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.