In Cloud Cuckoo Land, Doerr weaves together three separate timelines in three different locations, all centered around one strange and delightful story about Aethon who seeks for a magical land. Each character longs for belonging and home, whether they live in Constantinople in the 1400s, in Idaho in the 2000s, or on a space ship in the not too distant future. Doerr magically captures the life of a boy with a deformed face in the middle ages as easily as he draws the sketch of an elderly Korean war veteran. His vivid word pictures put you squarely in each location, even as each location and time contrasts with the previous one. Each character finds themselves influenced and changed by the ancient Greek text Cloud Cuckoo Land. There are few writers who can paint a scene with words the way Doerr does. His writing is lovely and engrossing, as it was in All the Light You Cannot See. However, as magical as the story is, I found the plot did not capture my attention as much as I would have hoped. The three different stories seem very disconnected until well into the latter half of the book. I love how the storylines dovetail and interconnect at the end, but it took a long time to reach that point.

One story inspires three people in three different eras - 1453, the present, and the future. Once I felt I could hold the various storylines and characters together, I enjoyed the book so much more. This is not an easy or light read. To really go deeply into the book, I needed to be fully invested. It was worth the investment.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this arc in exchange for an honest review.

This book is getting great reviews, but I just couldn’t get into it. We will purchase the book at our library and I will try it again.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I tried really hard to like this book. I loved All the Light We Cannot See and was excited to read this one. Cloud Cuckoo Land is told from multiple points of view in multiple timelines. The language is beautiful and the descriptions really bring the images to mind. However, the timelines and POVs change frequently and often abruptly. I had a hard time following the book in the beginning and while it all ties together at the end it was very long. I do have a hard time reading books over 400 pages on an e-reader but this one was a struggle. Definitely worth the read but it didn't keep my attention as much as I had hoped.

I dont know how to rate this one.

I liked the idea and it's a good story, but it just felt too long. The story dragged in parts and I wanted to quit reading multiple times. But, the ending was good.

Cloud Cuckoo Land is like no other book I’ve ever read. I don’t know that I can give it justice in a review. The book follows five main characters three storylines which span centuries from 1400 Constantinople, 2020 in Idaho and years into the future. A what ties them all together is an ancient lost story about a faraway land called Cloud Cuckoo Land. Like in his first novel, Doerr’s writing is captivating and the character development is exceptional. I did have a difficult time with this one though, especially keeping up with all the different storylines. I started over a few times and also switched from text to audio and then text to capture it all. I think this book could be great as a “buddy read” - read in sections and then discussed. There was so much to capture that I feel like reading with a partner would be enjoyable. The ending was so beautifully satisfying and if I had had a physical copy of the book, I would have hugged it a while to let it all soak in. Overall, this book was compelling and a tribute to storytelling, books and libraries.

Thank you NetGalley and Scribner Books for the opportunity to read and review this advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

WOW. I think it will take me a while to digest this. Honestly, I wasn't sure what to think at first, the title and description gave me David Mitchell vibes, but this was so much MORE than what I expected. Worth all the printed pages.

“The world as it is is enough.”

I’ve been with the characters within these pages for over a month now, following their stories, rooting for them and getting to know them like I would a friend. (Side note - why did I take on 3 500+ page books at the same time??)

Cloud Cuckoo Land follows five characters & their storylines—Zeno & Seymour, Anna & Omeir, & Konstance. While they are from different times in history, from 1400s Constantinople, to modern day Idaho, to the future in which Konstance is hurtling towards a new Earth, they all share some form of connection to this “cloud cuckoo land,” a fable about a mythical land in the sky where the streams run with cream and the food is bountiful.

At the core, this is a book about humanity, empathy, and the power stories hold over their readers. It about how stories touch our lives, connect us to each other, empower us, and most importantly how stories heal. Each character is fully fleshed out and brought to life on the page. I found myself attached to these five people, rooting for them to each overcome their individual challenges. As I turned the last page, I felt as if I was saying goodbye to five friends. This is my first Doerr and I hope that this exceptional character development is a running theme in his other books too because it’s the element that really brought these stories to life and tied this novel into what it is.

While to some capacity the storylines follow a plot, this book felt equally character driven as it was by the plot and actions. I love the character driven component, as I am a huge fan of literary fiction. I found myself having a hard time putting this book down at times, wanting to know what would happen next in the adventure/challenge at hand.

For me, while reading this there was an undercurrent of sadness & loneliness (cont in comments)

I almost gave up on this book because it starts off so slow but I'm glad I stuck with it. There are multiple timelines and it takes a lot of build-up to get going, but it was a really good read and I did not see where it was all going. The end was a real surprise.

Since I loved All the Light I Cannot See so much, I was really looking forward to reading this. Let me tell you, it is not the same at all. This was much more experimental. The one similarity I do see is the compelling characters. The characters were what kept me going. It would have been difficult to follow so many converging plot lines without characters you cared about so much.

I don't know how to characterize the story. It was science fiction, historical fiction, fantasy, and experimental literary fiction all rolled up into one epic package. I guess you could say there is something for everyone in here somewhere. At the heart of all the timelines is a long-lost medieval text that originated as a story told to a dying child. Aside from that, I'm not going to try to give you a synopsis. You can read the blurb and there are so many timelines and subplots that I would not know where to stop. It is long, has a complex plot, and is not for the faint of heart. Stick with it and you will be rewarded with a deliciously rich tale,

Thank you NetGalley for this advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

Alternating narratives and multiple timelines, give Cloud Cuckoo Land a lot of depth. Compelling characters with their own compelling stories.
Thank you NetGalley.

Anthony Doerr became a favorite author of mine after I read All the Light We Cannot See. It seemed like forever between when that was released and when I got to read this! Cloud Cuckoo Land is a different kind of book in many ways, but also features beautiful storytelling and builds the world of its characters with imagination and depth. I was swept into the story almost immediately. I enjoyed reading the viewpoints/storylines from different time periods, though I appreciated or gravitated towards some more than others. This book is very ambitious in scope, and yet I think Doerr pulls it off. I didn't love it quite as much as I loved All the Light We Cannot See, but I still found it absorbing and I will continue to read future books that he writes. So happy I could read this in advance.

Wow.

This story is a masterpiece. It's not for the faint of heart; it's quite long, and the perspectives jump around in a way that made it impossible for me to listen to the audiobook. After I switched to text, however, I was absolutely captivated.

The characters are memorable, and the plot is unlike anything I've read before. The writing is heavy but worthwhile. I wouldn't recommend this book to everyone, but I enjoyed it!

Cloud Cuckoo Land, Anthony Doerr’s new novel, is hard to like but easy to admire. Overloaded with historical references, the writing comes across as pretentious scholarship and, at times, boring narrative. And the complicated structure of scrambled stories makes the reader feel transported to Cloud Cuckoo Land, but not in the positive way the narrative seems to intend. In Britain and the U.S., the expression suggests that one is deranged and divorced from reality or unrealistic and foolishly optimistic and the book seems to fit that definition. And yet…as you read on and the multiple characters’ stories begin to coalesce, you do, in fact, get interested and caught up in their travails. In the end, you do want to know what happens to them. You do admire the way Doerr ties them all together. But you need patience and a willingness to spend the time to read 626 pages to find out. Cloud Cuckoo Land is not a book for everyone.

Possibly the best book I've read all year. I admit that I love Anthony Doerr's writing, but this may be his best. Billed as an homage to libraries and library collections that are the keepers of all memory, this goes far beyond that premise. There are 5 alternating stories set in in different times and places, but all occurring at pivotal points in each character's life, all tied together by the concept of the importance of "story" and connected through one ancient text. The discovery of a mythical land and a man who turns into a donkey, a fish, and a bird sets the stage for all the events that span 2000 years.

Doerr's writing is stellar and riveting. I could not put this book down. The plot centers on Zeno and Seymour in present day Idaho, Omier and Anna in 15th century Constantinople, and Konstance in a 22 century spaceship. Each character touched me emotionally -- and as the story drew closer to the heart-stopping conclusion(s) I found my self often gasping and in tears. Despite the sometimes jarring switch between these diverse characters and eras, I was completely absorbed in every storyline. There are many themes to consider besides the book/story one -- cultural differences, the horrors of war, environmental concerns, bullying, sexuality, the power of love & family, personal responsibility, government control, and so much more.

It's the perfect for book clubs since it should inspire lively discussions without the boring didactic content that sometimes defines a "book club" book. The "lessons" are imbedded in the story and the author leaves the reader to ponder them and draw their own conclusions. Plus there's Aethon's codex, the wonderful myth/legend that creates the structure. I would love to have a copy of it myself. This is the book I will be recommending to many of my friends. It would make a great gift for those who love books and the idea of "story" as a unifying factor in civilization. It reminded me in many ways of David Mitchell's Cloud Atlas (also a favorite) in both style and themes.

I’m had a little trouble staying engaged to start as I was more interested in some timelines than others but at around the halfway mark all of the storylines completely sucked me in.

It’s a really ambitious story and it I was a little weary at times but it definitely delivers. My only complaint, which I almost have for stories following multiple characters, is that the end felt a little bit rushed in an attempt to give every story a wrap up of sorts.

All the Light We Cannot See is one of my top 5 books of all time and while this does not crack top of my charts, Anthony Doerr writes such richly developed and beautiful worlds and I thoroughly enjoyed the ride to connect the dots through time.

Thank you to NetGalley and Scribner for the opportunity to read the book early. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

4.5 Stars for a Sweeping Epic

So, this story was absolutely magical. At over 600 pages, it was definitely a slow burn but once it got going it was a quick read. I fell in love with all the characters and was rooting for them the whole way. I generally shy away from large books because of the time commitment but this one was so, so worth

Anthony Doerr’s newest novel is an adventure unparalleled in not only the rest of his work but in today’s canon in general. It is a sprawling, experimental piece that at its very heart is a striking ode to storytelling itself, and the ways in which we write, preserve, transmit, and transmute the stories passed down from generation to generation.

The novel follows five characters through several different time periods from the ancient past to the far future, each juggling, performing, reading, or interacting with Diogenes book “Cloud Cuckoo Land” that serves as the central mast to the journey this book takes us on. Our characters are tasked with pulling the central text through the fog (metaphorically, but sometimes literally) of time and in their various ways engaging with it in aspects of their time that has allowed it to remain with us as part of human expression, from its first written existence to its preservation, translation, performance, and intergalactic rediscovery.

The magic of this novel lies in what Doerr manages to accomplish in such an unflinchingly anti-pedantic manner. Some reviewers online I have seen even suggest they plowed through its 622 pages in one day, and much like Siskel and Ebert’s surprising review of how engaging “My Dinner With Andre” is despite the fact that it is an hour and a half of two guys having an intellectual talk over a dinner, I am not at all surprised. This book has momentum and a strong, unpretentious heart at its core. The piece is approachable despite its complicated structure and nonlinear narrative, similar to David Mitchell or Michael Cunningham’s work but suitable for a much broader, affable appeal. The characters are almost puppets in their own world, carried through the narrative and their experiences tied to this book in a cosmic way to ensure we are left with their story about a story, and boy do we care about how they manage to do it and just as surprised as they are when they end up in some of the resulting situations they find themselves in.

In this manner, the approachability and accessibility in its form directly mirror the thematic and contextual meaning of the novel itself. It is a book about a book that weaves through history and is discovered and rediscovered, and it is itself leaving an incredible contemporary impact being a story that is carrying the very story within itself. Doerr delivers a clever and incredibly well-executed magic trick. The book is an electric feast for bibliophiles everywhere and was an absolute joy to behold. I plan on another read-through very soon.

Cloud Cuckoo Land is out today from Scribner

CLOUD CUCKOO LAND

Cloud Cuckoo Land had all the elements I love most in storytelling (a varied cast of characters, detailed settings, multiple seemingly-unconnected storylines) executed in the best way possible. When done well, it makes for the best reading experience (imo)—I love having to work to get to know characters & wondering from one page to the next how storylines will eventually overlap & coalesce. Anyone who has been around here a while knows I’m a fan of a character map & this book required that AND a location/timeline breakdown (it may have also included a chapter-by-chapter summary, a habit I picked up from @deedireads & without which I wouldn’t have kept anything straight). Did I read the PREFACE three times before continuing? Yes. And did I go back to read it once I neared the end of the story, too? Also yes.

I know what I’m describing sounds like a nightmare for a lot of you & may in fact do the opposite of what I’m intending, which is to recommend this book. The PAYOFF, though, in persevering through all that I just described, is more worth it than any other book I’ve ever read. At its heart, Cloud Cuckoo Land is a love letter to books & storytellers. It made me think about the stories my mom used to read me before bed, or the way I discuss books with my grandma now, or how I’ve connected with all of you on this app & made best friends who live across the country from me & who, without books, would still be strangers. I don’t know if this book would have meant so much to me without bookstagram, which sounds much more sappy than my reviews ever are, but that’s the reality. For so many of us, books function as both a life raft & a window: sometimes, we need them to take us away (& wow, will this book take you away) & sometimes we use them to get closer to the core of what we love about one another (wow x2, will this book do that, too).

One of my favorite ways to read is with the accompaniment of a good movie score — in this instance, the combination had me in a full ugly cry for a solid 10% of this book. Books don’t make me cry, EVER (but music definitely helps me get there), so take that however you will.

THIS BOOK. I finished this book as my husband walked into the room, my eyes full of tears, and I said, “holy [expletive], this is the best book I’ve read all year, I’m going to send a copy to everyone I know so we can talk about it for years and years.” (My husband - used to my literary-themed outbursts - was unfazed.)

I am truly in awe of Doerr’s abilities in this book. The layers he creates, the stories upon stories - and all in celebration of stories! And I loved the gentle, touching use of symbolism throughout - nothing clumsy that feels like it’s hitting you over the head, nothing that feels like a sermon.

This book is told from the perspectives of multiple narrators, from 15th century Constantinople to one hundred plus years in the future, but none of the storylines dragged and none of the transitions felt jarring. The stories were so carefully woven together - this tapestry of a book beautifully stitches together timelines, creating a celebration of the written word and its endurance, an ode to libraries, a missive on environmental stewardship, and a portrait of flawed and lovely humanity.

A wonder. Highly recommended for those who liked All the Light We Cannot See, Station Eleven and People of the Book.

If you are looking for a light, easy, or leisurely read, this is not the book for you. There are five characters and two of which are written in past and present, for a grand total of seven different storylines. I had to create a map that looked somewhat like a family tree to keep it all straight. Some chapters felt too short and then jumped to an entirely different time period. I really had to pay attention while indulging in this book. It’s a long read and worthwhile if you can keep it all straight.

There are a lot of redemptive qualities about this novel. It’s extremely descriptive, has excellent storytelling, and centers around hope for the hopeless across past, present and future. Each character is connected by an ancient manuscript and a library. The ending is wonderful, creative, and ties the entire book together in a sweet bow.

I was granted an early copy of this novel from NetGalley and the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions stated are my own.