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Overview
Overview
- Format: TradePaperback
- Author: Mitchell, David
- ISBN: 9781444730876
- Condition: Used
- Number Of Pages: 529
- Publication Year: 2012
Customer Reviews
Rating Snapshot
5 ★
80%
4 ★
10%
3 ★
0%
2 ★
10%
1 ★
0%
10 Ratings
0
0% Would Recommend
0 Recommendations
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Across the universe
Barbara T. - 1 year 8 months agoIn "Cloud Atlas," we meet characters -- and their heirs and forbears -- over many eras (both real and imagined). Whether sited in Europe after the Great War to pre-US-possession Hawaii to something like Japan of the future, this novel is a great read. Some suspension of disbelief is required for a novel of this scope. But if an absorbing tapestry of a novel is what you seek, this is it.
HPB Staff Review -
Look in the dictionary for "creative" and find Cloud Atlas.
Logann M. - 1 year 11 months agoCloud Atlas is a collection of stories and characters that David Mitchell weaves together forward in time and then backward, all the while leaving you confused, intrigued, and wanting a full novel of each story. How he manages to hop from setting to setting and genre to genre effortlessly is amazing and left me wanting every one of his books while knowing this one would not be equaled.
HPB Staff Review -
An audacious and complex masterpiece
Kevin W. - 4 years 5 months agoThis is an audacious and complex book that rewards repeated readings. Watching the film, starring Tom Hanks and Halle Berry, is also helpful. At first, it appears merely clever, as Mitchell jumps abruptly between six stories, each written in a different voice and style. The section narrated by Zachary recalled Hurston's "Their Eyes Were Watching God." It took me several pages to adapt to that narrative style. The connections between these six stories gradually becomes apparent, and the second half is more satisfying, as each characters' story is resolved. There is much philosophizing about greed and selfishness undermining knowledge and wisdom. The first time through, I did not appreciate the Cavendish story at all. Second time, not only is this the funniest section in the book, but some of his one-liners resonate with the overall theme: "Time's arrow became time's boomerang;" "Biotech Space Age cuboids now sit cloning humans for shady Koreans;" He even finds time to reference Springsteen's "Atlantic City." Ideas about reincarnation, slavery and oppression, humanity's power of destruction vs humanity's powers of love and creativity, stretch across each story. There is plenty of darkness and hopelessness in this book, yet it ends on a hopeful note. Human society does not need to consume and destroy itself. Perhaps our better natures will win out in the end. Definitely a masterpiece.
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Strange and ambitious masterpiece
Kevin W. - 5 years 2 months agoI watched the movie, starring Tom Hanks and Halle Berry, and now I have read this book again. The second time, I read it slowly and took notes like an undergrad. I tried to match who was who as we moved from story to story, time period to time period. My favorite sections are still Luisa's and Sonmi's. The first time through, I did not appreciate the Cavendish story at all. Second time, not only is this the funniest section in the book, but some of his one-liners resonate with the overall theme: "Time's arrow became time's boomerang;" "Biotech Space Age cuboids now sit cloning humans for shady Koreans;" He even finds time to reference Springsteen's "Atlantic City." Ideas about reincarnation, slavery and oppression, humanity's power of destruction vs humanity's powers of love and creativity, stretch across each story. There is plenty of darkness and hopelessness in this book, yet it ends on a hopeful note. Human society does not need to consume and destroy itself. Perhaps our better natures will win out in the end. Definitely a masterpiece. I'm interested to check out Mitchell's other works. And, I will be watching the movie again. #SpringPicks
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A True Tour de Force!
Josh D. - 5 years 5 months agoThere is something for everyone in David Michell's "Cloud Atlas." This dazzling novel belongs to no single genre but instead it navigates between them to tell and retell the oldest story of all: good's struggle vs evil. Mystery, satire, science fiction, romance and alternate histories all blend harmoniously into this elaborate and profound piece. It deserves to be read and reread by anyone who is serious about reading important works of literature.
HPB Staff Review