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Original poster

Anyone else find David Mitchell books a bit.......um.......dull?

37 replies

glitch · 29/11/2011 12:09

I've tried Cloud Atlas and failed miserably.
I'm now about a quarter of the way through The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet and it is such a hard slog.
Is it just me? Should I carry on? I hate giving up on books but it is just such tough work reading it.
His reviews seem to be fantastic but I just can't seem to read them.

OP posts:
valiumpoptarts · 29/11/2011 12:49

Chose Jacob for my book club as everyone here said it was fab. Not one person got beyond page 100....

Notquitegrownup · 29/11/2011 12:48

I think that you have to accept that they are not fast moving, and to be prepared to relax and be absorbed - they are long warm baths, rather than powershowers (hough with jacusi ending perhaps?! - this metaphor may not be the best!!)

It could also be about expectations too. I always struggle with books that I know other people looove as I -get- -overexcited- am looking out for what is supposed to be so good, rather than just reading it.

RealLifeIsForWimps · 29/11/2011 12:46

Black Swan Green is one of his earlier books, and is in a completely different style to both Cloud Atlas and Thousand Autumns. It doesn't even feel as though it could have been written by the same person. It's very enjoyable, but, IMO, nowhere near as well written. I guess it just shows that published authors improve as they go along.

LinzerTorte · 29/11/2011 12:44

Oh, I'm glad it's not just me. I struggled to get to the end of Number9dream but, rather masochistically, have just bought Black Swan Green.

Notquitegrownup · 29/11/2011 12:41

I looove those two books of his - and Ghostwritten too - but there is someone at my book group like you, who just doesn't get him, at all. Think that he might be a bit like Marmite - you either love him or . . .

(By the way, slight hijack, for Mitchell fans - should I try again with Number9Dream?? Couldn't get started on this at all, after a couple of tries, though it might be down to the very small font size in my copy - not suitable for reading in dim light/bed at all!!)

RealLifeIsForWimps · 29/11/2011 12:41

Different David Mitchell- not the one on Peep Show

Hullygully · 29/11/2011 12:41

Not that david mitchell...

HughBastard · 29/11/2011 12:39

David Mitchell writes books?

Are they Stephen Fryish?

Original poster
glitch · 29/11/2011 12:36

Glad I'm not alone jeee. I so want it to be good.
Hully, what am I doing wrong? Help me love it please Grin

OP posts:
RealLifeIsForWimps · 29/11/2011 12:34

Sorry but I'm with Hully. He is, in my opinion, probably one of the all time greats and Cloud Atlas is breathtakingly clever.

jeee · 29/11/2011 12:13

I've tried to read Cloud Atlas three times. It sounds so good on the back cover. But it's so... boring. I won't be trying any of his other books.

Hullygully · 29/11/2011 12:11

it's you

he is FANTASTIC