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tfitz_'s review
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
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
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
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.
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
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.