The Thousand Autumns Of Jacob Zoet

[Myliferocks]

I've had this book on my Kindle for ages now and so far haven't read it. It's not the sort of book i would normally read and I think I only bought it because it was on offer.
I've looked at the reviews on Amazon and they mostly say it's a good book but a bit hard to read iyswim.
I was wondering if any Mumsnetters had read it and what they thought of it.
Is it worth reading?

I certainly think it's worth reading though I found it quite hard going. There are some really, really beautiful passages and I'd rate it higher in my order of preference of his books than Cloud Atlas which I didn't enjoy at all (or I enjoyed on the way up through the stories, but not on the way back down), but not as high as Ghostwritten or my top favourite, Black Swan Green which I think is the best book ever written about school bullying. I think it probably comes down to just how interested you are in the claustrophobic nature of 18th Century Japanese society measured against the claustrophobic nature of the Dutch trading colony in which Jacob finds himself but that makes it sound very dry, which on the whole it isn't.

I'm rather aware that doesn't exactly sell it but it's worth giving it a go - I've got one friend who rated it her book of the year the year it came out.

Also found it quite hard going in places but probably worth reading.

I loved it. Took a bit of time to get into in but once I did, I was reading till the wee small hours and sneaking bits when I was supposed to be doing other things. Beautifully written. By far my favourite of his books.

I've just been at a talk by Lian Hearn ( Across the Nightingales Floor) where she was praising it highly, so after I've read her new novel Blossoms and Shadows I think I'll give it a go.

I'm like you OP... It's sat there waiting for me to read, but I can't quite bring myself to start.

Apparently there are millions of characters and it's hard work trying I keep up with who everyone is.

I've downloaded it onto the Kindle apps on my ipod touch and ipad so it looks like i'm giving it a go.
I don't like giving up on books so hopefully the length of it won't put me off!
Thank you everybody for your opinions on the book. Hopefully i will enjoy it an persevere to the end!