Reviews

Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell

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novabird's review against another edition

5.0

Mitchell makes post modernism writing accessible to nouveau readers of the genre, and gives us a novel of incredible scope of approximately four centuries. Within, “Cloud Atlas,” we find characterization portrayals in superbly distinct voices and genres; naïve/ lawyer/realistic writer, ambitious/ aesthete/composer, intrepid/investigator/journalist, wily writer and screenplay writer/actor, post-apocalyptic keeper/recorder of what remains, and slave/self-prophesying- savior/witness/interviewee. Each character is not only a message bearer towards the overall narrative structure, where non-completion is complemented by completion and provides a brilliant framework, but also encapsulates the medium of its era. “Cloud Atlas,” is a fantastical combination of the message and the medium.

These characters are presented as a continuity of souls, where there is not so much an opium induced belief in reincarnation towards the goal of Nirvana, (see page 90) neither an Eternal Return, instead there are evolutionary forces of both ascent and descent at play. This evolutionary theme is dramatized by human proclivity towards predatory motivations. The undertone is that progress is not unlimited.

Spoiler

The idea that human nature is fixed and immutable and ultimately insignificant is a very dark ending

“Come, Adam, a wise man does not step betwixt the beast & his meat.”

It is this same Henry, who later on quotes from Psalm 8, that man has dominion over everything on the land and over every beast and also says,

“As philanthropists, might it not be our duty to likewise ameliorate the savages sufferings by hastening their extinction?”

I for one, hope that I never,

“Travel far enough, you meet yourself.”

Rather I hope to always find diversity, instead of a mirror image or a doppelgänger.

“Cloud Atlas,” is an astonishing feat of creative innovation and masterly writing that buoys the darker message to humanity, thus keeping its cloudy/transitional tone of a warning prophecy anchored by an atlas of consequence.

For making me think deeply about human nature versus human behaviour and having to say, ‘Nay,’ to the premise of human nature as presented here. I find that I still have a belief in human nature. Even if we as individuals (most of us) are transient in making an impact and are as quickly shifting and adapting as clouds, we still want to anchor ourselves to a greater humanity and let fall our nurturing rain that sprouts forth the individual once again. I give this a very full and brimming 5

phelps1599's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

greenidmnstr's review against another edition

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5.0

Not the most fascinating beginning to the novel but really interesting development and progression. It's a small glimpse into a fictional cycle of the world that may reflect our own future. I liked the subtle way the characters are tied together and it was fascinating to see the way that world changed over several generations. I enjoyed the variance in language and the personalities of each different character. This book made me laugh more than once and definitely kept me interested throughout. Quite worth the time spent on it. :)

alesforz's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

pained_creations's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

This book is the story of 6 different people over 100+ years. The connecting thread is a matching comet shaped birthmark. The point isn't really clear until the last few pages, where the narrator talks of our privilege and responsibility. He goes on to basically say history is doomed to repeat itself and we are rushing towards destruction.
I loved a couple of the stories, others I struggled to get through. As a book, I think it tried to be too clever and never really connected everything clearly.