When the movie Cloud Atlas was reviewed last year on Fresh Air by David Edelstein, the message was clear: You’re Better Off Reading The Book. So I put my name on the list at the library.
The story begins with a mid-19th century tale with he language being similar to Moby Dick. I was confused and wondered if the whole story was written in this period language (after a conversation with a GF about this, she had a similar experience.) Midway through a sentence, the story ends and the second story begins, set in the early 1930s. Several stories begin and end in this fashion, with the reader not knowing how any story ends. The 6th story is told in its entirety, then the previous 5 stories are told in reverse order.
Each section hints that a character from each is a reincarnated version from the previous story. The subsequent protagonists know about their predecessors from written journals, letters, books, films and auditory history even if they don’t know they’re “related.” All characters have their lives or livelihoods threatened, have to flee and fight for their freedom.
The book is so intriguing that I understand why the Wachowskis (of Matrix fame) wanted to make a movie about it. Although it’s been given bad reviews, it’s in my queue to watch.
