71nikki's review against another edition
5.0
Really loved it! Kept trying to get started over the last few months but once I got into it I couldn't put it down. So many connections to this book. Can't wait to read some of his others now. Thank you to Powell's Books for sending this beautiful novel to me.
ciska's review against another edition
3.0
This book has approximately 595 pages, depending on your version. I found it a long 595 pages with so much information I was overwhelmed.
The book starts with Holly. Getting an inside in her "radio people" problem other world problem and her very much weird life real world problems. The next big character introduced is Hugo Lambert with his companions. I liked Holly her story a lot. It was something I was able to relate too and her confusion matched a lot of my own confusion about this book. There are so many characters and storylines in this book it is hard to decide what actually is the main motivation behind actions taken. Politics. Love and betrayal. Religion. History, today and the future. Things from some shimmering mirror world having influence on my world.
Eventually as the story unfolds and worlds and characters are getting involved in each others lives things start to make a bit more sense. I never really grasped the meaning of Esther Little and Hugo. I did enjoy the story of Marinus a lot.
Still there is something about this book that keeps me from throwing it out to a second hand shop or something. I am intrigued by the writing, I am pulled by the feeling I missed something essential and the need to find it. I will probably reread this book at some point.
The book starts with Holly. Getting an inside in her "radio people" problem other world problem and her very much weird life real world problems. The next big character introduced is Hugo Lambert with his companions. I liked Holly her story a lot. It was something I was able to relate too and her confusion matched a lot of my own confusion about this book. There are so many characters and storylines in this book it is hard to decide what actually is the main motivation behind actions taken. Politics. Love and betrayal. Religion. History, today and the future. Things from some shimmering mirror world having influence on my world.
Eventually as the story unfolds and worlds and characters are getting involved in each others lives things start to make a bit more sense. I never really grasped the meaning of Esther Little and Hugo. I did enjoy the story of Marinus a lot.
Still there is something about this book that keeps me from throwing it out to a second hand shop or something. I am intrigued by the writing, I am pulled by the feeling I missed something essential and the need to find it. I will probably reread this book at some point.
ellierichards90's review against another edition
4.0
Actual rating 4.5*
This is the third David Mitchell novel that I've read, and I've once again found that he's lived up to the hype!
To avoid spoilers I won't talk about the plot in detail, other than to say what might seem like a conventional story at the beginning goes down a very strange path! It's difficult to classify "The Bone Clocks" as being a particular genre as it has elements of many, but I really enjoyed the books more fantastical moments.
In his usual style, Mitchell does a great job of presenting multiple narratives and linking them together. This has just missed out on being a 5* book for me as there were a couple of moments were I felt the story dragged a little, but for the most part the book is very well paced.
Of what I've read of his work so far, I would suggest starting with "Cloud Atlas" or "Ghost Written" rather than this if you are new to Mitchell's work, but if you're already a fan this is an essential read.
This is the third David Mitchell novel that I've read, and I've once again found that he's lived up to the hype!
To avoid spoilers I won't talk about the plot in detail, other than to say what might seem like a conventional story at the beginning goes down a very strange path! It's difficult to classify "The Bone Clocks" as being a particular genre as it has elements of many, but I really enjoyed the books more fantastical moments.
In his usual style, Mitchell does a great job of presenting multiple narratives and linking them together. This has just missed out on being a 5* book for me as there were a couple of moments were I felt the story dragged a little, but for the most part the book is very well paced.
Of what I've read of his work so far, I would suggest starting with "Cloud Atlas" or "Ghost Written" rather than this if you are new to Mitchell's work, but if you're already a fan this is an essential read.
walruz's review against another edition
4.0
Get ready for some weirdness at the end (but if you've read Mitchell, that'll be no surprise). The guy is a wonderful storyteller.
veloverso's review against another edition
5.0
I couldn't put this down and as soon as I finished it I wanted to read it again. Thought-provoking, mind-bending, heart-breaking.
ghostsofthings's review against another edition
4.0
I put a lot of trust in this book. I have never read any of Mitchell's writing before, so I pushed through purely on the reviews from others. It was tough at times. Every time I got settled into a story line, it was cut off and a new one began. It kept me on my toes.
When the meaning of the title was finally revealed, I was truly moved by its beauty. It was worth it in the end, and I do recommend it to others, but you need to have a lot of patience and quite a bit of trust.
When the meaning of the title was finally revealed, I was truly moved by its beauty. It was worth it in the end, and I do recommend it to others, but you need to have a lot of patience and quite a bit of trust.
folgoda's review
adventurous
dark
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
lisagray68's review against another edition
5.0
David Mitchell is just a master, that's all there is to it. This book reminded me a lot of Cloud Atlas in style -- really 5 different books from 5 different points of view, moving ahead about 20 years each section. Normally this kind of stuff drives me crazy - just when I get attached to a character, it's on to another one. But David Mitchell's genius makes up for it all. I can't imaging having the kind of brain that could conceive of this kind of depth of story line. You may want to start with Cloud Atlas, but you don't have to.