The Cloud Atlas

So here's the thing about Cloud Atlas, it's written in an interesting framework. To summarize one story is impossible, because it is actually 6 different stories (which, for the sake of names, we'll call AB, CD, EF, GH, IJ and K) that have a (very) loose connection. The framework is as such: A - C - E - G - I - K - J - H - F - D - B. That is to say, half of the first story, half of the second, half of the third, half of the fourth, half of the fifth, the sixth, the second half of the fifth and so on back to the first.

Each story explores a different Point of View (henceforth called POV) and a different narrative form. The first tells the story of Adam Ewing through his diary as he journeys (circa 1850, if I remember properly) from Australia to Hawaii. The second is told through the letters of Robert Frobisher to his friend (the full extent of this relationship is rather questionable) Rufus Sixsmith. The third is a "book" about Luisa Ray. The fourth is a movie about Timothy Cavendish, the fifth a historical account of a clone, Sonmi~451 and the final (or sixth) is the verbal telling of Zach'ry. Now the extent of the connection between these six tales is, like I said before, loose. Robert Frobisher comes across the diary of Adam Ewing. Luisa Ray knows Rufus Sixsmith and gets a hold of the letters of Adam Ewing. Timothy Cavendish, a book publisher, is given the book about Luisa Ray to publish. Sonmi~451 comes across the movie of Timothy Cavendish. And Zach'ry gets a hold of a recording of Sonmi~451's historical telling. That's pretty much it.

Most of the main characters, with the exception of Zach'ry, have a comet shaped birthmark in their armpit area. In Zach'ry's tale, the person with the birthmark is Meronym, a woman who visits Zach'ry's tribe (reincarnation perhaps...which would throw this particular reading into a blender). There are occasional other connections between the characters. For instance, Rufus being friends with both Robert and Luisa. Luisa sees the ship that Adam sailed on. But other than that, there really aren't any strong connections between them. The plots are extremely different, ranging from mere survival, to work, to getting out of an invalid's asylum, to bring down a society. The main characters are relatively similar in their personality traits, all striving for a better world and doing it passively.

While I enjoyed the book and found the stories quite interesting (though some more than others), the lack of connections disturbed me. Each story was completely independent of the other and the framework, which doesn't really make sense until the second half of the second story, serves the purpose of being a) creative, b) symbolic, c) a strainer of emotions. The drama is saved for the end, though each one builds up and then we're cut off. Each story essentially ends the same way: each character learns a valuable lesson about life and fighting for the underdog.

Overall the book was enjoyable, and I would even venture to say a great book...of short stories. As a unified novel, aside from the framework, I would disagree. I just think that the lack of overlaying story arch removes it from being a full fledged novel. Would I recommend it? Absolutely! If for no other reason than to explore different POVs and story narrative styles. But I would definitely not be expecting one well constructed story arch...expect six short stories, you'll be good to go.

Moral of the Story: Just because you intermingle the narrative, does not make the story connect.

Farewell To Arms

I was kind of excited to read this book since I had enjoyed the last two Hemingways as much as I did. Well, I can tell you, For Whom The Bells Toll it wasn't. Farewell to Arms is the semi-autobiographical story of Hemingway and his misogny...ok, so I'm a little cynical. It's actually a story of the love between Henry, an ambulance driver during the war, and Catherine, a nurse.

The book wasn't that bad, I guess. Maybe this is horrible, but I just wasn't that interested in what was going on. I just wasn't. Basically it tells the story of Henry and his experience in war. He gets wounded and ends up, conveniently, in the hospital that Catherine is working. They fall in love and over come all obstacles to be together. Well, not quite as neat as that, but more or less, and isn't that what we expect out of a love story?

Sadly, the farewell to arms is not actually in reference to Hemingway, or Henry, for that matter, losing his arms. I was sort of hoping that this would be the plot, simply because one armed people are funny. But alas, it is a farewell to the arms of war, which isn't quite as fun. Although, I guess that peace is always better than war.

We journey through the relationship between Henry and Catherine, which, surprisingly, is very calm and neither really fight with the other, which is so unrealistic. It's even more surprising because Henry, is as a general rule, such a selfish pig. But, I guess it works because Catherine is so submissive. It's a good relationship. Healthy.

I guess I was more disappointed than anything. I really wanted this to be another For Whome The Bells Toll and it just wasn't. I didn't really have an interest in the characters. Henry was so withdrawn from emotions and everything was just, eh, it happens. I felt as if this book was much more characteristically Hemingway, and it reminded me why I don't like him. I wish I could make all this great insight into the book, I just can't. I just wasn't interested.

I apologize.

Moral Of The Story: Books that have interesting characters that you care about, are much more interesting than books with characters that you're bored with.