The Bone Clocks and other novels by David Mitchell Read Along

[DuchessofMalfi]

Sign up here and say which novels you plan to read. I'm starting with The Bone Clocks, aiming to finish it in September.

All discussions of David Mitchell's novels are welcome

Saw Ghostwritten on the kindle summer sale, and amazon informed I'd already purchased it

Need to start reading my kindle collection, clearly. So will probably tick that one off too this summer.

Just finished ghostwritten - it's brilliant.

Hoping to make a start on Ghostwritten either today or tomorrow :)

I've just started Ghostwritten. I'm 11% in and enjoying it. I also have The Bone Clocks on my Kindle but decided to read Ghostwritten first, as it is the first book he wrote.

I'm a quarter of the way through Ghostwritten and like it so far. Quite intriguing. Wasn't sure whether I would like it whilst on the first story but now I see the connections coming together, a bit like Charlie Cook's Favourite Book

Checking in, hope to read bone clocks on holiday v soon!

Checking in too - just love seeing what other Mitchell fans have to say. And feeling hurt because people nominated Cloud Atlas under 'books to avoid'. Connections: it's been a while but I think the older woman he meets in Black Swan Green was in Cloud Atlas (the composer's daughter?). The books all stand alone, but the little links are there.

Duchess - my heart sank while I was reading the first chapter too, as I thought it was going to be some dreadful scifi thing. But then when I realised that all the chapters were different stories, I started to get into it. It's much much better than I would have expected it to be for a first novel - each story is entertaining in its own right and then there are all these little links between them, as with Cloud Atlas (though Cloud Atlas is richer and more complex).

Cooroo - yes, I think there are a few characters that reappear in the different novels, and you're right about the composer's daughter being a link between Black Swan Green and Cloud Atlas. The trouble is I leave it so long between the books that I can't remember who is in what.

On the whole I thought it was well worth reading. Some of the chapters I found more engaging than others. I'm not entirely convinced that I'm quite the right audience for David Mitchell's novels, but my interest has been piqued sufficiently to give The Bone Clocks a go and, if all goes well with that, then Cloud Atlas.

I think I must count DM as my favourite author, so very excited to join this thread!

My favourite is definitely 1000 Autumns of Jacob de Zoet, but I really loved cloud Atlas too. Bone Clocks and Ghost written still great books though, but just not as much depth for me.

I still need to read Black Swan Green and Number9dream.

I will be very interested to see what you all think of the various sections of Bone Clocks.

Checking in- I'm 50% through Bone Clocks. Loving it. I've read all DM books except number9dream and I'm thinking of going back to Cloud Atlas as I read it when it first came out. I too am in love with David Mitchell!

I recently read the bone clocks and really liked it. Parts of it have stuck with me. I loved David Mitchell's writing style and definitely want to read more. Just downloaded ghost written.

Another connection, Mo the physicist (Cloud Atlas) appears towards the end of Bone Clocks. I'm almost finished after a marathon read last night and today (holiday!). Already disappointed that I'm running out of story.

Perfectly timed thread, just finished the first chapter/section/not sure what to call it.
Love Cloud Atlas and Jakob de Zoet and have Ghostwritten and Number 9dream lined up.

I haven't read the whole thread in case there are hidden spoilers but I'm reading the bone clocks at the moment, its the first book of his that I have read.

Not sure what to think so far, I'm near the start, I assume that it is worth carrying on?

Hooked, I loved the bone clocks straight from the start! So if you're not liking it maybe it's just not your taste. I guess perserve for a bit though and we!

I'm reading Ghostwritten and really enjoying it. The first section

I've read about 5 or 6 parts now and just love his writing style. The Tokyo part is SO Murakami though - lonely guy, jazz...

I'm currently in "Mongolia"

*we = see

I finished Ghostwritten a couple of weeks ago and I really enjoyed it. Each chapter is like a short story which can stand alone but I found that I got into each new chapter really quickly and I liked it when characters from previous chapters starting popping up.
However I did struggle a bit with the last couple of chapters, I found the chapter with the Irish scientist hard going and I'm not sure I understand who or what was phoning the radio show in the penultimate chapter! Would be interested to hear what other people understood from the ending.

I'm planning to read a couple of books which are less taxing on the old brain cells and then start on The Bone Clocks.

It was a bit odd, that last chapter. I thought the caller was the cult leader who ordered the gas attack in the first chapter. Perhaps I've misunderstood that?

Looking forward to tackling The Bone Clocks soon. I bought a new paperback copy last week, thinking that would be easier to read than on kindle. Beautiful cover

Ah I didn't think of the cult leader - will have to re-read that part now to see what I think. At first I thought it was the Irish scientist, then I thought it was the "spirit" which had been embodying some of the characters, especially when the dj and his assistant couldn't agree if it was a male or female who kept phoning in (which made me think that "it" kept changing voices to confuse people!)

i've just been given "the thousand autumns of jacob de zoet"

have you read it? did you like it.....i've just started and not feeling the love just yet...should i persevere ?

(trying to train myself to leave books i don't like as I have so little time to read)
thanks

The first time that I started Thousand Autumns I gave up after the first chapter. I had a lot going on and needed a book I didn't have to concentrate on! I went back to it a few months later and still found it took a while to get into, but I really enjoyed it once I did.
How much have you read? I try to force myself to read at least 3 or 4 chapters before giving up on a book, but I agree that there are so many good books waiting to be read that there is no point reading something you aren't enjoying

not much....still in second chapter....
I'm not very good at stopping but have made myself a new resolution because I am missing brilliant books whilst ploughing through unrewarding (for me) books.....will keep going for a bit I think

he might be one of "those" authors that people love or hate?
Or it might be a time of life thing...

I've just dug out my copy and it has reminded me that the first few chapters were a real struggle for me (especially the graphic drawing in chapter one!)

Have you read any of his other books? I think Thousand Autumns is quite different to the others I've read (Cloud Atlas, Ghostwritten and Black Swan Green)