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3.99 AVERAGE
3.99 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
dark
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I was skeptical going in to this. If you’re following my reviews, you probably know that lit-fic and I don’t always get along. And it was a bit dense, especially at first.
I knew going in this was made up of a series of interlocking stories, which was probably another reason I was wary. It’s actually cooler than that, though. The book is structured in a sort of mirror. The first story is set in the 18th century and is told as a diary, and in the second, the characters have a copy of the diary, etc. This goes on all the way until far in the future in a post-apocalyptic story, and then links back the same way, so that it ends in the 18th century again.
Like all the long, dense books I’ve read this year, I’m sure I didn’t devote the right amount of time or mindspace to it. Next year somebody please remind me not to did this anymore. I should just read all the fluff all the time. What really got me was the ending. It really brought the whole book together and made me wish I hadn’t rushed a bit through the rest of it and put in the work.
I knew going in this was made up of a series of interlocking stories, which was probably another reason I was wary. It’s actually cooler than that, though. The book is structured in a sort of mirror. The first story is set in the 18th century and is told as a diary, and in the second, the characters have a copy of the diary, etc. This goes on all the way until far in the future in a post-apocalyptic story, and then links back the same way, so that it ends in the 18th century again.
Like all the long, dense books I’ve read this year, I’m sure I didn’t devote the right amount of time or mindspace to it. Next year somebody please remind me not to did this anymore. I should just read all the fluff all the time. What really got me was the ending. It really brought the whole book together and made me wish I hadn’t rushed a bit through the rest of it and put in the work.
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I have been wanting to read this for over a decade as this film is one of my favourites and it did not disappoint. It swings between humour and seriousness so easily and the stories feel effortlessly linked. The style of each section varies a lot (I struggled with Zachary’s story initially as it was so different) but you get to know each of the main characters in a way that I don’t often see with multiple POV’s. The Sonmi story is even more heartbreaking than the film and hits harder than I expected (and I was prepared). I can tell that this is a book I will return to.
My favourite quote from the book is the final line: “Yet what is any ocean but a multitude of drops?”. It really summed the book up perfectly and I may have shed a tear or three. I am so so glad to have read it and wish I’d picked it up sooner.
My favourite quote from the book is the final line: “Yet what is any ocean but a multitude of drops?”. It really summed the book up perfectly and I may have shed a tear or three. I am so so glad to have read it and wish I’d picked it up sooner.
challenging
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I saw the movie a few years ago, but it's been long enough so that I don't remember a lot of the details. I enjoyed the movie for its general ambiance and feel, but remember it being pretty confusing.
Not surprisingly, this book was a lot better than the movie. I loved the way the six stories were wrapped around each other like a set of nesting dolls (or like RF's Cloud Atlas Sextet). Because I had seen the movie, I knew that there were six characters going into the book, and was excited for each new story to begin. Then, as the stories started closing out, I was excited to float back through time to each to see how they wrapped up.
All six stories and characters were engaging, and unique. I loved how each character had their own voice and their own vivid way of describing the world around them. The references from one story to the next were subtle, but present enough so that the thread that connected them was constantly brought to light (Luisa's gun allergy, RF's mistrust for doctors, the repeat references to an Atlas of Clouds, the birthmarks, etc).
I listened to this book on audible, and all of the readers were good. I do think that I may have had an easier time catching some of the nuances between storylines if I had physically read the book, rather than listening to it, but listening to the book was a pleasant experience.
Not surprisingly, this book was a lot better than the movie. I loved the way the six stories were wrapped around each other like a set of nesting dolls (or like RF's Cloud Atlas Sextet). Because I had seen the movie, I knew that there were six characters going into the book, and was excited for each new story to begin. Then, as the stories started closing out, I was excited to float back through time to each to see how they wrapped up.
All six stories and characters were engaging, and unique. I loved how each character had their own voice and their own vivid way of describing the world around them. The references from one story to the next were subtle, but present enough so that the thread that connected them was constantly brought to light (Luisa's gun allergy, RF's mistrust for doctors, the repeat references to an Atlas of Clouds, the birthmarks, etc).
I listened to this book on audible, and all of the readers were good. I do think that I may have had an easier time catching some of the nuances between storylines if I had physically read the book, rather than listening to it, but listening to the book was a pleasant experience.
Absolutely incredible. I have no idea how you write something like this and am in absolute awe of this author's brain. I am glad uni forced me to read this because otherwise I would have probably given up after a few chapters because this is not the easiest book to get into or get through but for me it was absolutely worth it to push through. I have never read something this ambitious in structure and it might be one of the most unique books I've ever read. I am so excited to discuss this in class. Really really special and one of a kind. So good.
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
adventurous
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No