This is one of those magic novels that you can just get lost in. I really enjoyed this book for the story it had to tell and the journey you go on with the characters who are so well developed. Doerr's writing is so vivid and engrossing that you really get enmeshed in the imagery.

There were a few cases where the connections between the three timelines could have become a little clearer sooner, and could have been a little stronger developed, but I found this to be such a small complaint in comparison to the writing and the themes of the story.

While its tone tends to lean into sadness or at least melancholy, it never felt overbearing or hopeless. It was both dystopian and utopian. This was definitely a case of reading this book at the absolute right time.

Thank you Netgalley, Simon & Schuster Canada, Scribner and Anthony Doerr for an e-ARC of Cloud Cuckoo Land in return for my honest review.
4.5 stars.

This book was just incredible! It is so difficult to put into words the feat of storytelling that this book is able to achieve. This novel follows several characters through different timelines. It took some getting used to in order to figure out who was where and things like that but once I got the hang of it the book really picks up! Doerr is an incredible writer and this book is full of beautiful prose and descriptive imagery. A really thought-provoking and beautiful read.

I came into this book having such high expectations for it, and thankfully it didn’t disappoint. I’m the kind of reader that never really looks for more WW2 fiction, but I finally had picked up All The Light We Cannot See and read the entire thing in a single sitting – the writing was that good. The characters were that compelling. No one was more surprised than I was that I had found new wartime fiction that I actually felt obsessed with. So when I heard that Doerr was doing a new novel set in 3 different time periods, my expectations went through the roof. I always love a setup like this, but the Constantinople is of particular interest to me, I love Science Fiction, especially generation ships, and oh, I’m also a Librarian. It felt like this book couldn’t have been made any more for me!

All of that being said – this book was great. There were moments early on where I wasn’t as sure and didn’t really know how all the stories were going to connect, but by the time I got to the second half of the book, I was convinced. Doerr has a way of writing long books that you somehow race through, full of interesting people in circumstances that are bigger than any one person. It’s some sort of witchcraft that it all manages to work out by the end. Highly recommended.

I just could not connect with this book. I read about 20% trying to make sense of it all and give it a fair chance but unfortunately this book was not for me.

Thank you Netgalley, Simon & Schuster Canada, Scribner and Anthony Doerr for free e-ARC of Cloud Cuckoo Land in return of my honest review.

I am impressed, very impressed. I wasn't sure I would enjoy this book as I did not really like All The Lights We Cannot See, but I have to say - I liked it. The ability to create a multi-generation story in different timelines with so many characters deserves to be applauded. Everything is cohesive (may be not from the start, but it comes very well together), very well-written. Doerr weaves the story around so many important issues and never lose a sight of whole story.

If you are looking for a gripping story about climate change, old and new world, with captivating characters, Cloud Cuckoo Land is for you!

Started really slow but I'm a big fan of Doerr's other titles so I kept going and it was totally worth it. An imaginative and brilliant story, thanks for keeping us entertained again!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an electronic copy to read and review.

I don't even know how to begin to describe the genius in this book. We follow multiple characters, from ancient Constantinople, the Korean War, present day, and into the future. Remarkably, the lives of these characters all intertwine and it pure brilliance! It did take a while to get into the book and to realize the connection; however the characters were so fully formed early on I couldn't help but keep reading.

I have to admit, I waited a bit before leaving a review; my appreciation for this much anticipated book is divided. While the author presents compelling characters, living in three different eras, the novel can, at times, be lacking in plot and too focused on descriptions. It is beautiful novel, which may leave you in tears, it just takes awhile to fully be immersed in the stories of Omeir and Anna, awaiting a war on opposite sides of a wall in Constantinople, Zeno and Seymour, on opposite sides of a standoff in a library, and Konstance, drifting alone on a spaceship.

Thank you to Simon and Schuster Canada and NetGalley for the ARC.

I so loved his last book but I think I'm going to be unpopular saying I did not love this book. There's multiple timelines, multiple stories and characters and it's really hard to keep them straight. I would have preferred 2 or 3 versus however many there are (too many!). Some parts are beautiful and insightful, others I'm finding myself drifting off not caring... :( I was able to listen on audio, which is likely the only reason I kept going. I'm 90% sure if I tried to read this REALLY long book I never would have finished it. I was also really hoping for a masterful twist that would tie all the threads together but overall this story was kind of a flop for me (and it pains me to write that!). I did love the library setting in one of the story timelines but that was the best part for me.

Thank you to Simon & Shuster Canada and NetGalley for an advance reader copy in return for an honest review.

I loved “All the Light We Cannot See” and was so excited to read Anthony Doerr’s follow-up, “Cloud Cuckoo Land.”

The novel follows a few characters in three different timelines. The first is set during the siege on Constantinople in 1453. The second takes place in present day Idaho with some flashbacks to earlier 20th century events. The third, and to me the most fascinating, is set on an interstellar ship in the not-too-distant future. The three storylines are linked by a myth that was invented by Doerr for the novel.

The book is lengthy, dense, and very similar in some ways to his previous book. If you liked “All the Light We Cannot See,” you’ll love this. Doerr’s writing is impeccable, beautiful, descriptive and I enjoyed every second of it. I’ve read comments that say the book is too long, but I didn’t find that at all. It moved right along.

There is a lot of mystery and suspense in the book, which I really enjoyed. I never knew what was going to happen next and the author did a great job ending the chapters on cliffhangers that propelled me through the book. He deals with a lot of social issues: climate change, LGBTQ characters, mental health, and the justice system, to name a few. These were sometimes a bit heavy-handed, but I didn’t mind.

The best part of the book is the pure love of books and reading. Manuscripts, books, and libraries are key elements of all three timelines and I enjoyed this so much.

“Cloud Cuckoo Land” definitely emphasized the “literary” part of literary fiction, but it was beautiful, moving, and thought-provoking. It may not be for everyone, but I really loved it.

Ooof... I have been ACTIVELY avoiding putting my thoughts together on this book since I finished reading it 6 weeks ago. I am so very conflicted because I was ready to LOVE this book. I threw myself in head first. I hit a wall nearly as impenetrable as the Theodosian ones referenced in this book.

When I finally finished the book, I had several friends ask for my thoughts, and quite literally the only reaction I could piece together was, "it's a brick".

Things I loved: the ambition, the scope, the beauty of the connection and power of storytelling across centuries. The sweeping detail and world-building. The message. Konstance and Zeno and Seymour's pure instincts and drives.

BUT (you knew that was coming) it was a SLOG to get through. I didn't care enough about all of the timelines or characters. I couldn't help thinking, "when will it be over?" (you know, like in a way-too-long movie when you're checking your watch in the dark because you kind of see where it's all headed and just need them to wrap it up all ready). Never a good feeling when you're reading a book.

I would have loved to read more about Konstance and her world. OR I would have loved a book about just Zeno and, eventually, Seymour. It's just that this tome is much too ambitious and sweeping for its own good. Doerr's writing is STUNNING and breathtaking. There is no question there. I appreciate the mastery and the work that went into this impressive labor of love. As a reader, however, I just I didn't find myself dreading having to pick it up to finish it.

First of all I must admit I have not as yet finished the book! I am however intrigued and feel compassion towards a number of the characters. This is a really engrossing tale and it kept my attention so far. I feel involved and committed to what happens next. This novel has been compared to one of my all time favourite books Cloud Atlas, by David Mitchell. I would not say it is as good as Cloud Atlas but I have enjoyed it so far. I care about the characters which is a huge plus for me!

Not really a fan of this one, it was much too slow for my personal tastes. I usually read fast paced fantasy, but I've been having luck lately with adult fiction. Sadly, this one didn't come up to par like some other books I've read this year.

CLOUD CUCKOO LAND by Anthony Doerr

This book is based on five main characters and takes place in several different timelines and places. I found it a bit confusing at the beginning, but once the characters are developed, much easier to follow their stories. It was very interesting to travel to those exotic places through their storylines. I did find it enjoyable and appreciated how it was all connected it in his conclusion.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #Simon&SchusterCanada #Scribner for an e-ARC for my honest review.

Clou Cuckoo Land is Set in Constantinople in the fifteenth century, in a small town in present-day Idaho, and on an interstellar ship decades from now, As the book flips between these times and places we are introduced to children, Anna, Omeir, Seymour, Zeno, and Konstance.
Overall, a decent read.

* I received an advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for my honest review

This book deserves more than 5 stars! I can't remember the last time I felt so connected to the characters in a book or the last time a book made me cry (like this one did last weekend). I was so invested into each story line and that's not surprising due to the phenomenal writing of Anthony Doerr! Don't let the large size of this book put you off, it's so worth the read.

Synopsis: Cloud Cuckoo Land follows five characters whose stories, despite spanning nearly six centuries, are bound together by their mutual love for a single book. Twelve-year-old Anna, an orphan, lives inside the formidable walls of Constantinople in a house of women who make their living embroidering the robes of priests. Restless, insatiably curious, Anna learns to read, and in this ancient city, famous for its libraries, she finds a book, the story of Aethon, who longs to be turned into a bird so that he can fly to a utopian paradise in the sky. This she reads to her ailing sister as the walls of the only place she has known are bombarded in the great siege of Constantinople. Outside the walls is Omeir, a village boy, miles from home, conscripted with his beloved oxen into the invading army. His path and Anna’s will cross.

Five hundred years later, in a library in Idaho, octogenarian Zeno, who learned Greek as a prisoner of war, rehearses five children in a play adaptation of Aethon’s story, preserved against all odds through centuries. Tucked among the library shelves is a bomb, planted by a troubled, idealistic teenager, Seymour. This is another siege. And in a not-so-distant future, on the interstellar ship Argos, Konstance is alone in a vault, copying on scraps of sacking the story of Aethon, told to her by her father. She has never set foot on our planet.

Thank you so much to Netgalley , the author and Simon & Schuster Canada for the advanced copy. This published September 28th!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

“The dead could only speak through the mouths of those left behind, and through the signs they left scattered behind them.”

This was my first book by @anthonydoerrwriter and I am OFFICIALLY hooked! I don’t typically pick up or finish books that are literary fiction because I have a mind that easily wanders and I’m very easily distracted. When I was presented with the opportunity to read and review this book by netgalley I figured I would give it a shot because I love discovering and falling in love with authors and genres that I typically shy away from. I was very surprised when I started reading and could not put it down! This book gave me a sprinkle of everything I didn’t know I needed and truly felt like a really good mashup of all of the greatest hits. It is also very intricately written, the way the plots are woven together is truly magical. I will admit, at first I didn’t think it would be possible to connect the storylines in a way that made sense. Specifically, because the storylines were so different that they could have been completely separate books but when everything started to come together I was very impressed.

✨Can we also just take a moment to appreciate that library! I need a replica STAT!

✨ will also say that I’m sad that we didn’t get to see more of Rex & Zeno

✨I’ve already picked up a copy of All the Light We Cannot See and am extremely excited to get started on that.

Thank you to @simonschusterca & @netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this lovely book!

What exactly is Cloud Cuckoo Land? It is a manuscript that miraculously survives the ravages of war, weather, and, time to be the central character of this novel that weaves together a host of characters all in their own time and place. A blue book with clouds and a castle in the sky, contains the saga of Aethon, a man who is turned into a number of creatures, who sets off on adventures as he searches for the meaning of life. His story becomes the glue that binds the characters and times. Starting at the dawn of the Siege of Constantinople, a young girl, Anna, discovers the long-lost story in a codex inside a neglected library, and she knows it must be preserved. On the other side of this same war is a young boy Omeir, who leaves his home and family when he is conscripted by the Sultan’s army. Speaking different languages, growing up with different customs and religion, they meet just as the siege begins. Centuries later, we meet Seymour, a misunderstood boy who grows up communing with all of the creatures in a nearby forest threatened by a housing development in his town. His passion for preserving the habitat he holds so dear, especially a beloved Great Grey Owl, motivates him to extreme measures which connects Aethon’s story with his. In the future, we meet Konstance, a young girl born aboard the Argos, a ship heading on a long journey for humankind’s new home as earth is left in ruins. Konstance’s Father has told her Aethon’s story, and when she is locked in a vault, she uses the translated manuscript to help her search for the meaning of life with help from all of the characters who came before. Interspersed with Anna, Omeir, Seymour, and Konstances , is the story of Zeno, a Korean War veteran who learns Greek from another prisoner of war and his translations of Cloud Cuckoo Land. The transcript has survived, but is badly damaged and becomes Zeno’s passion project late in life. Throughout this book, the importance of stories, libraries, and those who are the custodians of the written word permeates and connects the characters as profoundly as Aethon’s story that have inspired them all. Thank you to Netgalley and Simon and Schuster Canada for the advanced copy of this book.

Cloud Cuckoo Land is Doerr’s follow-up novel seven years after the Pulitzer Prize winning All the Light We Cannot See — my all-time favourite book. Earlier this year I was delighted by his short story collection The Shell Collector. It’s needless to say that my hopes were high going into this one.

This is a book about stories for people who love books and breathe words. It’s a novel about the power of storytelling to unite people, of environmentalism, human connectivity, and of empathy.

It’s split between six perspectives and three vastly different times and spaces. From Constantinople to modern-day Idaho to a spaceship in the near future after climate change has ravaged the earth. It’s a unique fusion of historical fiction, contemporary, and science fiction, with segments of a fictional antique text for good measure.

As a whole I really enjoyed it, although I did find some of the storylines connected more to me and were more interesting than others. As a historical fiction fan, I especially loved reading the descriptions of Constantinople in Anna and Omar’s perspectives.

While reading Cloud Cuckoo Land, I really got the sense that this book feels like something Doerr has spent years crafting and carefully planning. It’s meticulous and passionately written. Is it my favourite of his works? Not quite. But under its cover I found the same prose I admire Doerr so much for, and the same profound way he crafts human relationships. If you’re a fan of his other works or are looking for an immersive and unique reading experience, I’d give this one a go!

Thank you to @netgalley and @simonschusterca for the ARC!

[FROM @emmarosebooks via Instagram]

The summary for this book sounded interesting, so I requested it, Unfortunately, the actual novel told me nothing more than what was in the summary; it was just a lot of descriptions to expand on the summary. I don't feel like I learned anything or the characters changed in any significant way.

The plot was impossible to discern for me. There was a faint glimmer of a path towards a plot somewhere around 80% of the way through, but it ended up leading nowhere. I was so disappointed. The writing was lovely, but 80% is far too late to be finally getting to the point.

The big twist was anticlimactic for me. I'm not even sure you can call it a "big twist". While I enjoyed reading about certain perspectives (there were five), I hated others. As each chapter is incredibly short, it was painful to just be getting into one person's story only to be yanked out and thrust forward or backward in time. My favourite perspectives were Konstance and Zeno.

I can't help but feel like the story would have been a lot more enjoyable if it had concentrated on Konstance and Zeno and wove a few more threads between them, while leaving out or only hinting at the other three perspectives. Was there supposed to be one protagonist or antagonist? Why did I need to hear all the innermost thoughts of Omeir, Anna and Seymour? While Anna and Omeir were sort of interesting when and where their story ended, I could have done without 90% of their chapters. Sure, it gave me massive amount of background about them, but in the end it didn't really matter.

While I respect the decision to include a non-neurotypical character, I have to question the value in making that character a villain. Not because non-neurotypical people can't be villains, but because he was the only non-neurotypical character and it felt a lot like either tokenism or prejudice. The character wasn't strengthened by being non-neurotypical. It felt like an excuse; like the author was saying he couldn't control his actions and only medication could save him. I'm not sure that's a portrayal that adds value to society. This could easily have just been a character that was exactly the same save for this one trait.

On the other hand, the character who is described as homosexual, I think was handled well. It wasn't presented in a way that was vilified, but as a normal part of society, except when, historically, it wasn't.

The descriptions near the end of the books about climate change are truly terrifying. This seemed to be the major takeaway from the book. Climate change is inevitable and it will tear the world apart. This wasn't really about a library or books for me. Beyond the dangers of climate change, the best part of this story for me was the actual story within a story, Cloud Cuckoo Land. I was excited to read the next translation. It connected multiple people over hundreds of years and they all found comfort in this same story. I would have preferred to read that story, except the ending, which I didn't like, was very bland. For all the descriptions I waded through, I wish I'd at least gotten some sort of reward at the end. It just spiralled nowhere new.

I couldn't in good conscience recommend this to anyone. I don't know why anyone else enjoyed it. It took me forever to get through and it was painful. I kept reading hoping for something and getting let down. Lots of meaningless connections between the characters that didn't really tell me anything.