Reviews

Utopia Avenue, by David Mitchell

breannasmo's review

emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

spacyana's review

medium-paced

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

3.25

miaperea's review

emotional funny hopeful slow-paced

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

4.5

samrose0531's review

3.0

A fictional account of a British band in the span of their successes and failures in 1967. Each chapter is dedicated to a different band member focusing almost entirely on Elf Holloway, Jasper de Zoet, and Dean Moss. This book felt very much like Daisy Jones and the Six but with deeper characters and a slower plot with a stereotypical struggling band story. Mitchell definitely loves his characters and chose to spend time with some more than others (including Elf, my favorite and one of the most dynamic female characters I've read in a while). The book includes some brilliant lyrical interludes and I found the chapter titles as song titles describing the journey to each song entertaining. Mitchell is fluent in imagery considering this book took place in three different countries. His obscure music references shows how heavily researched this book is. However, I still felt myself asking - what is the point of this book? Despite looking forward to reading it every day.

cander's review against another edition

emotional inspiring reflective medium-paced

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

4.5

plunkettb's review

4.0

Great story telling, with very interesting characters. Especially enjoyable if rock music is important to you. Really appreciated getting the chance to go inside each of their heads. Loved the depictions of how they came to write some of their songs e.g. with words in their minds after waking from a dream. Lots of humor in the book, but also sensitive look at some serious concerns like mental health struggles and sexism in the music industry.

ju1iet's review

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

ajkessel's review

3.0

While this was an enjoyable addition to the David Mitchell metaverse, it didn't grab me as strongly as earlier works. Perhaps the plot twists and metaphysical wrinkles that were mind-blowing on first encounter have started to feel like a standard bag of tricks applied in a similar way for more recent works. Still, I'm glad I read it, and will probably whatever comes next as soon it's published.

lindsaymae14's review

3.0

This book was okay, it was entertaining enough to finish. 3.5/5

Things I liked: The general setting- I love 1960's music and pop culture. To see it through a British lens this time was nice. I also really enjoyed Jasper's storyline.

Things I didn't like: The way character perspectives are divided up amongst the chapters. (some folks only get one chapter, and that kinda sucks.) The cliché and predictable moments in the story. Each character's story line has its own way-too-easy to see coming parts that took some of the fun out of reading it. I also don't like the way a female character thought of women she was interested in. As a bi woman myself, I thought it just didn't feel how it should have.

Things I both liked and didn't like: the appearances of rockstars of the era. I'm a hug fan of both Jimi and Janis and they both appear in this book but most rockstar interactions are very cheesy.

ceetamarie's review

3.0

I’d say if you haven’t read anything by David Mitchell, I can’t recommend this (I have not read any of his other books). I was excited about this because of the music focus, but once I got to the end I was disappointed. Reading reviews from folks who did enjoy it, the key ingredient was they all loved Mitchell’s other books and how they sort of exist in the same space. Perhaps I would have enjoyed it more if I understood Mitchell’s world and writing style. Some really good stuff in the book here and there, but the ending felt lazy to me. It also wasn’t much of a page turner, it took me longer to finish than is normal for me. It has sparked my interest to read some of his other books, so maybe I’ll become a fan of it one day.