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siobhanward 's review for:
Cloud Cuckoo Land
by Anthony Doerr
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
NYT Notable Books 2021: 25/100
I think part of my challenge with Doerr's work is that he has one or two really solid plot lines that keep getting interrupted by one or two I like a lot less. In this case, the modern and future plot lines felt a lot stronger than the 1453 plot, but even then it took a while to figure out how the future plot fit into things. I just kept getting frustrated as things were unwrapping in the present day plot and suddenly we were whisked back to Anna and Omeir, who might have had a good plot if I was reading it objectively and not while frustrated. Overall, a cool premise but I didn't love the execution.
I think part of my challenge with Doerr's work is that he has one or two really solid plot lines that keep getting interrupted by one or two I like a lot less. In this case, the modern and future plot lines felt a lot stronger than the 1453 plot, but even then it took a while to figure out how the future plot fit into things. I just kept getting frustrated as things were unwrapping in the present day plot and suddenly we were whisked back to Anna and Omeir, who might have had a good plot if I was reading it objectively and not while frustrated. Overall, a cool premise but I didn't love the execution.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Gun violence