what's the compelling reason for the tortured timeline?

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	• Cloud Atlas: A Novel David Mitchell Random House Trade Paperbacks, 2004 - 528 pages average customer review:based on 169 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

what's the compelling reason for the tortured timeline?

It seems like all a book or movie has to do in order to be cool is to chop up the linear timeline and reassemble it. Sometimes, yes it has a purpose, (like that movie "Memento") but maybe sometimes it's an excuse for an author who obviously has no problem at all coming up with great prose to make a messy desk look chic.

Great ideas, good science fiction. What's up with the comet birthmark?

Several Stories -- yet One Story

I picked up this novel because someone told me: "It's like a new genre."

I wouldn't say that--necessarily--but it is one of the most beautiful books that I've read in my entire life.

Cloud Atlas is written in a pyramid structure. I, being the impatient reader that I am, struggled initially with the climb up the six stories. I have to say though, you don't climb back down the story pyramid--you slide down. I think that I read the last six stories of Cloud Atlas faster than I have read any other 300 pages in my life--I was so enthralled.

This book is, at its heart, a critique of society's influence over man. You won't necessarily understand how or why until the middle story--but then the subtle profundity of it all hits you over the head like a cast-iron pan.

I was in love with each and every single one of the characters by the end of the novel--this book captures all genres: romance, sci-fi, mystery, classical prose. Some have said that the first chapter is difficult to read, although I think a great number of women might have an easier time with it, especially if they are aficionados of Jane Austen and other like 18th century writings, they might just breeze through it.

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An all-time favorite

"Cloud Atlas" is intensely exuberant and terrifying at the same time. The prose style riffs across genres, which might not suit everyone's tastes, but in the end this is an amazing, amusing, beautiful book. I hope Mr. Mitchell keeps writing for the rest of my life.

Rewards the persevering reader

While I agree with another reviewer that this is not a "difficult" book, it is also not for the casual reader. It requires patience and sometimes careful reading to get the most out of it. I was tempted from time to time to jump chapters and to follow one of the six storylines in sequence rather than as they are presented. I resisted, and I'm glad I did. Each reader will have their favorite; after some initial difficulty, I fell in love with Zachary's voice (a futuristic Huck Finn!) and with the humor of Timoth Cavendish. For lovers of literary fiction with multiple themes and storylines, you are in for a real treat. I also highly recommend listening to the audio version, with each of the six storylines read by different actors. The language jumps to life, particularly in the two episodes I mentioned above. When you feel overwhelmed, you can consult your hard copy for reference. I found this the best way to enjoy the novel completely.

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Pure Gold

This book is not your average read, and some people won't enjoy the level of focus it demands. But I felt that every page was worth it. David Mitchell's talent as an author is so effortlessly sophisticated; I was just more impressed than I remember being about a book in a long time. I've read others who come across as contrived and 'try-hard', but this author rings true.

Cloud Atlas is also an incredibly timely book, with current concerns about where we, the human race, are headed being of intensifying focus.

Truly excellent stuff...

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reviews: 1, 2, 3, 4, page 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14

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