Cloud Cuckoo Land
By Anthony Doerr
- Release Date: 2021-09-28
- Genre: Literary Fiction
Description
On the New York Times bestseller list for over 20 weeks * A New York Times Notable Book * A National Book Award Finalist * Named a Best Book of the Year by Fresh Air, Time, Entertainment Weekly, Associated Press, and many more
“If you’re looking for a superb novel, look no further.” —The Washington Post
From the Pulitzer Prize–winning author of All the Light We Cannot See, comes the instant New York Times bestseller that is a “wildly inventive, a humane and uplifting book for adults that’s infused with the magic of childhood reading experiences” (The New York Times Book Review).
Among the most celebrated and beloved novels of recent times, Cloud Cuckoo Land is a triumph of imagination and compassion, a soaring story about children on the cusp of adulthood in worlds in peril, who find resilience, hope, and a book.
In the 15th century, an orphan named Anna lives inside the formidable walls of Constantinople. She learns to read, and in this ancient city, famous for its libraries, she finds what might be the last copy of a centuries-old book, the story of Aethon, who longs to be turned into a bird so that he can fly to a utopian paradise in the sky. Outside the walls is Omeir, a village boy, conscripted with his beloved oxen into the army that will lay siege to the city. His path and Anna’s will cross.
In the present day, in a library in Idaho, octogenarian Zeno rehearses children in a play adaptation of Aethon’s story, preserved against all odds through centuries. Tucked among the library shelves is a bomb, planted by a troubled, idealistic teenager, Seymour. This is another siege.
And in a not-so-distant future, on the interstellar ship Argos, Konstance is alone in a vault, copying on scraps of sacking the story of Aethon, told to her by her father.
Anna, Omeir, Seymour, Zeno, and Konstance are dreamers and outsiders whose lives are gloriously intertwined. Doerr’s dazzling imagination transports us to worlds so dramatic and immersive that we forget, for a time, our own.
Reviews
Loved it!
5By KristaJaneneI’m sad I initially listened to reviews calling this book too confusing- it’s absolutely delightful. The multiple threads of the story are not difficult to keep track of, and Doerr weaves them together expertly for a satisfying finish. Highly recommend.Needed to do less
3By Richard Bakare“Cloud Cuckoo Land,” represents Anthony Doerr’s love letter to librarians and the mythology in storytelling. It is a tome with multiple stories and characters weaving in and out. The story arcs, character development, and themes tie together and underscore the broader message mentioned before. Doerr is an effective story, character, and plot maker. However, he needs a brutal editor to cut down his extraneous exposition and, in the case of this book, a middle portion we could have done without. Despite the herculean effort required to read this, the multiple stories circling around a singular truth about the power of imagination to cure ills is a worthwhile one. Even if only momentarily glimpsed in the latest of sections. The structure, pacing, and meaning in this book reminded me of “Cloud Atlas” in parts. Both constructed in messy ways that distract the reader/watcher from fully taking in the experience without a way-finder and buckets of patience. Again, despite the problems with the book, the meta-commentary on humanity, its endless striving, along with the turmoil of existence is gripping in and of itself. Doerr manages to save the book in the end and pass on a lesson on the power of language and flow of information to shape reality. In that last bit of understanding is what I think Doerr is communicating about the power of librarians. To protect and disseminate knowledge through the ages. The author indirectly suggests that we are all, in a way, librarians if we care for and share stories from one generation to the next.Wonderful
4By Adamo BarA wonderful read with a great, deep meaning.Differently entertaining
4By mschap88Enjoyed moving through time with the switch in characters all tied to one ancient storyOutstanding
5By 58 PistolI cannot put onto words just how brilliant this book is. It is absolutely stunning. It is one of a few books in which when I finished it I wanted to start it all over again. This book remains #1 on my all-time list.If you are in possession of a beating heart,
5By JsmwoodsThis tale of wonders will claim it and make it glad.Slow at first but great
4By AshMarBurgIt can take a bit to get going but it’s a wonderful bookBrilliant
5By ac waterstonBrilliant. Amazing. Devastating. Lovely. Brilliant.Extraordinary
5By LucylwwAfter reading the first 50 pages of this breathtaking book, I had to put it down. It is so brilliantly realized, so well written, so engagingly plotted—so PERFECT—that I couldn’t bear to read on in case it did not live up to such early promise. But the book, astonishingly, only gets better. Characters, themes, daring experiments with time and space—and genre—come together in a flawless dance. I could not put this book down. Really. Give yourself a gift by reading this remarkable book.Once again, Anthony Doerr’s novel blows me away!
5By KThugs3While I know this book isn’t for everyone, I find a majority of those who have found solstice in books and have been entranced with mythical stories since childhood, who like a bit of intellect thought & blending of different genres depending on what era the character/POV we were currently entranced with reading (almost as if he writes a spell that weaves a beautiful novel! Can’t wait to check the rest on his rosternot as exciting
3By MarcelMomExcessively long and convoluted for me. I loved all the light you cannot see, and this new book did not measure up to that for me.A Must Read
5By akessel56This story is written so well and it’s so moving. It’s an old theme, but super well done.Not sure was hard to tie together until the end
3By ftv185Came together at the end, might be good to read it againAmazing
5By jckidd2One of my favorite books of all timeHighly recommended
5By GladeolaI rejected this book several times before purchasing it because I’m not into sci-fi or fantasy, and frankly the title was a turn-off for me. By the second chapter, however, I was hooked. The past, present, and future plots are woven together with incredible skill, the character development is outstanding, and the ending is superb. I bet you’ll love it, too.Disappointing
1By UzzielI loved all of Doerr’s previous masterpieces. This one was such a disappointment. I felt like I was reading an whacko-environmentalist sermon disguised as a novel. I’d give it zero stars if I could.Fascinating
4By kate450An incredible tale woven by a master storyteller.Captivating Read
5By PR vibeSo very interesting how several storyline threads are woven into a tapestry which is antique and modern at the same time.Wow
5By nikoufazeli2Loved it
