Reviews

Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr

kaitlinsbookshelf's review

adventurous emotional inspiring mysterious 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? It's complicated

5.0

tillyj92's review

challenging emotional hopeful slow-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? Yes

5.0

Oh this book made me FEEL. A staggeringly ambitious story reminiscent of David Mitchell and Emily St. John Mandel, Cloud Cuckoo Land weaves together storylines from different points in time and deftly explores the buildup and the aftermath of sieges, both physical and metaphorical. Doerr has a particular gift for concise character work, using only a few well-chosen words to create unforgettable people. Even more impressively, he also constructed an entire mythological narrative that threads through the story, impacting the characters’ choices all throughout their lives and championing the power of storytelling and human connection. I adored this, and will be recommending it again and again.

benrogerswpg's review against another edition

1.0

Cuckoo for Cloud Puffs
This was one of the slower and honestly uninteresting books I have read in a good while.

I found it similar (I didn't like it) to [b:All the Light We Cannot See|18143977|All the Light We Cannot See|Anthony Doerr|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1451445646l/18143977._SY75_.jpg|25491300].

I should not have gotten this book, as I think historical fiction is a pointless genre (although [b:Memoirs of a Geisha|929|Memoirs of a Geisha|Arthur Golden|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1409595968l/929._SY75_.jpg|1558965] is a massive edge case, as I loved it).

1.7/5

hiimkayte's review

4.0

First book of the year! Really enjoyed all the plot lines and watching them come together.

winglady's review

5.0

One of the most unique and unusual books I've ever read. The 5 separate stories were each filled with intriguing characters and settings, and individually drew me in as they subtly began to weave the bigger picture. A masterpiece that I hated to see end.

eaborum's review

reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

fishface's review

adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I shed many a tear. At the start I was a little dubious as I am not massively fond of the style this is written in but it was beautiful.

danapr's review against another edition

5.0

This unusual book is like nothing I’ve ever read before. The stories take place in three different time periods - the late 1400s, the present (around 1940s-2040s) and the distant future), all connected by an Ancient Greek myth about a man named Aethon. In the 1400s, two young adolescents, Anna and Omeir form an unlikely bond just after the siege of Constantinople when Anna escapes the city with a damaged ancient manuscript. In the present, the story follows Zeno, who spends much of his life translating the recently re-discovered copy of Aethon’s tale and Seymour, an emotionally disturbed young man who makes grave mistakes before learning how impactful the tale is to him. And in the future, Konstance spends a year of her life locked in solitude where she discovers the connection between her father and Zeno’s translation of Aethon’s story. I understand why some reviewers were disappointed in the length of the book and the somewhat confusing lack of connection in the beginning of the book but I found myself drawn into each story and how they came together to be very satisfying. I also understand that this book won’t be enjoyable for every reader’s taste. However, I would describe this book as an epic masterpiece. Only a gifted author like Anthony Doerr can put together a novel that is part historical fiction, part contemporary fiction and part science fiction/fantasy that incorporates Greek mythology with contemporary issues of climate change, LGBTQ relationships, domestic terrorism and more. And it works! He is also a master of great character development which is important to me. Thanks to NetGalley and Scribner Publishing for the ARC!

babybel's review against another edition

5.0

my favorite book i’ve read so far this year wow wow wow. first of all, i love anthony doerr. i live his writing, i love his characters, i love his stories and how they all intertwine. other authors bring charcters together for the tear jerker, cheeseball moment but with doerr, his characters come together through fate. it was always destined for them to meet.
ughhh also the premise of this story!! being a child and finding solace in books is the most wonderful feeling in the world. being an adult and still feeling that way is an even greater feeling. the way that story’s persevere. they are resilient and wildly brave and i loved this book that was about the survival of another book. there’s just so many amazing things i could say about this but right when i finished, i wanted to flip back to the beginning and start right over again. one of those books that i will continue to think about and praise forever. i would even give this six stars i loved it so much

elysahenegar's review

5.0

I love books about books, books involving epic journeys, and well-written books with compelling characters and multiple storylines (even multiple timelines!), and Cloud Cuckoo Land is all of the above! If you don't like books with multiple storylines, this isn't for you. But if you, like me, enjoy considering how all of us are tied together (across time and place), and you don't mind switching perspectives, you will love this book!