Scan barcode
A review by explikator
Ghostwritten by David Mitchell
adventurous
challenging
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? No
3.5
A book that is actually made up of nine short stories and an epilogue.
Important events in the lives of nine completely different people are told. As you read on, you start to see connections, even a web of connections which becomes more and more dense, until in the ninth chapter you get the impression that Mitchell had a big plan for a big plot and we have just uncovered it.
But I didn't get that feeling. And the big ending was far too big for me for the not-so-big stories. The construction seemed too forced.
That said, the book was still a reading experience. Mitchell manages to effortlessly let the reader slip into different characters and masterfully adapts his style, vocabulary and narrative rhythm. Every person feels like they are made of flesh and blood and the characters who are not still remain plausible.
I liked the fourth chapter the most, which follows the life of a Chinese woman from childhood in pre-Mao times to the modern day. The most compelling read was certainly the ninth chapter, entirely in dialogue form, even if the revelations didn't live up to their promise.
Margarita and Marco were disappointing, and I struggled through their chapters.
I enjoyed reading the book, but not so much that I had to start all over again or feel urged to binge the next David Mitchell.
Important events in the lives of nine completely different people are told. As you read on, you start to see connections, even a web of connections which becomes more and more dense, until in the ninth chapter you get the impression that Mitchell had a big plan for a big plot and we have just uncovered it.
But I didn't get that feeling. And the big ending was far too big for me for the not-so-big stories. The construction seemed too forced.
That said, the book was still a reading experience. Mitchell manages to effortlessly let the reader slip into different characters and masterfully adapts his style, vocabulary and narrative rhythm. Every person feels like they are made of flesh and blood and the characters who are not still remain plausible.
I liked the fourth chapter the most, which follows the life of a Chinese woman from childhood in pre-Mao times to the modern day. The most compelling read was certainly the ninth chapter, entirely in dialogue form, even if the revelations didn't live up to their promise.
Margarita and Marco were disappointing, and I struggled through their chapters.
I enjoyed reading the book, but not so much that I had to start all over again or feel urged to binge the next David Mitchell.