This is a love story about the power of stories - how words can unite us across time and space. It’s been a very long time since I’ve felt myself be so transported by a novel, but I lost myself in these pages. It took me a little while to figure out where this story was going - is this sci fi? Historical fiction? Who are these characters, why do we keep jumping timelines, how do they all fit together? - but once I was able to pick up the central thread, I was enthralled. If you love the power of words, if you believe stories can bring us together, you simply must read this book and fall in love with it like I did.

Happy National Read A Book Day! I can think of no better book review to post today than Cloud Cuckoo Land, a love letter to the power of books and stories. Thank you to Scribner for my NetGalley ARC and Libro.fm for my ALC!

Pub date: September 28th
Rating: ☁️☁️☁️☁️

Doerr's All the Light We Cannot See is a personal favorite, and this book continues his examination of outsiders; main characters Anna, Omeir, Seymour, Zeno, and Konstance all want something more and different from their lives. The three distinct timelines (Constantinople in the fifteenth century, a small town in present-day Idaho, and an interstellar ship decades from now) have more in common than one would think. The title of the book comes from the novel Cloud Cuckoo Land - a device connecting these distinct individuals. I leaned into my confusion when reading this one - I think it's ok to feel like you're not getting 100% understanding of the text and events - all will be revealed in time.

This book clocks in at 640 pages, and I do think it could have been a bit shorter, but I loved the intertwined stories and how everything came together at the end. The last 30% of this book is true beauty, and I'm so glad I invested the time to get to this wonderful conclusion. I especially loved the arc of my favorite character, Konstance, living on the interstellar ship.

I started the book with my text copy, switching to audio about halfway through, and I think this was the right choice. I really enjoyed the audio narration by Marin Ireland, but I think I would have been a bit too confused with audio only. If you're an audio expert, you may be fine, but audio newbies should probably stick to the text or combine text and audio.

Thanks to NetGalley and Scribner, I received an advanced e-copy to read. This is an honest review.

I've found myself once again fully enveloped in the world of an Anthony Doerr novel. I was so enamored by All The Light We Cannot See that I was at the same time excited and wary to give this book a chance. Cloud Cuckoo Land successfully mixes elements of historical fiction and science fiction, Greek myths and climate change, into a cohesive and engaging story.

Cloud Cuckoo Land connects a group of characters from multiple time periods, places, and circumstances through an old Greek codex of the same name. From 15th century Constantinople, to a town in present day Idaho, to a spacecraft in the near future, Doerr was able to weave together all of these lives so beautifully without any of the stories feeling disjointed from the rest. Every character felt fully formed and I was able to empathize with each of them. There were also some really great and unexpected twists in the books that made it really hard to put down, especially as I neared the end and all of the information started to come together and reveal itself.

All in all, I'd say if you're a fan of Doerr's style or looking for a new book to read that doesn't sit staunchly in one genre or another, this would be an excellent choice.

Overall, I enjoyed this book immensely. Cloud Cuckoo Land has five different story lines, all of which tie together in some way by the end of the book. Konstance and her time on the futuristic interstellar Argos ship. Zeno and Seymour whose lives collide in present day. And finally Anna and Omeir in the past who first find the books that’s ties everyone’s story lines together.

Konstance by far was my favorite character and story line. Doerr did an amazing job connecting you to her and visually telling her story.

I’ve always enjoyed Anthony Doerr’s writing style, and this one did not disappoint.

Cloud Cuckoo Land is the story of how a great story can change peoples lives through the ages. The book is the stories of Anna and Omeir in 15th century Constantinople, Zeno and Seymour in modern times and Konstance in the future. All are connected through an ancient folio by Diogenes called Cloud Cuckoo Land . The ancient story brings them all comfort and joy in various ways. The story of Konstance was the most engaging for me. Trapped on a space ship heading to a planet that she won’t live to get to- her story has a surprising twist. A wonderful love story about reading this is definitely a must read for fall.

The much anticipated novel by the author of All the Light We Cannot See, Anthony Doerr, is just weeks away but truth be told, Cloud Cuckoo Land, is vastly different from Doerr's preceding novel. The novel still contains richly drawn characters under difficult circumstances and vivid locales as did All the Light... but in Cloud Cuckoo Land Doerr has combined genres to offer the reader historical, science, and contemporary fiction rolled into one complex, challenging and sometimes confusing 640 page book.
Cloud Cuckoo Land encompasses multiple time periods, locations and characters making the first half of the book a struggle to enjoy and the richness, depth and backstory of the characters Doerr created became overshadowed by the time leaps.
The reader is transported to Lakeport, Idaho 2020 where the lives of an elderly man and a young man become entwined, Constantinople, in the mid 1400's where Anna first becomes acquainted with an ancient text, which will affect everyone in the novel, and Omeir of Bulgaria who is on his way to invade Anna's village and lastly, into the future aboard a spacecraft where Konstance and her fellow travelers struggle for survival.
It's quite a lot to digest, however, all roads lead to the ancient text in a somewhat leap of artistic license.
Overall, Doerr's work is creative, the writing top notch, the characters are well drawn and the locales, well described. I certainly recommend it for its originality and prose however, the novel seemed a bit sluggish at first, continue on, it is the second half of the book which propelled me forward.
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this much anticipated novel.

Thank you to NetGalley and Scrivener for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I, like many who were venturing into literary fiction in 2014 at the tender age of seventeen, was entranced by All the Light We Cannot See. I was in awe of how something so terrible and so heavy could be so resonant and beautiful through Doerr's words. And here we have that again in Cloud Cuckoo Land.

Three timelines, a cast of deeply complicated and rich characters, and one story at the root of it all: a fantastical take of a man who wants to be a bird. Each timeline teeters on the edge of horrible disaster: the invasion of Constantinople; a disturbingly violent act at a public library; and humanity on the brink of disaster in space.

The book did not drag for me despite its length -- I was unable to put it down more than once. The fragments of the timelines and the translations in-between made me feel like I was flowing in and out of a the story, gasping for breath between segments of plot and emotion that never let up for the entire 600+ pages. I don't really know how to articulate how the whole thing made me feel, other than I had a very similar experience reading Richard Powers' The Overstory. It was like I was very big and very small at the same time -- feeling like the story was so much bigger than me and that I was never going to understand it all but also that it was about me and my life and my loved ones and the world I live in. I don't know how Doerr does it but I will be thinking about this for a long time.

I am going to go 5 stars here.

Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr was an interesting read for me. Told over the course of three very distinct timelines, and five points of view, Cloud Cuckoo Land is an absorbing and immersing, mash-up of genre, from historical fiction to a bit of sci-fi story.. I thought the characters were well developed, likable and I wholeheartedly was rooting for them. I loved how Doer connected the timelines and characters. There is no denying he is a master of prose. My only real complaint is I felt parts of the ending were left unexplained, like I missed a part of the story. It does really make you contemplate how the past impacts the present and into the future, what we do today will harm or benefit the future generations.

Thank you to @netgalley and the publisher @scribnerbooks for an opportunity to read an advanced copy and provide an honest review.

I loved Doerr's previous book, but this one didn't really do it for me - too many story lines that were overextended. The Constantinople storyline was just plain boring - I skimmed through those. The present day storyline was fine - I preferred reading about Seymour than Zeno. The Argos storyline was fine until then end, where it became implausible IMO. Some will love this, but some will not. The titular story that was 'found' was pretty incomprehensible - that really didn't work for me. All in all, too many storylines that didn't fit well together plopped into a book. Some will love this, some will not. I lean towards the second category.

One astute reader called CLOUD CUCKOO LAND a "love letter to stories"--and that it (abundantly, exuberantly, ambitiously) is! While not initially an easy read--those first 50 pages take commitment--this novel delivers on so many levels and the reader who sticks with it and embraces it will be amply rewarded. This is a novel like no other you'll read this year, peopled by characters crafted with Doerr's hallmark genius, and--like his previous work--it will haunt your memory long after the final page is turned.

I really wanted to enjoy this book. I tried on several occasions to get through it, but it was incredibly difficult. I love the idea the author was trying to present, several stories of various people navigating life, trying to find their paths. But this book was too heavy, too wordy, and just kind of a jumble.
I think if you are a person that enjoys deep, wordy, philosophical books, that also enjoy wondering thoughts that take you on various paths.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. This review was completely mine and written in my words based on my opinion.

Cloud Cuckoo Land is probably one of the most anticipated and hyped books to be released this fall. It is a novel that will intrigue, challenge and be long remembered by its readers.

Anthony Doerr is incredibly intelligent in how he has crafted his story. He also demonstrates a deep knowledge of mythic tales and history as he tells a story that begins with an ancient text that binds the entire narrative together. This is the myth of Cloud Cuckoo Land.

Doerr’s novel takes place in Constantinople in the 1400s during a siege, in the U.S. in recent history (going back before the Korean War and moving to now), and in a distant future. Each of these worlds is so vividly portrayed and each is unique. The feat of creating these disparate worlds that feel so real is worthy of praise.

The characters who populate these eras are richly vivid and readers will ache for them. They include Omeir and Anna who are on the opposite sides of Constantinople’s ramparts, Zeno and Seymour in the present, and Konstance in the future. Each has those to whom they are connected, along with worries and concerns. Readers may well have favorite characters. I admired Anna but found myself most drawn to Konstance.

There were times when I wanted to discard this novel. The pain of some of the characters felt like too much. Nonetheless I kept going as I wanted very much to understand how the plot strands would join. Of course, they are all reading the same ancient text but there will be more.

Anthony Doerr loves libraries and this is clear throughout the story. The magic, knowledge and anchor that they bring to their patrons is made most evident. In fact, the novel is dedicated to librarians.

Cloud Cuckoo Land is not All the Light We Cannot See. It is its own work and will be judged on its merits. It is a book that will make many of its readers think and care deeply. I highly recommend it.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.
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‘A text—a book—is a resting place for the memories of people who have lived before. A way for the memory to stay fixed after the soul has traveled on. But books, like people, die too. They die in fires or floods or in the mouths of worms or at the whims of tyrants. If they are not safeguarded, they go out of the world. And when a book goes out of the world, the memory dies a second death.’ Anthony Doerr- Cloud Cuckoo Land

Wow! This was unlike anything I’ve read!

Even after letting this simmer in my thoughts I’m still at a loss as to how to review it. Like Doerr's previous novel this is beautifully & descriptively told with characters that are unique and well developed. I loved all of the stories and their eventual connection to each other. My only criticism is that I wish there had been more clarity in Konstance‘s story’s ending.

Warning to potential readers- this is completely different from All the Light We Can Not See. If going into this with that expectation I fear readers will be disappointed and not give it a chance.

My best summarization is that this is a novel about the importance of stories and how these stories transcend time & place. Most importantly this is a tribute to how a story has the power to change people. 4.5 stars.

‘Time: the most violent war engine of all.’

ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Well, first the good… there are great vivid, in-depth descriptions throughout the entire book. If you like books that flip between time periods, then this book is for you but you must also enjoy flipping genres because there is a whole lot of jumping around in this one. I enjoyed the character of Seymour and I like if the focus were on one person rather than a multitude this book would be far better. Thanks to NetGalley for the early read.

A long novel really about not much. Separate characters that are loosely linked to an Ancient Greek manuscript, the novel is a far cry from Doerr’s award winning novel

Special thanks to NetGalley and Scribner Books for the ARC of this book in exchange for my own opinion.

Ok I always seem to be in the minority. Maybe I'm just not as smart as I think I am. I think it would take me a year to figure all of this out. I'm aware that people love Anthony Doerr's book "All the Light We Cannot See, which I wish I read before attempting this 600 page tome and hate me if you will but I need a notebook to keep track of the 3 timelines of 1453, the present and the future. This has seven POVs and a story in between. First off, my head is aching, this was just too much for me to keep track of and function in everyday life too.

This story has so many genres going on like sci-fi (which I don't like) as well as fantasy and of course historical fiction because we are spanning centuries here. Maybe if I could focus all my attention on this one book and forget about my family, my doctor appointments, my boyfriend, and eating, sleeping and breathing, I could pay more attention to all the story lines going on. However, it was very different and interesting and I'm not mad at Anthony Doerr, because this book must have took him 7 years to write since his last book and bravo to him. One thing I did understand was his quote that he is trying to connect the kids of our generation and those to come about the " interconnectedness"with each other, those who came before us and those who will be here long after we"re gone and the anxiety, disinformation we are fed, the climate and oh yes, the pandemics. For that reason I will give it a generous 3 stars!

What do a pair of young kids on the opposite sides of the fall of Constantinople, the protagonist of an ancient Greek tale, an eco-terrorist, a Korean war vet and former prisoner-of-war, and a young girl on a generation ship have in common? Well, besides all being major characters in Anthony Doerr’s newest novel, Cloud Cuckoo Land. To find out what else ties them all together, you’ll have to read the book, which I do recommend despite some issues.

I’m going to leave the plot summary such as it is to the introduction, as part of the pleasure of Cloud Cuckoo Land is sorting through the pieces and seeing how they all fit together. Structurally, as you might guess, the novel’s a bit like a jigsaw puzzle (no surprise puzzles get mentioned), moving not only amongst multiple third-person POVs, but also back and forth in time, not only between those POVs, which span centuries, but also within them as well. Before you panic, that all sounds much more confusing than it actually is, as Doerr shows himself a deft hand at moving seamlessly amongst plot threads and chronologies. Despite the number of characters and the multiple time shifts, I was never confused as to when I was or who I was with.

Another feature that might worry some is the novel’s 600+ pages. But here again, the number is more daunting than the reality. As with the character and time shifts, the pages pass smoothly and effortlessly. I happily read it in a long languid afternoon’s worth of reading and had anyone asked me its length when I finished, I would have guessed between 4-500 pages. In fact, it felt far shorter than the 430-page book I’d just finished the day before.

Characterization is a bit mixed, with Anna, a young girl trapped in besieged Constantinople, and Zeno, the Korean vet (we do see more of his life than the war), coming most fully alive and most sharply drawn. Omeir, Anna’s counterpart who finds himself drafted into the war on the other side, is nearly as well realized, particularly in his relationship with the two oxen he is in charge of (as further evidence of Doerr’s skill, the oxen themselves become moving characters). The other two major characters — Konstance, the young girl on the generation ship and Seymour, a young boy on the spectrum — aren’t quite as strong. Seymour has some beautiful moments, but at times can feel more like a collection of traits than a full-blooded character, and Konstance too feels less than wholly fleshed out and more a plot-driver than a completely round character.

As for the various story threads, again I’m going to avoid details, but I will say that a few were somewhat predictable as to their ending, and one honestly even a bit cliché, though these issues were more than balanced by the stronger threads. Anna, Omeir, and Zeno’s were my favorites, while Seymour and Konstance’s were less successful for me, both better at the start than as they developed.

More than the individual threads though, the strength of the book likes in how they are interwoven, with Cloud Cuckoo Land a true “the whole is greater than the sum of its parts” novel. Amongst a number of themes including our impact on the planet, our relationship with those we share the Earth with, the cruelty of humans on an individual and a societal scale, the hunger to find one’s place in the world, the core through-line is that ancient Greek text (the author is real, the text is fictional), making Cloud Cuckoo Land (among many other things) a book about books, a story about the enduring power of story. And the power of librarians (a moment’s pause for us all to recollect a favorite librarian or two who helped our childhood selves meet the books we needed at the time). While the Greek text appears in each story, Doerr also peppers each POV thread with a host of echoes involving parallel themes, images, language, and more, creating a fantastic tapestry. Doerr does such an excellent job with these echoes in fact that I actually was disappointed when he made the connections more directly overt. It was akin to enjoying a room lit by the dancing flames of a fire and then someone turning on an overhead light with a half-dozen 1200 lumen LED bulbs in it.

Still, Cloud Cuckoo Land remains an affecting book. In its separate elements — prose, setting, characterization, plotting — it ranges from weak (some plot and character aspects) to solid (prose) to quite good (other plot and character facets, parallel imagery and language and theme), but, and I can’t detail for you exactly why, when the individual parts fall out of focus and one is just carried along by the book to it touching end, it transcends its conglomerate of parts and becomes an immersive, moving whole.

Perhaps a most-anticipated read this decade, and Doerr did not disappoint. He is so clearly a brilliant short story writer, weaving some of the most delicate, bite-sized narratives into the most extraordinary novels, eliciting all-consuming emotion with each fine thread.

Cloud Cuckoo Land felt similar to All The Light in format, however much more complex in story, as it follows five characters whose stories span nearly six centuries. I was actually quite shocked with the attachment I felt for ALL arcs at such an early stage considering the limited scope the reader has in the first half of the book; a testament to Doerr’s capability as a writer. And so negligent it would be of me to not acknowledge the phenomenal writing that Doerr beings to the table every single time his words hit print.

I was deeply invested in the underlying environmental story playing out. I think Doerr did an incredible job of including timely and necessary information to the reader, packaged in a way that allows for an ease to the anxiety that often feels overwhelming in climate fiction reads. He turned searing fact into empathetic magic so strong that I read this in close to a single sitting.

(Shoutout to the Pig ‘N Pancake!)

Overall… A love story to literature (and accessibility to), and the world as a whole. Doerr delivers an unputdownable book for both sporadic, genre-melding readers and seasoned reading enthusiasts alike.

Cloud Cuckoo Land by A Doerr is a story of Threads! Each character iOS looking for the most important thread in their life that links within themselves. To give meaning understanding and love. The discussion would be profound for readers, but difficult to weave a commonality.

I’d like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for this e-ARC. All opinions are my own.

This was a well thought out and beautifully written story. However, it was a bit too dense for me. Maybe it’s the summer quick reads, but I feel like I might have been more invested if it were a winter read.