Cloud Atlas: David Mitchell

[poliphilo]

6 novellas (each in a different literary genre) =  1 novel. How's he manage that then? Finding out is one of the pleasures of the book. Others are the brilliance of the story-telling (a narrative breaks off halfway through and you're immediately hooked by the one that interrupts it) and Mitchell's skills as a pasticheur. 

Comments

[davesmusictank.livejournal.com]

I have read it, one of my reads early on this year. Absolutely brilliant writing,storytelling and expansive.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Yes. Terrific book.

[sambeth.livejournal.com]

Brilliant book, that. Loved it, except for the thriller-ish story. But the meta of even that bit was interesting.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I enjoyed picking the Hitchcock references out of that section.

[tispity.livejournal.com]

One of my favourite novels. Although I'm really not sure how I feel about the Wachowskis' upcoming film of it. Apparently it has Mitchell's blessing but I've watched the trailer several times and honestly can't decide if it looks awful or not.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I've watched the trailer too- twice- trying to work out who is playing which character. Tom Hanks seems to be playing Zachary. Isn't he way too old?

[trixibelle-net.livejournal.com]

I loved that book when I first read it, it ensured I read every David Mitchell book since. Some I've struggled with, but my two other favourites of his are Black Swan Green and The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet. I would heartily recommend them if you have the time/inclination. Black Swan Green is largely autobiographical as I understand it, Thousand Autumns is fantastic and awful and worth the investment.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

When I like an author I generally read them in bulk. I went to the library yesterday and scored everything of Mitchell's they had on the shelves. I've just started Number 9 Dream and plan to follow it with Black Swan Green.