I think I’m a day early in posting my thoughts for the final half of Cloud Atlas, but oh well. I’m ready to be done with it all! But before I move on to my ranting thoughts…thanks to Care and Melissa for organizing this readalong and finally motivating me to get this book read! Despite all the negativity ahead, I am glad I read it.
So when last we left off at the end of the first half I was thoroughly absorbed in the story. So much so that I just kept on going so I could find out what happens to everyone.
In my first Cloud Atlas post, I outlined the five stories that are told in the first half of the book. The second half starts with a new character, and then moves on to wrap up the stories of the other five, going backwards this time so that we end with Adam Ewing, everyone’s least favorite dude (and boy was that a mistake…ending the book with the most boring character, so that when your reader finishes (or at least this reader), all they can think is “thank god that’s over”).
So while it was fun to get back to everyone’s stories, it also turned un-fun. Because this is is where (in my opinion) Mitchell started to get all clever. And too much cleverness can sometimes be a bad thing.
I wanted to know what happens to everyone (not that I wanted everything tied up in a neat bow, but you know, when you get sucked in to everyone’s stories, closure is kinda important), and for the most part I got that. If you’re wondering, this is what happens to everyone:
But first!: We get a new character, Zachry. Picture Mad Max meets Hawaii. Only not. Unlike most people, I didn’t mind the Hawaiian interlude, other than the fact that I wanted to know how it all fit together. Little hints about Sonmi and orisons didn’t quite cut it. (More ranting below.)
Sonmi: Who the hell knows because this is where things got all muddly. Did she or did she not know what she was doing? Was she a plant? Apparently, she really did get to go to Hawaii. However, since this was the point in the story that I also stopped trusting anything in the book and got all pissy, I wasn’t as excited over Sonmi’s story as I was in the first half.
Mr. Cavendish: He escapes the retirement home and has grand adventures. Yay!
Luisa Rey saves the day. Sorry, couldn’t resist.
Robert Frobisher: No happy ending here. He gets all confused about love and then offs himself. Boo!
Adam Ewing: Our resident boor realizes the evil doctor has turned him into an addict and with the help of a guy he previously helped, he detoxes and heads home. To live happily ever after, I assume.
But what I didn’t get, and what continues to bug the shit out of me, is that Mitchell totally ignores the world he’s created.
In other words, HOW THE FUCK DID THE WORLD GET SO FUCKED UP????
Answer me that, Mr. Mitchell. Oh wait no, you can’t, because you’re too busy being all precocious and clever and shit. I will never forgive him for that thing he did throughout the book about planting suggestions that the previous story was just a book, or a movie, or exaggerated, or whatever. I don’t want those kind of mind games!
And then there’s this quote from the author-man himself: “All of the characters are reincarnations of the same soul … identified by a birthmark. … The “cloud” refers to the ever-changing manifestations of the “atlas”, which is the fixed human nature. … The book’s theme is predacity … individuals prey on individuals, groups on groups, nations on nations.”
Predacity? Who the heck talks like that?? Certainly not my spell-checker.
*sigh* I just wanted it to be a story. But that would’ve prolly been too trite for Mitchell.
Also…re: the upcoming movie. Who the heck does Tom Hanks play? Ewing? And if so…ugh.
I have heard that this is a very complex read, and that it’s one that you have to pay close attention to as you go along, because everything is very sinuous. I am hoping to read it soon, though I am not sure when. Great review today, Jill!
zibilee´s last [type] ..The Dispatcher by Ryan David Jahn — 368 pgs
Oooooo. “Sinuous” (I had to look it up. It fits.) Great word.
Care´s last [type] ..The Bookies : Book Club Report : March 2012
Bahaha, you crack me up. I definitely don’t know that I like ending the book with Adam. He was my least favorite character, so it’s hard to go out with a bang. I also agree that at times, Mitchell got a bit carried away with his cleverness and that can be off-putting.
I do think Mitchell touched upon the whole, how did the world get this way thing at the very end. He talks about how selfishness in one person is ugly, but if a whole society lives selfishly, taking advantage of the less fortunate, then it destroys the world the live in. That very last section (literally the final two pages of the book) where Adam has his epiphany about all of this, kinda redeemed the end for me. I wanted that big wrap up.
Anyway, so glad you joined the read along, even though it left you wanting to smack Mitchell in the face. At least you know what all the fuss is about now. My post will be up this weekend!
p.s. I heard Tom Hanks is playing the evil doctor in Adam’s section.
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p.s. The main post is now up!
I read this when it first came out for a now defunct book club and let me just say, I did not likey!
Amused´s last [type] ..Book Review and Giveaway: In Search of Lucy
Oh, boy. I’m not sure I want to find my copy, now. LOL He does write that way for the Guardian – lotsa BIG words that make you run for your dictionary. I started reading Black Swan Green and was enjoying it, so I’ll get back to it, but the description of the meanings of the word “Cloud” and “Atlas” in the title make me want to give him a swift kick in the somethings.
Okay, so I was completely justified in picking this one up and putting it down multiple times.
Trisha´s last [type] ..Book Review: Among Others
OH, just get through the Adam Ewing part! You will love the Zedelghem section. And go read Melissa’s summary – she has an elegant review.
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oh my
food for thought. i’ve eyed this one for a long time. thanks for hte great review!
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Now that you’ve posted about Cloud Atlas, look out for blog comments from strangers with their opinions of it! My first Cloud Atlas post gets more random comments from Google searches and it’s from about 2 years ago! I’ve had students who are complaining about analyzing it for class and people who think it’s God’s gift to literature and proceed to insult my intelligence. People must have very strong opinions about this book, strong enough to comment on a random blog about someone’s reading experience with it!
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I just finished drafting my post and it will go up tomorrow but I’m with you–all except for the Sloosha part. Think that was where I lost momentum. By the end I just didn’t care anymore–exactly, why end with the boring character?! I think all would have been perfect if we ended with Frobisher and the sextet. Made perfect sense. What a bummer…but I’m glad I’m not alone in my annoyance.
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