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A review by gillianhagenus
The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet by David Mitchell
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.