Completists' Club discussion

And here I was thinking that someone else would already have put up this topic given the love a few certain friends have for him. Apart from the handful of short stories I finally read all his novels and look forward to any future novels he produces.

Yep, I've read (and enjoyed) all his novels - though that isn't very many yet. My favourite is Ghostwritten and my least favourite Black Swan Green (my reviews are here: http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/...).

I'm currently rereading Cloud Atlas, so that I have the option of seeing the film when it's released over here.

Yes I just completed his novels yesterday after reading Black Swan Green.

The only David Mitchell book I've read so far is Cloud Atlas. I greatly enjoyed it and do plan on checking out some of his other stuff. The next Mitchell book I plan on reading is Ghostwritten.

Realistically, David Mitchell is probably among the very few authors of which I will one day be a completist.

There are other authors who died before writing as many has Mitchell has written already, so if Mitchell becomes too prolific, or just lives too long, you can always aim for one of the others!

I guess we need a list, though it's quite short for now:

Novels
Ghostwritten (1999)
number9dream (2001)
Cloud Atlas (2004)
Black Swan Green (2006)
The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet (2010)

Operas
Wake (2000)
Sunken Garden (2013) http://www.vanderaa.net/sunkengarden
which I'll be seeing in April!

Have read all the novels. Think that he is a great writer and will happily read any new work. Of the five, my favorite was Cloud Atlas and least favorite (which I would have no problem recommending was "de Zoet". Looking forward to what comes next

I saw Mitchell's multimedia opera at the weekend. It is strange and stunning - in a good way. It is a nested narrative, though with "only" three main threads. The music is harshly modern, but the visuals are stunning, especially when, in the altered state/place real live performers mix with 3d video. Highly recommended if you're a fan and can get to London before 20th April:
http://www.eno.org/see-whats-on/produ...

Just finished all of David Mitchell. My ranking of his novels:


1. Cloud Atlas (5*)
2. Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet (5*)
3. Black Swan Green (5*)
4. Ghostwritten (4*)
5. number9dream (3*)

Wow, I've just reread Ghostwritten (not long after rereading Cloud Atlas). I still think it's the best of his books, but on a reread, I was bowled over by the complexity and links and... everything, really. I've completely rewritten my review, including a list of many of the connections (http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/...).

My preference is:
1. Ghostwritten 5*
2. Cloud Atlas 5*
3. Thousand Autumns 4*
4. Black Swan Green 3*

I don't remember much about number9, but see that I gave it 4*, which would make it on a par with Thousand Autumns.

Have the completists caught up with The Bone Clocks and more recently, Slade House?

After TBC, I reread Thousand Autumns, and realised I'd underrated it before. My ratings (based on my enjoyement, rather than an attempt at anything objective) are now are:

5* Ghostwritten, Cloud Atlas, Thousand Autumns
4* Number9Dream
3.5* The Bone Clocks
3* Slade House, Black Swan Green (but it's ages since I read it)

All my Mitchell reviews are on an uber-shelf:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...

Cecily wrote: "Have the completists caught up with The Bone Clocks and more recently, Slade House?

After TBC, I reread Thousand Autumns, and realised I'd underrated it before. My ..."

Yup. Completist again. :)

1. Cloud Atlas (5*)
2. Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet (5*)
3. Black Swan Green (5*)
4. Ghostwritten (4*)
5. number9dream (4*)
6. Slade House (3*)

Other

The Reason I Jump: The Inner Voice of a Thirteen-Year-Old Boy with Autism (3*)

Number9Dream has moved up in my estimation from a 3* to a 4*.