I loved the way that Doerr took the stories of the various characters, which took place across various times in history and in the future, and interwove them with a folk tale.
It's a book that left me disappointed when it ended—not because of any flaw in the story, but because there was no more story to read.

This book was FANTASTIC. Truly one of my favorite books in at least the last five years. Every character and POV were so well written, and the stories were all very engaging. I couldn't wait to find out what happened next in each one! I have already recommended this book to several friends and will keep doing so. Great mix of historical fiction, sci-fi, and contemporary fiction. Loved the focus on books, and the transfer of information from generation to generation, as well as the spotlight on the environment and our effect on it. Just a great, great book.

Cloud Cuckoo Land is a complex, sometimes convoluted story that weaves in and out of five (or six...) points of view, seven timelines, across centuries, in multiple locations, in alternating narratives.
The storyline hinges on an ancient text, the quest of Aethon, a shepherd who longs to be turned into a bird so that he can fly to a utopian paradise in the sky.
13-year-old Anna, experiencing the siege of Constantinople in 1453, discovers the codex by Diogenes in a monastery. She flees the encroaching terror, meeting another 13-year-old, Omeir, and they escape into the hills preserving the manuscript.
Centuries later Zeno, who learned Greek as a prisoner of war, has written a play based on his translation of the fable. Now 86, he is rehearsing a group of fifth-graders in a small library in Lakeport, Idaho in 2020. A troubled teenaged ecoterrorist, Seymour, believing the library to be empty, has planted a bomb in an attempt to damage the adjoining real estate office.
In an apocalyptic future storyline, 14-year-old Konstance is alone on the spaceship Argos, headed to a distant habitable planet. The computer Sybil controls everything on the ship and is the keeper of all of human knowledge and history. As a mysterious illness spreads through the ship, Sybil seals Konstance in a safe room. Konstance is attempting to piece together the story of Atheon, told to her by her father. She is also in search of the truth of her situation, which does not become clear until the very end, which ties all of the storylines together.
This audacious, imaginative epic moves rapidly between protagonists and weaves in and out of several time periods. Doerr’s writing is stunning and evocative, but the length of the book and the rapid shifts sometimes feel as though one is piecing together a puzzle with no picture for reference. The reading is ultimately rewarding if at times a challenge.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for this honest review

Set in three very distinct time periods: 15th Century Constantinople, modern day Idaho and years into the future, the characters in each time period share the commonality of a fabled tale called the“Cloud Cuckoo Land”
Doerr says in his afterword his greatest debt is to a now non existent tome that cross time and continents and is subdivided in twenty four books. That pretty much sums up this as well. Twenty Four Chapters that span time and space and by books end find many of the narratives crossing paths. It sounds headier than it actually is, and for such an ambitious novel I personally found it immediately accessible. That said I personally think the book benefits from reading large chunks at a time to keep the momentum going and not lose track of who is where.
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Doerr explores eco-terrorism, lethal viruses, war, and above all the power of the written word through his various characters of which there are plenty to root for although opinions will vary on who is a favorite.
There’s young Anna who lives inside the walls of Constantinople, who works with his sister as a seamstress but learns how to read which opens a new world to her.
On the other side is Omeir, a young boy separated from his family who is enlisted to help the invading army with the assistance of his two pet oxen.
In current Idaho were two of my favorite characters, the elderly Zeno, who is directing a group of children in a play based on Cuckoo, and Seymour, the young man by circumstance enveloped into the world of ecoterrorism. Lastly, in the far future is Konstance, a young girl circling the globe in a sleek modern spaceship presided over by an Alexa like presence.
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While I strongly liked so much of this and marveled at the technical prowess it wasn’t what I like to term so many things, “amazing”, and while completely satisfied I’d say it’s good, not great.

Thank you Net Galley for a copy of Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr. Unfortunately I waited until this one was out before I read it. I listened to the audiobook (which was exceptional) but I had to listen to the first 25% of the book twice before I could comprehend the storyline. I think this was just me. Because on the second round, I found the book to be complex and highly imaginative.

It was worth every minute of putting the pieces together in the beginning. How beautifully and creatively he weaves the tales of this story into one beautiful whole with an amazing ending which wraps them all up into one beautiful story. Too amazingly creative and wonderful to put into words that are adequate to describe. If you stick with it, you will not be disappointed! Want to read all his books now. This is the 2nd and I can’t wait to read the rest. I read a lot but have never read a more creative and wonderful book than this one. Thank you, Mr. Doerr for sticking with it!

Anthony Doerr has created a highly imaginative tale that transgresses both time and space—from Constantinople in the 1400’s through today in Idaho and into the future, somewhere. Told through the eyes and voices of children, this immersive tale centers around words, books, and libraries. How could anyone who loves reading not be drawn into this tale?
Doerr’s prose is stunning. His characters and their emotions are vividly portrayed. The subject matter covers a wide array of topics: the violence of war, mental issues, eco-terrorism, familial love, and the future on an unsustainable planet. But throughout all of this, books endure. Stories pass from generation to generation and enrich our lives.
Doerr’s book is not an easy read. It is long. It is complex. It has a non-linear timeline which some readers find distracting. As for me, the storyline overcame these obstacles, and I developed an attachment to each of the 5 main characters. I think that this book will be another award winner for Doerr.
My thanks to NetGalley, Scribner’s and Anthony Doerr for an advanced readers copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Although the first third of this book had me seriously wondering where the ties that bind these 5 stories would present themselves, it certainly did not disappoint. Seeing how intricately our decisions can play into the lives of generations far in the future, continues to keep me thinking about this book. This theme, along with missing the beauty of our lives because we look beyond the mark were deeply meaningful to me. Anthony Doerr writing is thorough and descriptive, even tactile. By the final page I was fully engrossed and sad to see it end!

Cloud Cuckoo Land is ultimately about the power of stories and how they can be meaningful to people in many different ways. They can inspire, amuse, comfort, inform and a million other things. The best stories connect people across great distances and periods of time and illuminate what is universal and constant.

There are many different characters here in many different times. The word "juggling" comes to mind when I think about how Doerr managed them all. The chapters are short which kept all the storylines moving. I never got too impatient waiting to find out what the other characters were doing or how they were faring.

Doerr didn't just tell several stories at once, though. He told several different stories across several different genres. They are historical, whimsical, tragic, imaginative and speculative. The author somehow connected them all while throwing in some suspense and a few twists I didn't see coming. Masterful.

I had to wonder where Doerr came up with such an odd title. Wikipedia says "Someone who is said to live in cloud cuckoo land is a person who thinks that things that are completely impossible might happen, rather than understanding how things really are. It also hints that the person referred to is naïve, unaware of realities or deranged in holding such an optimistic belief." I think that is perfect, because I think you will enjoy this book more if you don't try to think too hard about how everything will fit together and make sense in the end. Let yourself enter Cloud Cuckoo Land and just enjoy the ride.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for this unbiased review.

Creatively woven writing covering a story & 3 time points (& 2 time points have 2 POV). With all the bouncing around in characters & stories it can take a few chapters to get into the groove, but stick with it because the story is worth it! Once you get the flow of the book it’s so exciting to see how everything falls into place & how all the stories connect.

There is a lot and I mean a lot happening in this book so be ready to pay attention. There are multiple POVs from very different times in history and future all tied together through an ancient manuscript. I think if I was in a different mental state I would have enjoyed this so much more but I wasn't ready for how much effort needed to go into keeping up with the who/what/when/wheres of the story. I think many people are going to love it though.

I loved this book. There are five different story lines that span centuries; starting in ancient Constantinople, through present day Idaho, and out into space (literally) sometime in the future. Yes, it is confusing at first when you’re trying to figure out the different non-linear timelines and all the character’s story lines. But the writing, oh the writing. It is beautiful and emotional and the ending ties everything together in such a satisfying way (ie all the connections made but not too tidy). Doerr will continue to be a must-read for me.

CLOUD CUCKOO LAND by Anthony Doerr

Following multiple threads from ancient Constantinople, to the Korean War, to modern-day Idaho, to a spaceship far into an apocalyptic future, Cloud Cuckoo Land is the latest book from Pulitzer Prize-winning Anthony Doerr. Doerr yet again weaves a story of seemingly unrelated people through time and space, masterfully bringing them together in the end.

{Warning: Very mild spoilers ahead.} I had such high hopes for this book after liking All The Light We Cannot See, and there was a lot to love, but I have to say--It didn’t *quite* click for me. It has magnificent scope and is written impeccably, which anyone familiar with Doerr’s earlier work will not be surprised by. It is a beautiful ode to the power of books and ancient stories that will live far into a future we can’t even imagine. It defies genre, and both the historical fiction and sci-fi elements were interesting. There was a sweet and tragic romance. That being said, after reading The Overstory recently, I had a really high bar for the handling of environmental activism, and found Cloud Cuckoo Land a bit lacking in nuance, with convoluted takeaways--it didn’t quite feel like a fully-formed thought. The same can be said for the way that a certain neuro-divergent character was portrayed, playing into certain harmful stereotypes (Ie. easily targeted online and radicalized.) I definitely would still recommend Cloud Cuckoo Land, just with these disclaimers.

Thank you to Netgalley and Scribner for giving me an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Tricky to rate. This book features: a modern-day storyline with a bit of suspense; the background stories of two characters in that situation; two perspectives of the 1453 siege of Constantinople; a sci-fi storyline about a young girl on a space station; an ancient manuscript meant to tie them all together. This was undeniably complex, and once I finished, I did feel like the storylines came together in a logical and interesting way. That being said, I was not remotely equally interested in the various storylines. I largely skimmed the historical fiction portions and even though I liked Zeno as a character, his backstory didn't necessarily contribute much to that attachment. I was invested with what would happen in the present day scenario (which was then "spoiled" by one of the other sections, debatably in an effective way) and intrigued by the future storyline.

On top of that, did we need the one negative character to be distinctly autistic - felt like the author wanted to include that rep, but then it factors into what makes him villanous? Idk, I didn't love that

This is the second book I've read this year where the antagonist is a radical environmentalist (and separately the second book of the year where attachment to eco issues is treated as an off kilter autistic quirk). And as much as I obviously do not favor violence, neither of these books handled it with any nuance at all. Like... climate change *IS* a serious existential problem that *DOES* need to be dealt with so maybe we could have gotten some discussion of "this wasn't the way to deal with it but..." talk instead of just brushing it off like how ridiculous can this person be </rant>

Reading this book required a fair bit of work and a lot of note-taking. The book jumped around among characters, places and time periods. Especially in the beginning of the book, I needed a chart. The various characters are linked by the love of libraries and books, particularly “Cloud Cuckoo Land” which is an ancient codex written by Antonius Diogenes. It describes a city in the clouds between earth and heaven. “Part fairy tale, part fool’s errand, part science-fiction, part utopian satire” it tells the story of Aethon.

Konstance, in the future, is on a spaceship with her family on a very long voyage to a new planet. She learned about Cloud Cuckoo Land from her father. In 2020, Zeno Ninis and Seymour Stuhlman meet at the Lakeport, Idaho Public Library, where Zeno is directing a group of school children in a dramatization of Cloud Cuckoo Land. Anna and Omeir meet during the siege of Constantinople in the 1400s. Anna has a copy of Cloud Cuckoo Land. Each of these characters has an interesting story, although I found parts of the Konstance and Seymour stories a little confusing because I don’t really understand virtual reality. My favorite parts of the book were about Zeno who was orphaned, captured during the Korean War and taught himself how to translate ancient literature. The writing held my interest throughout as it gradually revealed the connections between the characters. This book was strange and different and I enjoyed it. Most of the audiobook was narrated by Marin Ireland. Simon Jones narrated the excerpts from Cloud Cuckoo Land. Each did an excellent job. 4.5 stars

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.

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If you picked up Cloud Cuckoo Land expecting a similar story to @anthonydoerrwriter’s previous novel, All the Light We Cannot See, you might be disappointed, but I enjoyed this one so much more.
With it’s convoluted premise, this novel is told in three different storylines in three different centuries and places. What binds the timelines together is an Ancient Greek story called Cloud Cuckoo Land written by Antonios Diogenes. In the story, a shepherd is trying reach a mythical city in the sky and stands as a model of perseverance. Each of the five main characters in the novel reflects this model as they are faced with hardships in their own time and place. It took me a while to grasp the connection between the storylines, but in the end, it comes together in the most satisfying way and left me with a profound message of hope.
I enjoyed the writing so much and loved @marinireland’s narration of the audiobook. If you’re afraid of the heft of this one, the audio is absolutely the way to go.
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

A beautifully written, gorgeous epic that will easily be one of my favorites of the year. An ancient manuscript, the story of a man longing to reach the imaginary paradise of the title, links the many threads of the novel, from 15th century Constantinople, to present day Idaho, to a spaceship escaping a ravaged earth in the future. As this lush novel develops, this manuscript survives, sometimes by chance, often shared with love. The characters captured my heart, all just so masterfully drawn. It’s hard to describe genre-bending novel that I’m sure will be a bookclub staple. Loved it.

Wow. This won’t be a book for everyone but if you’re willing to take this tremendous journey, it’s beyond worth it. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ With multiple timelines jumping from the 1400s in Constantinople to present day to the future with a young girl on a space ship headed to a new planet... Cloud Cuckoo Land is a book that I won't forget about anytime soon. I want to hold these characters near to my heart but also pass this one along to others to share. Anthony Doerr has created a masterpiece.

“We tell ourselves stories in order to live.” – Joan Didion

Storytelling is baked into the human condition. Throughout the centuries, we have told one another stories intended to educate us or entertain us or simply to help us endure. They are the ties that bind us, the threads of the tapestry into which we are all woven.

Stories have power – power that drives us to preserve them, even in the most difficult of circumstances.

Anthony Doerr understands that power as well as anyone. His new book is “Cloud Cuckoo Land,” a segmented saga of wild ambition and staggering scope, spanning centuries as it follows a varied cast of characters through their trials and triumphs. From 15th century Constantinople to a 22nd century starship – with a few stopovers in mid-20th and early 21st century Idaho – Doerr takes us on a journey driven by the power of story. The stories we are told, yes, but also the stories we tell ourselves.

Binding all of it together? An ancient Greek text titled “Cloud Cuckoo Land” by Antonius Diogenes. That tale – also an invention of Doerr’s – serves as this novel’s connective tissue, with excerpts introducing each chapter. That book’s journey within Doerr’s larger tale – lost, then found, then lost again and discovered anew – reflects the transitive nature of story; some live forever, while others disappear.

In Constantinople, we meet two young people. Anna is an orphan in the city, working alongside her sister as a seamstress. She is desperate for something more, and when she stumbles across a tutor willing to teach her, the world of words opens up for her, though fate has other plans. Omeir lives in isolation some distance from the great city. Born with a cleft palate, he and his family were driven from their village when Omeir’s grandfather refused to abandon him to the elements. But as he grows up, Omeir’s idyllic life is altered by an intrusion from the outside world.

War is coming, with both young people destined to be swept up into that harsh and brutal reality.

In the town of Lakeport, Idaho, we meet Seymour and Zeno. Seymour is a lonely and troubled young man, one who struggles with the overwhelming world around him. His only respite is a wooded glen behind his house, where he meets and bonds with an owl he calls Trustyfriend. But when development threatens that safe haven, Seymour’s attitudes veer in a darker and more dangerous direction. We first meet Zeno as an elderly man, directing a play version of “Cloud Cuckoo Land” at the local library. But as we delve deeper, we learn more of his long life, from his difficult childhood to his time at war to a late-in-life desire to learn, to do more.

The first crossover between these two brings its own kind of darkness, driven by desperate anger.

And in the future, aboard a ship on a years-long trip to colonize a new planet, we meet Konstance. She has come of age and learns a bleak truth about the mission, which would be difficult enough. But when circumstances lead her to be isolated, with only the ship’s supercomputer Sybil as a companion, she dives into the virtual world on a quest to learn more about the full story behind the mission … and about her father.

As she explores the world that was, she learns that all is not as it seems, even in the unblinking depths of space.

Tying all five of these lives together, in ways overt and subtle, is the eponymous fictional novel. All of these people have their lives impacted by this book. Their paths are influenced by not just the story itself, but by the existence of the story and its presence in the world.

“Cloud Cuckoo Land” is staggeringly ambitious, a delicately-constructed and beautifully-written work. Each of these places and times – Constantinople, Idaho, deep space – and the people in them could have easily been their own story, they’re realized so richly. On an individual level, they are exceptional.

These storylines are incredible on their own. The historical agonies of Constantinople as the end of empire looms. Two similar but different journeys to manhood in a world whose expectations of masculinity prove difficult to meet. A future where sacrifice isn’t a choice, but an unasked-for responsibility.

But together, they become something so much greater, so much … more.

These shifts from past to present to future and back again should be jarring. Even with the connective device, there should be seams. And yet Doerr threads his narrative with such a light, intimate touch that these disparate elements fit together. Even as we bounce from perspective to perspective, we the reader never lose track of OUR perspective; it’s a stunning feat.

Doerr pulled the inspiration for his fictional novel-within-the-novel – including its name – from the Greek comedy “The Birds” by Aristophanes, one of many ancient writers whose body of work is forever fragmented due to the myriad ravages of time. That notion – that what we know of the world of ancient letters is defined in many ways by sheer chance – is one of the foundational underpinnings of this book.

Again, it comes back to a fascination with stories and storytelling. The idea that one story, a story that spent two thousand years being lost and found, could define so many lives – it’s a testament to how we are impacted by the tales we tell and are told. Doerr’s grasp of that power is clear, both in the story he’s telling and the manner in which he is telling it.

“Cloud Cuckoo Land” is a masterful piece of work. It is ambitious in all the best ways, a centuries-spanning saga that is both intimate and epic, granular and grandiose. Doerr has wed past, present and future – all in service to the power of story.

“The trickiest thing is the nature of man, apparent in everything.” – Aristophanes, “The Birds”

I struggled to get into this book. The first 25% was a little bit confusing and had a lot of characters. The writing is beautiful (would expect nothing less!) and I got into the book a lot more as it progressed. It is a book you have to stick with!