Cloud Cuckoo Land 4⭐️/5
Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr
4⭐️/5
A literary triumph, a pulitzer prize-winning author, a story that spans over millennia. And, I would add, probably not for everyone.
Part Historical fiction, part fantasy, part contemporary story, part sci-fi (my favorite perspective to read was of Konstance, who lives in Mission Year 65). As I’ve mentioned before, I gravitate towards genre-bending work, so if that’s not your vibe, you may not enjoy this one! Or you will! I don’t really know!
Uniquely written, thoughtfully placing together time, location, characters, and history that all weave together in as complicated and heartfelt as humanity itself. With that being said, I had some whiplash from the story jumps at first, and it took nearly 400 pages for the stories to come together. When it takes so long for your patience to pay off, I can easily see how some would love the lead up, while others would slog through it.
I have to admit, this was a daunting read, even more so since I feel like the only person left who *hasn’t* read his other famous work, All the Light We Cannot See, but I dove in all the same!
This is a book you’ll be glad you’ve read (in the past tense) once you’ve finished, but the experience reading wasn’t always the most enjoyable. I wouldn’t significantly downgrade a book for this fact alone, but it’s partly why this wasn’t a 5-star read for me. Though reading (in my opinion) can be about more than simple pleasure or amusement (though it often is those things!) It’s art, it’s reflective, and it can sometimes feel like homework, which this book does at times. Some moments reads like your favorite sci-fi novel, while others leave you dreading having to revisit 15th-century Constantinople.
There are many literary masterpieces I’ve read that I have no desire to reread, but am happy I read all the same, and I would add this to the list.
Everything I heard going in was right: Anthony Doerr’s writing is superb, there really is no forward-moving plot but the story weaves together, it’s rich in history and character, it is an intimidating book.
But despite everything I heard going in, I was surprised and delighted in unexpected ways. I had goosebumps when I finished, and as slow and meticulous as the first few hundred pages felt, the last several hundred pages flew by!