm part way through chapter 2 now and really enjoying this one...I'm intrigued to see how the stories will relate to each other.

How is every else getting on with this?

[Michael]

Since I got a head start, reading this on my own. I should be done in hour or so. Taking a small reading break to read things on GR(hummm). Can not wait to see what other think.

[Liz]

Michael: Done with the whole book or done with the first couple chapters?

I'm going to finish another book tonight and get back to Cloud Atlas tomorrow. (Ideally.)

[Michael]

Liz wrote: "Michael: Done with the whole book or done with the first couple chapters?

I'm going to finish another book tonight and get back to Cloud Atlas tomorrow. (Ideally.)"

The whole book. I finished last night. But I started on Sunday of this week. Since I am suppose to be doing the The Orphan Master's Son for this month buddy read I wanted to get it done by today. I am still thinking of what I am going to write in my review.

[Pink]

Has anyone read any more of Cloud Atlas yet? I've just finished the third chapter - The first Luisa Rey Mystery. I've enjoyed each of the chapters more than the last and found that the story is really building, in fact I found it hard to put down yesterday. I don't want to discuss what's happened until we're all at the same point, although I might comment using spoilers when I get home later.

I'm planning on reading chapters 4 and 5 by the end of this week, to keep on track with finishing this month. Liz and Jon, how are you enjoying it, where are you in the book so far? Is anyone else reading it this month?

[Liz]

I've had a busy week, and I'm not quite to the end of Chapter 3. I've got about 15 pages left. I too have been liking the chapters more as they progress. I'm particularly looking forward to Timothy Cavendish's story. I'll be back tomorrow to chat some more about it.

[Liz]

Oh Timothy Cavendish's narration is great. One thing I like about the different chapters is how they're narrated differently. Obviously, they're all told from different points of view, but I like the different forms (journal, letters, novel, memoir, etc.).

[Michael]

I can not wait to know what people thought of chapter six.. =)

[Jon]

Finished ch 3.
I also like that the chapters are so different. Writing style, time period, plot, etc.
That said, I have no clue what's going on :-o
Are we supposed to guess how they connect?
I guess we need to read more chapters...

[Pink]

I've finished chapter 5 now and I'm finding that there are slightly more connections between the stories as I read on - although I'm still confused as to exactly what is happening. I'm not sure if all will be explained in the end or not.

I'm also enjoying each chapter's use of different writing styles and time periods, keeps things interesting.

Michael - now you've made me want to read chapter 6 straight away, but I'm trying not to read it all at once :)

[Michael]

Pink... I am sorry.. I think? I am promoting reading and that is always a good thing. =P

[Liz]

Hey, everybody: Here are some thoughts on Chapter 5.

(view spoiler)[So I can't remember if y'all have seen the movie or not. I did a couple months ago, when it finally came to theaters in China. I had gone to the movie without any knowledge of the story, only that it was Tom Hanks's latest film.

Anyway, seeing the movie led me to want to read the book. Thus far, the movie's stories have followed the book's fairly loyally. Until Chapter 5, that is. Sonmi-451's story has been greatly altered (simplified?) in the movie. So it has been nice to have something fresh (I can't think of a better word at the moment). I love movies and I love books. I also love comparing the two, when the former is based off the latter. Also, when you read/see one version first, I find it quite difficult not to compare the two.

Do I need a spoiler inside a spoiler to talk about the movie? I'm going to go ahead and say some things about the movie, since the book (as per usual) contains more information. In the movie, Sonmi's story starts the same- being interviewed while in custody, her telling about being a fabricant in a diner, then about Yoona's disaster, and about leaving the diner. It's after leaving that the stories differ.

I expect her second chapter to pick up where the movie goes as soon as she leaves the diner. Meaning, whatever happens after leaving the theater (and the Ghastly Ordeal!) is what I saw in the movie.

The part about her living with the postgrad, and then being 'promoted' to better living quarters was great. I like the book's development of her character (intelligence, ascension, etc.) because - as can be expected - the book has more detail. Also, I find the more detailed description of life in her time quite interesting. The idea of the other kinds of fabricants is a bit crazy. I also expect to see something about the disastermen in the next chapter.

Anyway, that's it for now. I'm going to get back to Chapter 6 soon. :) (hide spoiler)]

[Liz]

How're people doing? Hypothetically, we should be halfway through the book. Chapter 6 is a little longer, so I figure we get through chapter 8 by next week (May 21-ish) and then we'll have the last 3 chapters for the last week of the month. Thoughts? About the reading pace? About the book?

Also, Michael, now that I'm through with Chapter 6, I'm curious about what you thought of it. What about this chapter in particular were you looking forward to discussing?

[Pink]

I finished chapter 6 and I really struggled with it, my least favourite chapter by far, although it was good to see how it tied in to the other stories. I've also read chapter 7 which returned to sonmi and I felt the pace picked up again with this. I'll be reading chapter 8 some time this week :)

[Pink]

Ok, so I just finished the book. I couldn't help but to read ahead as I was starting to get confused by the different chapters and didn't want to start another book until I'd finished this one.

I'm not sure that I understand any better what was happening, it has left me with some answers, but more questions. I liked it though! I haven't seen the film, but I plan on buying it when it's released here in a couple of months to see how it compares.

How is everyone else getting on? Favourite chapters/ characters?

[Jon]

I finished also.
It's still confusing but I now understand how all the stories connect and the themes that are common to all.
My favorite character is Sonmi-451.

[Pink]

I liked Sonmi-451 too. I think my favourite character was Timothy Cavendish, I found his story so comical.

[Liz]

So here's the thing: I tried posting my thoughts a few days ago, but my internet failed me, and there was an 'error' in posting and it was all lost. Whenever this sort of thing happens, I tend to hold a grudge against the lost words. Anyway, now I'm going to try again! Ha.

I liked Timothy Cavendish's story best. I think it was the most entertaining because of the situations, and his narration/commentary. I liked Sonmi-451 as a character best. I think her role (as an ascended fabricant) was intriguing, in that it was a curious portrayal of our potential future.

Something I enjoyed the most about this book was the evolution of language. Adam Ewing certainly used some "older" vocabulary. Robert, Luisa, and Timothy all had quite similar language, all of which were obviously familiar and modern.

Sonmi's era's vocabulary was the most interesting. I appreciated how some present-day proper nouns were demoted in the sense that they lost their capitalization privilege. In another sense though, they were promoted because they replaced the nouns. Examples: coffee=starbuck, shoe=nike, car=ford. Also, Sonmi's language had some altered spelling. A lot of words lost some extraneous letters, and therefore the spelling was a bit more logical. Examples: xit, xchange, fritened. Interestingly, words like 'knife' still had a 'k', but the 'e's were taken away from before 'x's.

Then Zachry's language was reflective of the fall of society and civilization. It took a little time to get used to, but whatever. Some things I did like though were phrases like 'true true' and 'diresome'.

Also, what was up with the calendar in Sonmi's time? Ten days a week? And then how many months in a year? But the days still had 24 hours.

So there. I think that was all I said the first time. And don't worry, I'm going to make sure it all doesn't get lost as I post. (I know you weren't worried.)