mankindmatt5

mankindmatt5 OP t1_ja2l5yq wrote

>By having the common narrator in Cloud Atlas, I felt it gave that “Aha!” moment away

By the way, sorry, what do you mean by this? The main character in each story is a reincarnation?

I think I read that theory somewhere once before, but it doesn't add up somehow.

Timothy Cavendish and Luisa Rey are alive at the same time, are they not? So they can't be the same soul.

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mankindmatt5 OP t1_ja2cb84 wrote

Wild Swans by Jung Chang

It's a biographical account of three generations of Chinese women, going through the shift from feudal China, civil war, and Mao's cultural revolution

In 'Holy Mountain' we get to see the same woman live through all of that.

As for Utopia Ave, maybe just wanted to write something fun? I think darkness will be back on the menu whenever his next one is out.

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mankindmatt5 OP t1_ja2a7b5 wrote

I think Mitchell is a pretty worldly or well travelled guy, so something I really like about Ghostwritten is the sheer number of interesting locations and tidbits about the local culture.

Especially as I'm of an Irish extraction, and have spent a fair whack of time in Japan and Hong Kong.

I'd also say the 'Holy Mountain' chapter is seminal. Feels rather like a very condensed version of 'Wild Swans', beautifully told. Then the Mongolia chapter takes things from interesting, odd, random connections to a whole new level.

I just finished Slade House last night, and it was indeed very very scary. I'm guessing that we will see a bit more from Norah, and Enomoto in future novels.

I also assume Hugo Lamb and Holly Sykes grandkids will show up somewhere down the line.

Least favourite, but only just, probably Utopia Avenue - and I really enjoyed that one anyway. Although I probably should have read it after Bone Clocks.

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