Reviews

The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet by David Mitchell

aido_potato's review against another edition

4.0

This book was a phenomenal historical fiction. It felt well researched and was immensely imaginative. The world feels full and the characters, starting with the protagonist Jacob de Zoet, felt unique and real. You wouldn’t think a kind and honest Dutch clerk would make an exciting protagonist, but when put in the immoral and treacherous landscape of Dejima, these normally boring character traits create exciting conflict and de Zoet’s natural curiosity helps drive the plot forward.

The other characters of the story also have plenty space to shine. My favorite part of this story was the stylish way Mitchell organically wove dozens of character vignettes in throughout the main action as different characters would recount and reflect upon their life’s stories. Paired with the main narrative, these stories created a lively cultural tapestry of a moment and place in history where human life wasn’t worth much and each colonial nation was vying for global domination.

All in all The Thousand Autumns was an awesome and memorable book that suffered from some pacing problems that held it back from a full 5 stars for me.

tfitz_'s review against another edition

adventurous informative inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

Just a very fun and engaging read

ranaldclouston's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

David Mitchell is a strange author in his way; he writes in a variety of styles, often high literary (here, a historical novel of politics in turn of the 19th century Japan and its Dutch trading post Dejima) but always connects it back, more or less obliquely, to his 'macronovel' of a big dopey battle between good and evil immortal wizards. It shouldn't work, but boy can he write, so he gets away with it.

sminismoni's review against another edition

5.0

Another intricate novel by David Mitchell, of secrets and corruption, love and loyalty, identity and culture. Set in Nagasaki/Dejima at the close of the 18th Century, the culture clash and mutual manipulation of the Dutch Traders and Japanese magistracy are perfectly described, on a background of parallel intimate stories of individuals trying to find their place and identity. Loved it.

dangg140's review against another edition

adventurous challenging funny informative mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

mavis_tully's review against another edition

hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

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.

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