Cloud Atlas

Executive Summary: I went back and forth on rating this a 3 or 4 (In fact I slept on it). I decided to settle on a 3. I liked this book. In fact I rather enjoyed a few of the stories quite a bit. I just didn't LOVE this book.

This is a book that makes you think. In my opinion though, it made me think too much, and didn't allow me to simply be swept up in the enjoyment of it. I think that's what kept it from being a “Really Like” rather than a “Like”

I will say to anyone struggling to start this book, try to give it to the halfway point, it's worth it.

Full Review

I read this for my book club, though if they hadn't read it, I would have on my own. It's not in my recent wheelhouse of Fantasy (and to a lesser degree Sci-Fi). I'll admit that I hadn't heard of it before seeing it was the basis for the new Wachowskis film.

It's a series of short stories that tie together with underlying themes. This is the kind of book that can lead to deep philosophical discussion. I generally don't like that.

I enjoy books that challenge my thinking or leave me to ponder, but usually prefer reading for escapism. I feel that I'd have to read this book multiple times to fully grasp everything. Some people may look at that as a positive. I on the other-hand have too many other books to read, to consider re-reading.

Maybe through discussion I'll come to a better understanding. I generally consider myself to be an intelligent person, but this is the sort of book that makes me feel dumb.

I enjoyed 5/6 stories. I didn't particularly care for the first: The Pacific Journal of Adam Ewing. It's style/story really made this book both start and end slow.

My favorite stories were actually the 2 with the female protagonists: An Orison of Sonmi~451 and Half-Lives: The First Luisa Rey Mystery.

I did like how each story not only changed time periods, but it changed both it's style and it's “genre”. At the same time there are certain themes throughout that tie things together. The changes could be jarring at first, but once I got into the next story a little it was fine.

This book started off really slowly for me. Once I got into the later stories (Luisa Rey onwards) and through the Sloosha's Crossin' an' Ev'rythin' After, the second half of the book just flew by.

As I think on this book/discuss it more and end up raising my rating some. We'll see. I'm also curious to see how the movie adaption works out.