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anteus7's review against another edition
5.0
I did not know that David Mitchell wove his stories together. I really should have put it together before now, but I read them 'out of order' (there is no real order, really) and spread out over years, so I didn't see the connections.
This piece was strictly (I thought) historical fiction. It is a well-researched journey through the lives of several people associated with the trade between the Dutch and Japanese at the end of the 1700s and the beginning of the 1800s. The characters are well-drawn, the writing is evocative--all of the things I have come to expect from a David Mitchell book. Though now I come to see that expecting things of David Mitchell books is a silly thing to do. They are always bastions of the unexpected.
The twist happened (with foreshadowing) later in the book where I saw some connections to Mitchell's The Bone Clocks (which is one of my favorite books of all time).
So. Who would I recommend this book to? Anyone who likes well-researched historical fiction that is also written well would find much in this book to love. Anyone who likes their fantasy with a heavy shellac of realistic details won't go wrong here either. If you are just looking for a good book and don't much care about genre, you could do much, much worse.
This piece was strictly (I thought) historical fiction. It is a well-researched journey through the lives of several people associated with the trade between the Dutch and Japanese at the end of the 1700s and the beginning of the 1800s. The characters are well-drawn, the writing is evocative--all of the things I have come to expect from a David Mitchell book. Though now I come to see that expecting things of David Mitchell books is a silly thing to do. They are always bastions of the unexpected.
The twist happened (with foreshadowing) later in the book where I saw some connections to Mitchell's The Bone Clocks (which is one of my favorite books of all time).
So. Who would I recommend this book to? Anyone who likes well-researched historical fiction that is also written well would find much in this book to love. Anyone who likes their fantasy with a heavy shellac of realistic details won't go wrong here either. If you are just looking for a good book and don't much care about genre, you could do much, much worse.
sarahepierce's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
3.5
kmoonen's review against another edition
challenging
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
liljainthepages's review against another edition
3.0
3.5
Es hat sehr Spaß gemacht, in diese andere Welt und Zeit einzutauchen! Ich fand es nur schwer, die verschiedenen Namen auseinanderzuhalten und konnte auch nicht ganz verstehen, warum der Liebes/Beziehungsaspekt da war, es kam irgendwie aus dem nichts für mich.
Und an den Hörbuchsprecher: Bitte das nächste Mal zumindest über die grundlegende Aussprache von Wörtern informieren, wenn sie etwa hundert Mal auftauchen
Es hat sehr Spaß gemacht, in diese andere Welt und Zeit einzutauchen! Ich fand es nur schwer, die verschiedenen Namen auseinanderzuhalten und konnte auch nicht ganz verstehen, warum der Liebes/Beziehungsaspekt da war, es kam irgendwie aus dem nichts für mich.
Und an den Hörbuchsprecher: Bitte das nächste Mal zumindest über die grundlegende Aussprache von Wörtern informieren, wenn sie etwa hundert Mal auftauchen
nooneyouknow's review against another edition
3.0
I guess I was just hoping for a bit more. Given all the critical hype, I was expecting the world. This is an interesting, well-researched novel and I liked the story, but I just wasn't captured by the prose (or, even to a certain degree, the characters). Maybe I've been spoiled by the prose of a few good Banville books, but this one just didn't quite live up to expectations. Probably more like a 3.5 star rating, but not a 4.
gillianhagenus's review against another edition
4.0
David Mitchell is a master of language. Every review of each of his books should always start with that.
This book, in particular, surprised me. I picked it up from a secondhand book shop knowing how much I love David Mitchell, but not thinking the story would be my cup of tea. I should have known the magic that Mitchell can work with a story would outweigh all expectations. This narrative is a wild ride. Just as you start to get too comfortable, you are yanked into another perspective feeling like you've left a limb behind with the forsaken character. But it all comes back together in one form or another and it is impossible not to care for every single one of these struggling and honourable souls. This book spans years. I feel as if I have lived a lifetime on Dejima, in Nagasaki, Mount Shiranui, Zeeland. I highly recommend this engrossing slice of a relatively quiet snatch of history.
This book, in particular, surprised me. I picked it up from a secondhand book shop knowing how much I love David Mitchell, but not thinking the story would be my cup of tea. I should have known the magic that Mitchell can work with a story would outweigh all expectations. This narrative is a wild ride. Just as you start to get too comfortable, you are yanked into another perspective feeling like you've left a limb behind with the forsaken character. But it all comes back together in one form or another and it is impossible not to care for every single one of these struggling and honourable souls. This book spans years. I feel as if I have lived a lifetime on Dejima, in Nagasaki, Mount Shiranui, Zeeland. I highly recommend this engrossing slice of a relatively quiet snatch of history.
harriet64's review against another edition
3.0
Took about two hundred pages to get into (maybe my fault… also I didn’t notice the character cheat sheet at the back) but suddenly every page had me gasping. Until nothing.
skynet666's review against another edition
1.0
Made it exactly half way through and have no desire to finish. There is not one thing I enjoyed about this book. Not one....
magic_treehouse's review against another edition
4.0
Books like this are the reason I could never be an author. It is so well researched and the attention to detail is very acute. A great read.
mjsteimle's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
4.0