Questions About Cloud Atlas

Reader Q&A

To ask other readers questions about Cloud Atlas, please sign up.

Answered Questions (36)

Is it worth persevering after page 55 it is quite boring so far. I also find it very stylised....

Praveen Initially it seems this novel is not taking you anywhere...the language of the first part is that used in the early nineteenth century. From second ch…moreInitially it seems this novel is not taking you anywhere...the language of the first part is that used in the early nineteenth century. From second chapter onward the language changes as the time period of the narration advances ahead through 21st century and beyond and then after the ------------.
For me it was such a pleasant journey going through this book that I did not feel like picking up any other book...for fear of spoiling my taste.
Do read it..I assure you you will remember it for a long long time!(less)

flag

Are there any other current writers that tell their stories with such unusual narrative structure?

Peterh David Mitchell himself admits that the structure of Cloud Atlas was inspired by Italo Calvino's "If On A Winter's Night, A Traveler." Calvino isn't te…moreDavid Mitchell himself admits that the structure of Cloud Atlas was inspired by Italo Calvino's "If On A Winter's Night, A Traveler." Calvino isn't technically a current writer (he died in 1985), but if you liked Cloud Atlas, I'd strongly recommend him anyway.(less)

flag

What am I missing? I'm one story to go and feel like I have wasted my time.

Kathy Yes, I'm sorry, you have wasted your time. I wasted my time too. Beware of best-sellers: they are very often shite. Dan Brown and David Mitchell: evil…moreYes, I'm sorry, you have wasted your time. I wasted my time too. Beware of best-sellers: they are very often shite. Dan Brown and David Mitchell: evil twins.(less)

flag

The first section of this book "The Pacific Journal of Adam Ewing" ends with the words ".....port shifts might". No period no end of sentence, nothing. Is this a fault of this edition?

Riley Cox It was as if part of the journal had been been torn out.

flag

What was your favorite section? Least favorite?

Samantha My favorite section was "An orison of Sonmi-451" (part 1). The future world David Mitchell created was so intriguing, and as a sociologist I felt it r…moreMy favorite section was "An orison of Sonmi-451" (part 1). The future world David Mitchell created was so intriguing, and as a sociologist I felt it really had depth and a lot of interesting (and frighteningly plausible) ideas. I also really enjoyed "Sloosha's crossin' an' ev'rythin' after". Once I got a feel for the unique way it was written, I felt a connection to the characters unlike all of the other sections of the book.
My least favorite was "The ghastly ordeal of Timothy Cavendish". I just kept thinking "God, what a grumpy old man." I couldn't relate or feel any empathy at all with his character.(less)

flag

Load 5 more questions