2025 & 2026 Reading Challenge discussion

This thread is to discuss Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell.

Pages: 509 pages

Length: 1 Month (June)

Participants: Valerie, Dominique, Queenie, Lorraine.

Everyone reads at their own pace during a Buddy Read. Because participants can be at different parts of the book at different times, it is extremely important to mark spoilers so that the book is not ruined for someone who is not as far along as others!!!

Mark spoilers by placing {spoiler} before the text and {/spoiler} after the text but use the < and > instead of the { and }.


Happy Buddy Reading!

I’m planning to start this on the first as I have two big books as buddy reads this month. I know some of you will be doing the readathon so I’ll hide any spoilers.

I'd love to participate.

I read the first 50 pages five years ago. I've forgotten why I stopped, but I'm going to start over and finish this month.

Have finished the first two stories. Very clear narrative voices placed firmly in historical time through their opinions (often uncomfortable for us to hear) and use of language. Raises some intriguing questions which we’ll hopefully learn more about when we revisit later in the book.

Patrick wrote: "I read the first 50 pages five years ago. I've forgotten why I stopped, but I'm going to start over and finish this month."

Maybe because of the structure? Also the first story is written in the language of its historical setting and is an uncomfortable read for a modern reader.

Shá wrote: "I'd love to participate."

You are very welcome. Just jump in with your opinions but remember to hide spoilers please.

At the halfway stage. Can definitely see the influence of ‘If on a winter’s night a traveller’ as each story is written in a different style/genre with a tenuous but teasing link to the former one whilst leaving the mysteries of each hanging - at least for the moment.

Ok now about 3 quarters of the way and revisiting previous stories and characters in reverse order - the mysteries are starting to reveal themselves.

Finished. A highly rewarding and original read, if not always an easy one. (view spoiler)[ I particularly enjoyed the different voices for each story and that the characters behind them were complex, flawed and firmly rooted in their historical time and place. Found the first half a bit confusing at times but it all became clear in the second half. (hide spoiler)]. I’ll be interested to hear what others think. Am going to watch the film in the next few days.

I read this several years ago but still remember it. It is not often a book stays with you for such a long time.

I enjoyed it. (view spoiler)[ Even though the beginning was confusing, I wanted to DNf'ed it but it was so well written, I continued.
My favorite stories were Timothy Cavendish and Luisa Rey. For his brother to trick him like he did, thank go he was able to escape. The Luisa's story was very engaging, to see how far a company would go to hide their true activities (hide spoiler)] Just saw the trailer and will the movie in the future.

Dominique wrote: "I enjoyed it. Even though the beginning was confusing, I wanted to DNf'ed it but it was so well written, I continued.
My favorite stories were Timothy Cavendish and Luisa Rey. For his brother to t..."

Like you I found it hard going at first but stuck with it and was glad I did.

The film is very good, a bit different from the book but the same overall idea.

Dominique wrote: "I enjoyed it. Even though the beginning was confusing, I wanted to DNf'ed it but it was so well written, I continued.
My favorite stories were Timothy Cavendish and Luisa Rey. For his brother to t..."

I didn't know there was a movie. Thanks for the info.

I finish the book a few weeks ago but forgot to write my comments. Sorry for that. I thought the beginning was quite hard to follow so I change my copy for a french hoping, hoping it would help. Can not say it did. I am glad I continue reading it to the end. I found the last chapters interesting.