The Book, The Film, The T-Shirt
  • Home
  • News
  • Features
  • Movies
  • Books
  • TV
  • Gaming
  • Interviews
  • Competitions
Books 0

Cloud Atlas (2004) by David Mitchell

By Amandeep Johal @r2geek2 · On August 16, 2015


The Gist:

A dystopian text beginning in the 1850s and thus becoming a deep exploration and understanding of how the actions from the past impact one another and continue to affix the present and future.

The Review:

In simpler terms, the idea of reincarnation plays a thought provoking, symbolic retribution throughout as one soul is reshaped from good to bad and how little acts of kindness can blow up to inspire for future revelation.

Consisting of six stories which all connect in two parts, taking the reader from 19th C South Pacific to the harrowing post-apocalyptic future, Cloud Atlas reveals the complexity of connecting each character to the future, be it reincarnation, Deja-vu as the characters find an items that play such a symbolic role throughout the novels (and a great way to keep us on track as well as nostalgic) they are then unravelling a vital piece of history. David Mitchell successfully captures how the story unfolds over time, workings towards the post-apocalyptic scene and the class struggles.

The Wachowski siblings brought David Mitchell’s novel to screen in 2012, thus prompting a theatrical revolution in performance told in such an unconventional and daring ways that sheds a light on the book to film adaptation generation.

But I wouldn’t let this complexity throw you off, the scenes are so in depth and you really feel alienated from a world but for me that’s the beauty of good story telling, I haven’t come across a novel with such ambiguous story telling, think of this as a play, whatever has started will finish on a high (or low) note.

The Verdict:

Indeed, “Our lives are not our own. We are bound to others, past and present, and by each crime and every kindness, we birth our future.” As complex, I found Cloud Atlas to be such an underrated piece of art. From what we gather, from the beginning especially, the idea of freedom and emancipation co-exists and the problems begin, the second part or in fact the future shows how these problems are resolved.

I guess you could say it’s a form of the future taking lessons from the past.

 

Released: 1st January 2004

Publisher: Sceptre

Share this:

  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)

Related

Cloud Atlas (2004) by David Mitchell
Amandeep Johal
August 16, 2015
4/10
4 Overall Score

Cloud AtlasDavid MitchellSceptre
Share Tweet

Amandeep Johal

Poet and performer with a twisted and creative eye. Relies on five books a day for nourishment and video games for dessert. Reminding everyone what a book looks, feels and tastes like!

You Might Also Like

  • Books

    Titanium Noir Review

  • Books

    Empire of the Vampire Review

  • aliens phalanx by scott sigler Books

    Aliens Phalanx by Scott Sigler (2020)

No Comments

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Subscribe & Follow

Follow @thebookthefilm
Follow on Instagram
  • Popular
  • Comments
  • Tags
  • The Rise of Lockdown Streaming

    May 3, 2020
  • Salvo (2014)

    September 27, 2014
  • Penny Dreadful S1 EP 3 ‘Resurrection’ & EP 4 ‘Demimonde’ Review

    June 22, 2014
  • Pet Movie

    Spoiler Alert – Top 5 Horror Movie Twists

    March 17, 2017
  • warner bros. for her dvd collection

    Christmas Gift Guide: For Her – Heart Warming DVDs

    December 14, 2016
  • Win a copy of The Apartment on Limited Edition Blu-ray Courtesy of Arrow Academy

    December 23, 2017
David Griffiths marvel Ben Affleck J.K. Simmons Amy Adams Jai Courtney Lee Griffiths Hugh Jackman Chris pratt Scarlett Johansson Jason Clarke Daniel Craig Kyle McGrath Emilia Clarke Henry Cavill keanu reeves benedict cumberbatch Sky Atlantic
  • Home
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Affiliate Disclosure

ABOUT

Over opinionated and online. The Book, The Film, The T-Shirt was created for lovers of entertainment everywhere. We hope you enjoy it. Don't feed the writers after midnight.

Latest News

  • HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON – Gerard Butler & Dean DeBlois Interview

    June 17, 2025
  • LONG BRIGHT RIVER – Amanda Seyfried Interview

    June 15, 2025
  • SNATCHERS – Craig Alexander & Shelly Higgs Interview

    June 14, 2025

SEARCH THE SITE

HIBS100 Index of Home and Interior Blogs
HIBS100

© 2016 Last Exit to Hollywood Media Limited. All rightsreserved. “As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.”