Resumo de Cloud Atlas - by David Mitchell

Each of thenarratives is set in a different time and place, each is written in a differentprose style, each is broken off mid-action and brought to conclusion in thesecond half of the book. These five stories are bisected and arranged around asixth, the oral history of a post-apocalyptic island, which forms the heart ofthe novel. Only after this do the second halves of the stories fall into place,pulling the novel's themes into focus: the ease with which one group enslavesanother, and the constant rewriting of the past by those who control thepresent. The first story consists of the letters of Adam Ewing, and his fatefultrip on a ship in the Pacific in the mid 1850's. From there we go to the second story, which takes place in the 1930's and istold from the viewpoint of Robert Frobisher, a talented disinherited muscialcomposer who visits an infirm maestro and his family in an attempt to get workand advantage. The next story takes place in the 1970's, and has to do with reporter LuisaRey, and her exposure of corporate malfeasance that could result in disaster. Sixsmithis a scientist there, and plays an important part of the story. Next, (and my personal favorite), is the story of Timothy Cavendish, in presentday England, and the tale of his (mis) adventures as a book publisher. And thefinal story is one that takes place in post apocalyptic Hawaii. And then we go back to each story, in opposite order, and put the piecestogether and complete the cliffhanger endings from the first half. The 19th-century journalsof an American notary in the Pacific that open the novel are subsequentlyunearthed 80 years later on by Frobisher in the library of the ageing,syphilitic maestro he's trying to fleece. It is beautifully written with humorand compassion. While taking a hard look at the worst aspects of human natureit allows for the possibility that the best of human nature may prevail. I wasimpressed but waited in vain to be swept of my feetWhile thefirst few chapters were hard to get through (the reason for the missing starabove), the rest of this novel makes the effort completely worthwhile! Thestory unfolds like a Russian Babushka doll, each layer connected to theprevious and the next in surprising ways. I assure you that it is the former.Mitchelldrops enough breadcrumbs in the first half of the book to imply a reward forenduring the interuptions, and indeed he delivers on several levels: theliteral linking of the narratives (whether they be manuscripts or sci-fiholographs), the philosophical/spiritual implications of reincarnation ordistant relation, the unfortunate consistency of human oppression, and thedependence of all fiction (including history) on what has been created before. Influenced by the NationalPublic Radio interview with Daniel Mitchell, I decided to take the chance. Someof the chapters present a challenge (An Orison of Sonmi and Sloosha's Crossingand Everything After), but this adds to the intriguing nature of the stories. .This is an ingeniousnovel, both deliberately derivative and breathtakingly original. It isbeautifully written with humor and compassion. While taking a hard look at theworst aspects of human nature it allows for the possibility that the best ofhuman nature may prevail. The author has fun mimicking variously overusedliterary styles and at one point even questions (via the doubts of one of hischaracters)whether his work is ingenious or merely a clever trifle. I assure you that it is the former

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