Cloud Atlas

Much has been said about the structure of this novel, so I'll try to keep my thoughts on the subject to a minimum. Basically, I don't think that the structure contributes anything to the overall experience beyond providing some “hey, cool” moments where one story references another. Therefore, I see the novel as a set of short stories connected by some common themes rather than a single, grand narrative. As such, each story should be judged individually.

The one strength that flows throughout the book is the use of language. Each story takes place in a different setting and time period, which allows Mitchell the opportunity to write in different styles and voices. I particularly liked the archaic language used in “The Pacific Journal of Adam Ewing”–it was challenging but not frustratingly so. The stories that take place in the future were not as stylistically interesting for me–I've read a lot of sci-fi and the use of invented words has become familiar.

“The Ghastly Ordeal of Timothy Cavendish” was the weakest story. While I did enjoy the character's snarkiness and intelligence, the stakes did not stack up to the more life-and-death situations that the other stories convey. Maybe it's meant to be a comedic touch to see a curmudgeonly old man overreacting to his plight, but I felt like it didn't fit in with the others.

My favourite story of the lot is “Sloosha's Crossin' an' Ev'rythin' After.” Initially, the future-hillbilly language was hard to get into, but it grew on me. Once I warmed up to it, the innocence of the narrator and his society became evident. The idea of a primitive post-apocalyptic society, contrasted with the high-tech society of the Prescients, worked really well in building a sense of danger. In a world that has already lost so much, every action that they take is amplified because of the risk of losing it all.