cloud cuckoo land review

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(as of Jan 08, 2025 01:45:19 UTC - Details)

On the New York Times bestseller list for over 20 weeks * A New York Times Notable Book * A National Book Award Finalist * Named a Best Book of the Year by Fresh Air, Time, Entertainment Weekly, Associated Press, and many more

“If you’re looking for a superb novel, look no further.” —The Washington Post

From the Pulitzer Prize–winning author of All the Light We Cannot See, comes the instant New York Times bestseller that is a “wildly inventive, a humane and uplifting book for adults that’s infused with the magic of childhood reading experiences” (The New York Times Book Review).

Among the most celebrated and beloved novels of recent times, Cloud Cuckoo Land is a triumph of imagination and compassion, a soaring story about children on the cusp of adulthood in worlds in peril, who find resilience, hope, and a book.

In the 15th century, an orphan named Anna lives inside the formidable walls of Constantinople. She learns to read, and in this ancient city, famous for its libraries, she finds what might be the last copy of a centuries-old 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. Outside the walls is Omeir, a village boy, conscripted with his beloved oxen into the army that will lay siege to the city. His path and Anna’s will cross.

In the present day, in a library in Idaho, octogenarian Zeno rehearses 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.

Anna, Omeir, Seymour, Zeno, and Konstance are dreamers and outsiders whose lives are gloriously intertwined. Doerr’s dazzling imagination transports us to worlds so dramatic and immersive that we forget, for a time, our own.

From the Publisher

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Scribner; Reprint edition (September 27, 2022)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 608 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1982168447
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1982168445
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.09 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.25 x 1.2 x 8 inches
Reviewer: Emily Layne
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: For us whose lives have been changed by books
Review: Cloud Cuckoo Land is an Ancient Greek tale of a man not satisfied with his current existence, so he spends his life trying to find a legendary city in the sky where no one ever suffers or wants for anything. It’s a silly story full of profound lessons and comedic relief - one that both inspires and gives refuge to the lost and the weary.Cloud Cuckoo Land: A Novel follows Cloud Cuckoo Land the Ancient Greek book for over 700 years. It’s nearly lost over and over again to war, to the elements, to egregious acts of man, and to the passage of time. It survives against all odds - and it shapes and connects the lives of 5 main characters: Anna, Omeir, Zeno, Seymour, and Konstance.Despite living in different centuries, the characters all have two things in common:1. They are each born a little different and because of this they struggle to adapt to the world around them.2. Every one of their lives is deeply and irrevocably changed by Cloud Cuckoo Land.——Anna/Omeir - Set in the 15th century at opposing sides of a great war, the Anna and Omeir chapters serve as something of an origin (or, rather, discovery) story for Cloud Cuckoo Land. Full of personal tragedies, adventure, bravery, and hope, Anna’s life story in particular is a profound example of how a book can become a source of strength during times of hopelessness. Without her tenacity, Omeir’s faithfulness, and the early examples of libraries touched upon in these chapters, Cloud Cuckoo Land would never have made it out of the 15th century.Zeno/Seymour - Zeno and Seymour are born generations apart. While the circumstances of their lives are very different, both are at odds with the world around them. Often navigating life restless and alone, it takes them years to stop running and finally find peace and purpose. Their paths cross dangerously at a library in the 21st century, and the events of that day will forever change the lives of everyone involved - as well as the trajectory of the book Cloud Cuckoo Land.Konstance - In the 22nd century, humans have destroyed the planet and are trying to start over on a new Earth called Beta Oph2. Konstance and her parents are a part of this mission. Guided by an AI named Sybil, they spend most of their days inside of the library on their ship called The Argos, researching and preparing for humanity to live in the new world. The fate of Cloud Cuckoo Land once again lies in the hands of a young girl who in turn comes to rely on the ancient story as a sort of lighthouse beaconing her home.And then, of course, there is Cloud Cuckoo Land itself. Doerr doesn’t just write about the ancient tale - he writes the entire book into this novel. By the time readers are finished, they will have essentially read four books in one: Anna/Omeir, Zeno/Seymour, Konstance, and Cloud Cuckoo Land. Chapter by chapter, Doerr alternates timelines and points of view. Piece by piece, the individual stories puzzle together over time just as they did in All the Light We Cannot See. While not quite as lyrical as All the Light, Doerr’s imagery and prose are still captivating.There are many lessons to be found within this book, but above all, Cloud Cuckoo Land: A Novel is an incredible, slow-burning love story. It’s a story about the love of reading, and the deep appreciation for those who make it possible. It is a lot and it won’t be for everyone. It didn’t click for me until I was about 20% of the way through. But if reading has changed you, or even saved you, then you might find your love story reflected in this too.

Reviewer: D. Forlano
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Enjoy the ride! Wonderful novel!
Review: I read this book after reading All the Light We Cannot See which I loved. The format of bringing multiple story lines together is ramped up the ninth degree in this novel. It's fascinating how Doerr brings history, sci fi, climate change, mental health, and so much more into one novel. Sit back and enjoy the ride!

Reviewer: science writer
Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Memorable
Review: A flawed, but humane and poignant story that held my attention and touched my heart. I was a bit bothered by the isolation and loneliness of the five main narrators, none of whom interacted much with anyone else for most of the book. Although shadowy figures surrounded the five, each seemed encapsulated and absorbed in their own world–and this made the telling a little bleak. For me, characters need to relate to other people--that’s what enlivens a story–and there was very little of that here.The lead up to the battle of Constantinople was exhaustively and exquisitely described, and I marveled at the quality of the writing and the depth of the research Mr. Doerr must have done. However, this section went on way too long–and the battle itself was hardly mentioned. Not a good idea to have a powerful and dramatic build up and then practically no resolution.Konstance’s story ended on a confusing and ambiguous note that raised more questions than it answered.But Mr. Doerr writes so tenderly and sympathetically of his characters that this reader (at least) couldn’t help but love them all. That includes Moonlight and Tree.Four and a half stars.

Reviewer: Jeannie Mancini
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Profound and Phenomenal
Review: From the Pulitzer Prize Winning Author of “All the Light We Cannot See”, Anthony Doerr has just released his new novel titled “Cloud Cuckoo Land”! With extraordinary writing skills, this author to me, is a master story teller. His ability to transport readers into breathtaking worlds is surely a cut above the rest, and certainly makes him worthy of being an esteemed member of the Pulitzer family in the category of fiction. Is it similar to” All the Light We Cannot See”? No, not at all. In fact the author jumps off the diving board into a whole new realm and does it quite brilliantly.To say that I have never read such a creative and clever story such as “Cloud Cuckoo Land” is simply the truth. This is a story about a story told in 4 stories. Yes, that is what I just said.Fact: In ancient Greece, there was an author named Antonius Diogenes who wrote a fantastical fairytale-like story called “The Wonders of Thule”. Today only fragments of 12 pages remain. With snippets of Homer’s Odyssey, The Golden Ass of Lucius Apuleius, and what I think reminded me of the journey that Pinocchio took, the tale is of a poor shepherd boy who embarks on a wondrous pilgrimage wishing all along that he could be transformed into a bird.Within four different narratives of people in three different times and places, Anthony Doerr deftly interlaces the wise old Greek fable into each of their lives in the most creative and unique ways possible.Current times. Inside a small town library in Idaho an elderly Greek man named Zeno Ninis is directing a group of children who are acting out a play of "The Wonders of Thule", when a young and troubled young man named Seymour enters the building planning to set off a bomb.Constantinople 14th century. The lives of a young girl named Anna and a young boy named Omeir collide in desperate times with their individual stories of tragedy and survival. Omeir was born with a cleft lip leaving him ugly enough for his parents to sell him and his two pet oxen to a Sultan on crusade planning to attack the city of Constantinople. Anna and her sister are orphans raised by a wealthy Greek man who employs them as master embroiderers. When her sister falls ill, she learns of a young man who scrounges for anything worth selling in order to eat. When Anna becomes his assistant in theft she finds a valuable codex copy of "The Wonders of Thule".Far in the Future. On a spaceship named the Argos, teenager Konstance lives with many families who are traveling to a distant planet after Earth has been devastated from fatal environmental disasters. When Konstance was a child her father read a bedtime story to her. It was called "The Wonders of Thule". When a deadly virus mysteriously leaves her the sole survivor onboard the Argos, magical advanced technology helps Konstance uncover many secrets of the real truth behind the Argos’ mission.Anthony Doerr weaves a glorious carpet of connecting threads that lie within each of the character’s stories individually and as a whole so well, that by the time you come to the end you will be in awe of his ability to narrate such an incredible tale. I can only hope he will win another Pulitzer prize for this beautiful novel that seriously knocked my socks off. This book will make you appreciate the talent this author renders up to his readers.I usually give a star rating to my reviews, but honestly there are no high enough stars for books like this. Buy it, read it, be inspired! Feel the magic and the wonder of books! Thank you Anthony Doerr!

Reviewer: Amazon Customer
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Really really enjoyed reading this book
Review: Loved it. It takes a bit to develop and you feel lost at first but it's so worthwhile to stick with it. Great characters and great story lines.

Reviewer: Oscar Scheepstra
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: Dense, complex, thrilling. This book is outstanding! I had to pace myself and take it slow to read the book so it would last longer.

Reviewer: Dr O.
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: I liked this book for many reasons, although I could not read Doerr’s last book. But this one has all the right material: Aristophanes, comedy, a few brushes with tragedy, the same story told several different ways in several different eras and countries. The language is fun — Doerr likes to plays with words, not something I noticed in his previous book. The characters are all ages just as the story is ageless. It is ok not to be a hero, but it is ok to be a hero if someone needs a hero. People need to survive but not everyone. Life is about surviving, maybe not everyone but a good portion to start again and maybe learn from mistakes of the past. If books from the past survive, or even scraps of the past survive, that should be enough. Memory, knowledge, practical skills, language, these are tools we need to survive. Sacrifice of self is only worth it if survival of the species is at stake. And you’d better be right in your judgment of what is worthwhile. Otherwise you’ve thrown away something precious that might have preserved life.

Reviewer: Pablo B.
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: Me encantó esta novela, ¡No quería acabarla de leer!Novela en la que la historia de varios personajes se entrelazan den distintos puntos del tiempo.La novela está bien escrita y es sumamente fácil de leer. Realmente te lleva a otro mundo.¡No te vas a arrepentir de leerla, recomiendo 100%!

Reviewer: Amazon Customer
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: This may be one of the most captivating books I've ever read. It's truly epic, knitting together the story of an ancient Greek text, to the stories of the siege of Constantinople, the Korean War, a glimpse into 70's England, and a spaceship, decades into the future. The golden thread throughout all this is the representation of humanity with Aethon's story serving as the allegorical tapestry.With so many stories, over so many starkly different time periods, I wasn't sure I would be equally enraptured by all the individual tales. But ultimately, I was. Anna's story got me first, whereas Konstance, in her spaceship, initially felt literally and figuratively distant. Yet I soon found myself impatient to get back to her whilst simultaneously utterly absorbed with Anna, Omeir, Zeno, or Seymour. Every character is so very well drawn, with at least something about each of their stories that deeply resonated with me. The device of jumping between different arcs doesn't always work for me, I can become disinterested, but here it added a layer of suspense as all the parts unspooled to reveal the mystery.In terms of themes, Cloud Cuckoo Land covers everything from the futility of war, to climate change, to corporate corruption. Injustices of sexism, ableism poverty and homophobia are interweaved organically as the characters' stories unfold. But overall, this is a homage to books. And a wonderfully realised one at that.

Reviewer: Jacob Werblow
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: The book starts off quite slow, maybe even boring, since the narrative is split between five main characters. However, it is worth reading through each of their backstories despite that. Once the book really gets started, it is impossible to put down.What you are presented with is a unique story of five characters in different eras connected through the centuries by a codex, the story of Cloud Cuckoo Land, in a way that is only gradually revealed as the story goes on. Chapter by chapter, the book follows different characters as they encounter, or even relive, parts of the story at different points in their lives, which gives it a very unique structure. Even though two of the characters each are on opposing sides of a conflict, they are so human it is impossible not to feel for all of them.Although the book does lean into environmentalism a bit much at times, it contains five incredible stories in one, connected in a unique way and with an amazing twist near the end. Definitely would recommend.