Review: Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell

Cloud Atlas // David Mitchell
2004 // Hodder
Paperback
5/5 stars!

A reluctant voyager crossing the Pacific in 1850; a disinherited composer blagging a precarious livelihood in between-the-wars Belgium; a high-minded journalist in Governor Reagan’s California; a vanity publisher fleeing his gangland creditors; a genetically modified “dinery server” on death-row; and Zachry, a young Pacific Islander witnessing the nightfall of science and civilisation—the narrators of Cloud Atlas hear each other’s echoes down the corridor of history, and their destinies are changed in ways great and small.

In English Class, we got the assingment to read a book. You were allowed to choose what book you wanted to read yourself, as long as it was literature.
It was a difficult choice for me, because there are so many books I want to read, but in the end I chose Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell, because I knew deep inside that I'd not simply pick it up. You all should know that this is a very thick book, with 529 pages.
The thing that attracted me most about Cloud Atlas was that there were 6 stories, and all of them were intertwined and told in the book. First time you meet them, and the second time, further in the book, you are reunited with the stories, that were simply ended earlier, sometimes mid-sentence.
Also, I heard that it was made into a movie. The movie trailer looked amazing, and I always want to read the book prior to watching the movie, so that's exactly what I did. And I loved it!
In the beginning, I was scared by it, to be honest. The first part was written 1850s style, and to me that was incredibly hard. I am not a native, and English is not my mother tongue, so I have some minor problems with some parts of the English language, one of them being that it takes me long to understand some terms that I am not familiar with.
So the first thirty-something pages scared me off, yet I kept on reading, fascinating by the story. Then quickly I was thrown into the next part, letters this time, and 100 years later, so much easier for me to understand. and it just went on and on and I fell in love with the novel more and more!
Historic, Contemporary and Futuristic stories, all included in one thick and magnificently written novel. All genres mixed and matched. Never thought I'd like a mystery novel, combined with political drama, as much as I did. David Mitchell; you are one of the finest writers around!

A half-read book is a half-finished love affair

Lots of books,
Mar

Diary of a wimpy kid - Jeff Kinney

hi everyone :D 


the book:
Diary of a wimpy kid (#1) - Jeff Kinney


genres:
young, humor, school


note:
this book is NOT young adult! I read it because my sister made me, she just loved the book. I did not really like it. But still, I get why all younger children like this book so much. I would recommend it to all children aged 7 - 11, boys and girls, they'll love the book. But, if your older, you might still like it ;)


on amazon:
(sorry I am lazy today...)
Boys don’t keep diaries—or do they?

The launch of an exciting and innovatively illustrated new series narrated by an unforgettable kid every family can relate to

It’s a new school year, and Greg Heffley finds himself thrust into middle school, where undersized weaklings share the hallways with kids who are taller, meaner, and already shaving. The hazards of growing up before you’re ready are uniquely revealed through words and drawings as Greg records them in his diary.

In book one of this debut series, Greg is happy to have Rowley, his sidekick, along for the ride. But when Rowley’s star starts to rise, Greg tries to use his best friend’s newfound popularity to his own advantage, kicking off a chain of events that will test their friendship in hilarious fashion.

Author/illustrator Jeff Kinney recalls the growing pains of school life and introduces a new kind of hero who epitomizes the challenges of being a kid. As Greg says in his diary, “Just don’t expect me to be all ‘Dear Diary’ this and ‘Dear Diary’ that.” Luckily for us, what Greg Heffley says he won’t do and what he actually does are two very different things.


my opinion:
The book is full of cartoons O.o awesome. Also, I read this book in less than 90 minutes, so it was not hard to read at all. Actually, it was way too easy...
I did not like the character Greg, all he cares about is himself amd being popular, even if he has to set aside his best friend. I DID like his best friend! Rowley is this funny awesome dude who just does not want to grow up. I want him as my crazy best friend O.o 
I totally get why 10 year olds love this book. First, because it is full of cartoons, which means they have less to read, which means they like it. (Or at least Dutch children do like it because of that... stupid children O.o) second: it was a kind of funny book. Third, because all children want an easy book to read. And this book was one of the easiest I have ever read since 4th grade or something...


the book was in one word:
childish


extra:
There is also a movie made of this book. I have seen it, but I preferred the book, and I did not really like the book, so...


ratings:
goodreads: 3.96 / 5
mine: 2 stars / 5 (2.3)