Cloud Cuckoo Land

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Books about books have always struck a chord with me, and Cloud Cuckoo Land was no exception to that rule. At the very heart of this story, we have a lost ancient Greek text whose remnants leave echoes through history. This story takes place across thousands of years — we see two characters at the sacking of Constantinople right around 1500, then we see another during the Korean War, another in the early 2010's, then another way in the future, after Earth has burned and is no longer inhabitable. Throughout all of these people's lives the tale of Cloud Cuckoo Land rings loudly. We have some characters who use the story as a means to carry on with their lives, others who's life work it is to translate the text, others still who do whatever they can to protect the text itself.

Cloud Cuckoo Land is an astonishing love note to humanity, and our need to create and belong beyond all else. I thoroughly enjoyed this, but I can see how others might find it boring. It is a history book, peeking backwards at our fore bearer's lives. There are sections where nothing much happens — sections where you get the chance to breathe the story in a bit more. I loved the pieces in Constantinople, I loved seeing how people must have lived back then. I love history — I always have — and Cloud Cuckoo Land hits a lot of my buttons in such a good way.

I really don't want to say too much about the plot itself, because I really do believe this is one of those books that you have to discover as it unfolds. This is not one you want to go into with too much information. It's better left a bit mysterious.

If you have any interest in history, anthropology, or just love a good book about books, please check this one out.