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3.79 AVERAGE
3.79 AVERAGE
challenging
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This novel has an open ending, but there are clues regarding the possible developments of the story all over the last chapter. Although it has eight chapters and each has a name, the author ends the book with the ninth chapter which is simply called "Nine" and left empty. "The ninth dream begins after every ending", says David Mitchell, continuing the subtle insinuation that the story is to be continued in our imagination, but taking into account several clues from the last chapter: "Time may be what prevents everything from happening at the same time in waking reality, but the rules are different in dreams." In dreams everything is possible, characters from different moments of our lives gather to recreate parallel realities, to embody different personalities. Dreams play with reality like kids with plasticine and create alternative meanings which having been auditioned by the present or the past, had been rejected in order to give way to other story-threads (the actual reality). The energy generated by our dreams constitute the nourishment of the witches who are still among us, but because our "world is lit by television, threaded by satellites, cemented by science" admitting their existence seems far-fetched for "the nowadays us". "Dreams are shores where the ocean of spirit meets the land of matter. Beaches where the yet-to-be, the once-were, the will-never-be may walk amid the still-are."
The alternance between dreams and reality is fascinating in this story and the main character ends up wondering if he is a dream of the real Eiji Miyake and when he goes to sleep and dreams, the real Eiji Miyake wakes up and remembers his waking life as a dream. Mitchell succeeds in writing a great final chapter for a book which at some points seems unfocused, with details that could be easily skipped without altering the story.
It's obvious all the way through the book that he is a great fan of Murakami's: not only does he say that the main character, Eiji, is reading "The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle", but he seems to even adopt Murakami's style and adapt it to his own way of creating literature. Moreover, Eiji is alike in many ways with Kafka Tamura from "Kafka on the Shore" by Murakami, and all the other characters seem to borrow something from the oddity and charm of Murakami's characters. Maybe it is just my impression, but the author himself declares openly to hold Murakami as a great source of inspiration.
Although I kept wondering while reading this book whether I was really enjoying it or not, the ending somehow brought all the loose ends together and I ended up thinking that it was really worth reading it. Moreover, although the story might not seem very catchy: a young boy starts a quest for his father whom he has never met, Mitchell's very plastic phrases and original use of words, his very creative, unique way of expressing his ideas and his humor create a special reading rhythm which is very entertaining. Therefore, although it seems a light read at a superficial level, once the hidden meanings and metaphors begin to unravel, they just pop out in your head continuously...like a bag of popcorn in the oven which seems unable to ever stop.
The alternance between dreams and reality is fascinating in this story and the main character ends up wondering if he is a dream of the real Eiji Miyake and when he goes to sleep and dreams, the real Eiji Miyake wakes up and remembers his waking life as a dream. Mitchell succeeds in writing a great final chapter for a book which at some points seems unfocused, with details that could be easily skipped without altering the story.
It's obvious all the way through the book that he is a great fan of Murakami's: not only does he say that the main character, Eiji, is reading "The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle", but he seems to even adopt Murakami's style and adapt it to his own way of creating literature. Moreover, Eiji is alike in many ways with Kafka Tamura from "Kafka on the Shore" by Murakami, and all the other characters seem to borrow something from the oddity and charm of Murakami's characters. Maybe it is just my impression, but the author himself declares openly to hold Murakami as a great source of inspiration.
Although I kept wondering while reading this book whether I was really enjoying it or not, the ending somehow brought all the loose ends together and I ended up thinking that it was really worth reading it. Moreover, although the story might not seem very catchy: a young boy starts a quest for his father whom he has never met, Mitchell's very plastic phrases and original use of words, his very creative, unique way of expressing his ideas and his humor create a special reading rhythm which is very entertaining. Therefore, although it seems a light read at a superficial level, once the hidden meanings and metaphors begin to unravel, they just pop out in your head continuously...like a bag of popcorn in the oven which seems unable to ever stop.
Not quite as compelling as some of David Mitchell's other books, though the characters were as vivid and engaging as always. I wasn't a huge fan of some of the more surreal interludes (the Goatwriter stuff was a little out there, and the first chapter infuriated me until I understood what was going on). I also got bogged down a bit in the whole Yakuza section -- too much action/brutality for my taste. On the other hand, Eiji was a very relatable character who was easy to root for, and anything set in Tokyo is guaranteed to make me smile.
I started reading this book and it made it very obvious that book I finished before starting number9dream was rubbish. It made me feel better about the poor review.
Book follows Eiji Miyake as he moves to Tokyo and searches for his father. Outrageous things happen to him in his search and they are expertly described. The book has a unique structure and at times I wondered what was really happening. It was great.
Book follows Eiji Miyake as he moves to Tokyo and searches for his father. Outrageous things happen to him in his search and they are expertly described. The book has a unique structure and at times I wondered what was really happening. It was great.
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Another fantastic book from David Mitchell. This one is told by 20-year-old Eiji Miyake as he begins the search for his father in Tokyo. Mitchell uses day dreams, diaries, letters, short stories, phone calls and more to tell the story. I suppose you would call it a coming of age tale, but it is like no other story in that category. Mitchell gives Eiji such a terrific voice and he paints such a vivid picture of Tokyo and the characters that live there. I highly recommend it!
I get the sneaking suspicion that I missed something in the completion of this book. Some subtle detail or theme that I overlooked, and that's saying nothing about that cryptic last chapter. All I do know is that, true to form, Mitchell wrote a living, breathing character that I feel I came to know and grew an attachment with. His characterizations might be my favorite. I'll have to re-read this again sometime, and knowing full well the (xxxxxx) that is racing headlong towards Eiji and myself.
challenging
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
This is one of those books that left me feeling seriously confused at the end. I'm not entirely sure what the heck was going on, and I feel like I need to read it again if I'm going to make sense of it. Fortunately, I still enjoyed it; David Mitchell has yet to let me down.
I think I like Mitchell's coming-of-age stories more than his perspective-jumping epics.