Cloud Cuckoo Land

Cloud Cuckoo Land was on my TBR list for some time. I didn't know anything about the story and had never read anything from [a:Anthony Doerr 28186 Anthony Doerr https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1417812584p2/28186.jpg] (who won the Pulitzer with [b:All the Light We Cannot See 18143977 All the Light We Cannot See Anthony Doerr https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1451445646l/18143977.SY75.jpg 25491300]) but, having read very good reviews about this book, I was curious. Moreover, it ranked 3rd in the 2021 Goodreads fiction Choice Award, and so far, this list didn't disappoint me.This book follows the story of 5 characters across 3 different storylines and 4 timelines, all revolving around an additional story. The book covers important issues such as the climate crises, impacts of capitalism, poverty, loneliness and our negative impact on the planet. For me, this book is essentially about the importance of preserving knowledge and finding the strength to keep going.I must say it took me a while to warm up to story: the pace was slow, there wasn't much happening, there were a lot of different POV and every time I became engaged with one particular story, the POV changed, and I would be left wondering what was happening with that character. Moreover, all storylines were mostly and profoundly sad.I could see that everything would wrap up nicely in the end, but it was not enough to hook me.That said, after chapter 13 I couldn't stop reading. I was still a bit depressed, my heart was aching, there were still some POV that I preferred but I was finally hooked in the book.Anthony Doerr writes beautifully! I can see why he already won a Pultizer prize and I definitely intend to read more from him.“But books, like people, die. They die in fires, whims of tyrants. If they are not safeguarded, they go out of the world. And when a book goes out of the world, the memory dies a second death.”“For a moment Zeno feels that he might be able to speak it into existence: if he says exactly the right words, right now, like a magic spell, it will happen. I think of you all the time, the veins in your throat, the fuzz on your arms, your eyes, your mouth, I loved you then, I love you now.” “All my life, he thinks, my best companions cannot speak the same language as me” This is not a light read and I find myself needing to read something light, that will bring me comfort and increase my dopamine and happiness levels. It is, however, a very worth read and I definitely recommend it.I'm extremely glad this was a buddy read and I had the opportunity to discuss my theories or get some thoughts off my chest. T.W: Animal suffering