Mitchell's 2008 debut novel masterfully weaves together the stories of a dozen people who share their experiences in fascinating stream-of-consciousness monologs. Mitchell's varied, vividly drawn characters, who range from a Japanese death-cult member to an elderly female Chinese tea shop owner, sweep listeners through continents and centuries. The stories and characters connect in clever and surprising ways, and the result is a sprawling but engaging commentary on the human condition. While it is difficult to connect with some characters (a few are just plain repulsive), Mitchell's elegant prose is always a delight and superbly performed here by narrator William Rycroft.
VERDICT Recommend this title to those who enjoyed Mitchell's multi-award-winning novel Cloud Atlas, as these two books are structurally similar. ["This contemplative pleasure of a book is recommended for all public libraries," read the review of the Random hc, LJ 8/00.]
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