David Mitchell

This book is based on characters that some how intertwine with each other. Over the course of millenniums each ones decision affects another even if only in a small way.I do not like to give away spoilers so in hopes of avoiding this I will discuss each story in general and give my thoughts. Also, I call each section given, chapters because the book is broken up. You start with Adam then it cuts off and takes you to another story. Through out the book you are given a start and in the end a finish for all.

The Pacific Journal of Adam Ewing

I confess I found it hard to get into this story, although it did pick up a bit at the end of the first chapter. It lacked depth for me, not just in character building but also, and mainly, within the story itself. Again, it did pick up toward the end of the first chapter but you really have to push to get through it.

Letters From Zedelghem

Again, this only added to the want I had; the want to put it down. I really had to push. The first chapter of this seems a never ending collage of composers and music.; and not in a dreamy beautiful way but a dreary, gray way. I don't think anything about this picked up in the first chapter. It stayed immobile at its dreary stage and offered no real depth.

Half-Lives: The First Luisa Rey Mystery

Yet again a slow start but not as bad as the first two. This one offers the reader a bit of mystery within the book and by the end of the first chapter I was wanting more. I had to know what happened to Luisa Rey. You will find yourself with a bit of a broken heart but also a smile in the end and it was worth the read.

The Ghastly Ordeal of Timothy Cavendish

Now with this the author struck home. In the very beginning I am laughing and then aghast by a sudden event that leaves you with an appalled expression of WTF? However, from there, the laughter continues on. Even with the underlying drama you cannot help but laugh at his snarky ways as well as his brothers idea of a joke. This made the book well worth the torture you receive within the first half. 

An Orison of Sonmi - 451

Here the reader is taken to the future where servants are created from machines and the laws are vastly different from the present; into, the life of Sonmi, a fabricant, as you would call her. This story is created as an interview of sorts which would have you believe it not to be interesting, I beg to differ, although not as wonderful as The Ghastly Ordeal of Timothy Cavndish, it was in fact extremely interesting. Again well worth the read and the continuation of the book to discover what happens.

Sloosha's Crossin' An' Ev'rythin' After

Yet again, not worth the read. A tale of past and present that unfortunately left me yawning. Yes I said it, Yawning.

Overall

Due to the fact that I actually found something of depth in three of these stories I will say that I was neither disappointed nor thrilled with this book. To some it up in one word it would be Blah! Now this is my own opinion because others might feel they enjoy every aspect but for me it was similar to reading The Red House my Mark Haddon. Alas I cannot in good faith recommend this book and if you must read it then I wish you good luck.

Review by Dani