Cloud Cuckoo Land was an ambitious novel that connects multiple characters across different timelines, all linked by an ancient text. While the prose was beautiful and the themes of hope, survival, and storytelling were compelling, the complexity of the narrative and the number of characters can be overwhelming. The shifting perspectives sometimes feel disjointed, making it difficult to fully engage with the story.

The cover of this is what caught my eye originally. I gravitate towards the simplicity of it mixed with the bright blue eyes. And when I read the blurb? Instantly had to have. Thank you Netgalley & publishing team for allowing me the opportunity to read this book!

I love his writing. I do. But I couldn’t get through this one. I wasn’t able to follow it. I know some in my reading circle muscled through it and were glad they did, but I gave up a third of the way through.

Anthony Doerr is brilliant and I loved his last two books. Cloud Cuckoo Land I followed for about halfway through, but then I lost the thread and never could pick it up again. Maybe it required more attention, or maybe I'm just not smart enough for this book. Sometimes if I can't get going with the ebook I try a physical copy, but this hardback has been sitting around my apartment for 18 months now, and I think it's finally to admit defeat (DNF). Thank you for the opportunity to review!

I received this book in 2021 and I didn’t review it then but I guess I can do that now since I’m back in the swing of things. Requesting this book to begin with was a mistake. I don’t like Doerr, I had to push myself to finish All the light we cannot see and it obviously did not become a favorite. I should have DNF-ed but back then I was a naive 17 year old who wanted to be taken seriously. I’ve learned my lesson. When I opened this book, I probably made it only 5% in before deciding to give up, on the book and on the author. It’s just not for me. After the book came out, I didn’t see many positive reviews for it which validates my decision.

Unfortunately I could not get into this book and I stopped trying about the 25% mark.. It was just too jumbled and the stories were seemingly unrelated.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to review a temporary digital copy in exchange for an unbiased review.

It took me three times to really get in to this book. I started and stopped it quite a few times before actually digging into it. Bot, was I glad that I did, this is an amazing book and well worth the praised that it has received. Highly recommended. I think it is Doerr's best yet. If you find it slow going--or a bit odd--at the beginning stick with it. It kind of reminded me of Cloud Atlas.

I loved Anothony Doerr's previous novels, leading me to request an ARC for this novel. Unfortunately, this was the first of his that I have had to put down. I found the beginning difficult to get into and unengaging, no matter how many times I attempted to pick it back up again.

Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr was very unlike most books I have read. The characters were all so wonderfully written, and you can't help but root for all of them. The story of Aethon ties the different time periods together very well. The pacing could have been a little bit better, but the other pieces of the story mostly made up for it. Overall, this book was so imaginative and I loved reading it.

Doerr takes us on a journey with a fictional novel Cloud Cuckoo Land. We go with the book and various characters from the fall of Constantinople, to the Korean War, to modern day Idaho, to a future in a land far far away. The connecting stories are awesome and testament to the power of stories to keep us going through hard times. A few times I was worried Doerr was going to encourage us to be content with the little that we have, to not have ambition to have and learn more and in the seeking damage the environment or cause war but he loped us back around with the power of the story.

Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr features interwoven stories that transcend time and space. The narrative spans centuries and settings, binding together the lives of five dreamers and outsiders through the ancient story of Aethon, a man who yearns to become a bird and find a utopian paradise. The 15th-century tale of Anna, an orphan in Constantinople, and Omeir, a village boy conscripted into an invading army, is both heart-wrenching and captivating.

In present-day Idaho, octogenarian Zeno and a group of children stage a play adaptation of Aethon's story in a library, where the looming threat of a bomb planted by troubled teenager Seymour creates a modern-day siege. In the not-so-distant future, aboard the interstellar ship Argos, Konstance is alone in a vault, piecing together the story of Aethon as a means of survival and hope. Her journey is filled with secrets and revelations, making her a compelling character whose curiosity and resourcefulness drive the plot forward.

Some readers may find the multiple points of view and timelines challenging, but those who persevere will be richly rewarded. The connections between characters and stories may seem tenuous at first, but they gradually reveal themselves in a way that is both satisfying and profound.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to review a temporary digital ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.

I really like books that blend a lot of genres and play with them as well as this one does (I'm still waiting for a book similar to Arcadia). Cloud Cuckoo Land combines science fiction, historical fiction, and literary fiction surrounding environmentalism. Throughout these different narratives what binds them together is a fantastical story about a man who travels to the end of the world and beyond. The book does feel like three different tales that only have this story to bind them together. Some other links appear but it's not that proeminent. Another cool thing with the fantastical story is that the 3 narratives mirror the snippets of this story.

Most of the book is more about the characters and their lives (including big events that happen) than a really heavy and strong plot. It can feel as meandering for some. But since I really liked most of the characters, I liked following them and I really liked seeing how they were loosely bound together.

We have Konstance as the main character in the sci fi part. In the 22nd century. she is inside a spaceship that is destined to another planet in order for the humans to rebuild their home in an attempt to make humanity survive after the Earth is deemed inhabitable. Her section is the one filled with secrets and revelations that she is keen to understand. She is a compelling character. She is extremely curious even in dangerous situations and she is really resourceful.

Anna and Omeir lead the historical fiction section. And it's my favorite part. Not only because they were my favorite characters (I felt so emotional with Omeir and his connection to animals), but also because theirs was the story that I was most interested to follow regarding their lives in the 15th century and the conquest of Constantinople. I liked how Anna is the one that finds the story and how this story impacts her and the people around her.

In the 3rd section, I really liked Zeno and the retelling of his life. Seymour's didn't connect with me to be honest. I could see the point of his story and of his heartbreak. But I just didn't care that much about this character.

By the end, I really liked the book.

Thank you Netgalley, author, and publisher for the ARC.

Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr is a perfect fit for readers who crave a sweeping, imaginative, and emotionally resonant tale that explores the interconnectedness of humanity, the power of storytelling, and the importance of preserving our planet, with its multiple storylines and themes of hope, resilience, and redemption.

What is there to say about Anthony Doerr that hasn't already been said? He's a phenomenal writer. That said, I'm not entirely sure the (too many) points of view in this book worked for me -- it left me a bit confused, and it felt chaotic at times.

I wanted to love this book so much because this book has received so much praise. I also loved the books it was compared to. However, I found myself getting confused too many times during reading it that it might it difficult to enjoy the book. There were multiple point of views and many different timelines that it kept it difficult to keep straight, especially with such a lengthy book. Because of the different characters to keep track of I found it hard to connect to any of them. The writing was beautiful though but I would expect nothing less from Anthony Doerr!

Was it ambitious and challenging to have five points of view in this book? Yes. Was the story convoluted and complicated? Yes. But was the writing beautiful and memorizing? Absolutely. I would say this book isn't a casual read, in the sense that it requires a lot of the reader. This isn't a book that you put down for a week and easily pick back up. That being said, I enjoyed the journey of the world it created. All the Light We Cannot See is a more digestible and approachable story, with more emotional lifelines, but this book makes you invest.

Did not enjoy majority of this book. So many storylines, I just feel like I never connected to ALL of the chaos. There were some good storylines, and I looked forward to continuing those. But they were few and far between. Just a jumbled mess. It eventually gets figured out towards the end, but by then I was DONE! I just wanted to words to stop.

I loved All the Light We Cannot See so much I purchased it in format. While Cuckoo Land is a very different story he still creates and manages something phenomenal. Tying the hearts of children who live in varying centuries together where the reader becomes so invested in them it hurts. You hold your breath and exhale wiping tears away and feeling as if this was more than just a story.

I LOVED all the light we cannot see and read it so quickly, I immediately was drawn to this book. However, it took me much longer to read as I had a hard time getting into a flow with the story. This felt like a very ambitious swing, and it fell a bit short for me.

A complicated, complex novel spanning across many decades and possibilities. I loved Doerr's writing although this one ,might be too ambitious.