Unfortunately this one didn't land for me. I just didn't really connect with the characters enough to keep me interested and invested in the plot, which I found confusing. Anthony Doerr is a phenomenal and beautiful writer and knowing his other book, the wait for the stories to converge is likely worth it, I just couldn't wrap my head around the world enough to continue.

There is such a distinction between this book and most other books I have read in the past few months. This book is a creative and sophisticated piece with beautiful prose. It is also a bit hard to follow at times and the Odyssey pieces were lost on me (yes, that's a bit embarrassing but true). I am conflicted between the book being a brilliant piece and I simply didn't understand parts or is it too complicated for its readership and bit long and slow at parts. When I finish reading this review I will read some others to see if there is a consensus on this:) This would make a great book club read - it would take hours just to figure out the relevant themes. And I must add that the writing about the Atlas reminded me of trying to place an electronic escape room!!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an early release in exchange for a fair an honest review.

This wonderfully complex novel manages to convey multiple very different stories that have common threads in such a way that each one is equally important and engrossing. Ranging from a tale by Diogenes to 15th century Constantinople to recent Idaho to a dystopian future, it hardly seems likely that there could be a common thread. But of course Doerr has handled the themes and plots masterfully, leading to a memorable work that will give readers much to contemplate and discuss.

This is one of the best books I've read this year! Anthony Doerr is an expert at creating deep, complex and sympathetic characters in his books, and this is no different: Anna and Omeir in Constantinople hundreds of years ago, Zeno and Seymour in present-day Idaho, and Konstance in a spaceship in the future. Doerr writes strong women characters you grow to admire, and complex men with flaws. I loved the storyline and the development as we follow the path of the book Cloud Cuckoo Land through these three points in time. Doerr also crafts settings that you can experience with all your senses and I appreciated the importance of the setting of libraries throughout all the storylines. Doerr illustrated the importance of that setting almost as a character that upholds the values and intelligence of the community. Love Love Love this book!

Cloud Cuckoo Land is a beautifully written book ! Anthony Doerr has created a carefully crafted and wonderfully woven story that will fill the reader with so many emotions.

Doerr tells three stories in three time periods with Diogene’s Greek story of Aethon being the thread that pulls all the time periods and characters together. Omeir and Anna, Seymour and Zeno and Konstance are so alive and share with the reader the challenges they face in their lifetimes. Through their eyes we experience the horrors of war, a pandemic, forced labor, hatred, poverty, climate changes and fear. Yet the codex discovered by Anna, Zeno and Konstance gives them all hope and life.

I loved Doerr’s All The Light We Cannot See and he has created another masterpiece for readers to savor.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced reader copy and to Scribner for this wonderful opportunity !

4.5 stars

I (mostly) loved All The Light We Cannot See, especially for the quality of the writing. I was so excited to read this when I heard that it was coming out and was very curious to see how large a pivot this book is from the previous one. I begged Scribner for an e-galley in return for an honest review.
I think this was an issue of wrong book/wrong reader for me. It has been compared to Cloud Atlas in its jumping around in time, among several different stories to create something that eventually comes together. I think that should have been a warning to me, though because I didn't really enjoy Cloud Atlas either (despite loving David Mitchell's writing). I had a very similar experience with Cloud Cuckoo Land. The chapters were short enough that by the time I had an understanding of which story I was reading, it ended and changed to another. After a while, I just sort of lost interest. I know this has been a 5 star read for so many, but it was just really not for me.

If there is only one book that you read this year, make it this one. Cloud Cuckoo Land is one of the best books I have ever! read, in my life! Written by Anthony Doerr, who also penned All the Light We Cannot See, (another gorgeously written book) is enthralling, rapturous, stunning and other descriptions that do not do it justice. It is a story based on a Codex written in Greek, authored by a writer that Doerr names Antonius Diogenes, (is it perhaps Anthony Doerr's Greek name???), and the story covers years in time from the 1400's to the 2050's. The 5 main characters Omeir, Anna, Zeno, Seymore and Konstance, couldn't be more different. Doerr has written the intricacies of these characters beautifully. I particularly love the way he writes about Omeir and how he nurtures and cares for his twin oxen, Tree and Moonlight. (That story broke my heart). This is a book about humanity, its failures and its achievements and the love of birds, animals and our earth. I cannot thank Scribner Publishing for allowing me the epub to read, as well and Netgalley! But, all my praise goes to Anthony Doerr.....THANK YOU for writing this gorgeous novel. I hope it ends up on the Bestseller List, as it should!

I rate this novel a 50 out of 5 stars!!!!!

I really wanted to like this book, especially because I loved the author's previous works, but I found this story to be somewhat tedious and drawn out. It had potential, but its zigzagging and convoluted storytelling honestly...bored me. The writing was beautiful, but I'm not sure it was enough.

Anthony Doerr does it again! This book had everything: Science Fiction, Historical Fiction, Contemporary Fiction all in one. It certainly was not a fast read. I had to read slowly to really take it all in all of the beautiful language and the intricacies of all of the characters and their stories. The story centers around 5 main characters and three time periods, Constantinople during the fifteenth century, present day Idaho and on a spaceship decades in the future. These characters are ones I think I will always remember just like Marie-Laure and Werner from his previous Pulitzer winning novel, All the Light You Cannot See. Even though there were 5 main characters in this book, they were so well developed I felt like I knew all of them so distinctly. At times, the switching of time periods and characters got a little confusing, but not to the point where it detracted from the story. When the story switched it left me always anxious to return to the previous characters to find out what happened with them. I loved how all of the stories of the various characters connect in the end and are all tied to a fabled Greek Myth.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for an an ARC of this book.

Some books take you on a journey from the first page til the last! This story blends the past, present and future into a brilliant kaleidoscope of connection. This is a book that everyone should read.

WOW!
Dedicated to “the librarians then, now, and in the years to come,” - LOVE THIS.
I’m in complete awe. And left with the word: Hope. Def recommend this to everyone!

Thank you so much NetGalley for allowing me to read an early release of Cloud Cuckoo Land! I’m a huge fan of All The Light We Cannot See, so I was ecstatic to receive this!

I may run out of superlatives on this one. Anthony Doerr is a genius. I honestly think Cloud Cuckoo Land might surpass All the Light We Cannot See, one of my all time favorite reads. Cloud Cuckoo is not only genre-bending, but succeeds in its ambitious premise in brilliant prose that must be savored. Doerr weaves a gorgeous tapestry with unforgettable characters in such a fresh and surprising way that I’m in awe! I’m afraid if I go on I’ll accidentally give something away, so I’m going to end with this: if you’re a lover of All the Light, get your hands on this book immediately. Thank you so much to Netgalley and Scribner for the opportunity to read and review an advanced reader copy, in exchange for an honest review!

I loved Doerr's previous book All the Light We Cannot See but looking back at my notes, I really struggled while reading it. His style is very literary, which is to say more difficult for me to read. This new book, Cloud Cuckoo Land, is the same very literary style but with no solid storyline reward. It is all over the place and difficult to follow. Cuckoo is an apt word for it. I hope this book finds it's audience but it is not for me.

Cloud Cuckoo Land is another beautifully written novel by the modern day literary master Anthony Doerr. We are going through five point of views. The premise of this book was so unique and in a subject that I have not read on before.

Loved All the Light We Cannot See. Cloud Cuckoo Land ... not so much. The plot reaches for heights it cannot grasp, and comes off contrived. Still, it keeps the reader engaged if for no other reason than to see where it is going to end up. Several characters are also engaging, Omeir and Anna in particular. If you have some time on your hands and are looking for something a bit off the wall, this may fill the bill for you. If you are looking for a book you will finish with a sigh of satisfaction, you might want to move on.

I wasn't sure what to expect from a book entitled 'Cloud Cuckoo Land'. It's such a frivolous name but 'All the Light We Cannot See', Anthony Doerr's previous book, got such resounding acclaim who could pass up the opportunity to review this one. Then I noticed it's 640 pgs and nearly swooned. My love of thick books is well documented. The writing is so impressive that I literally got a third of the way through and went immediately to preorder a copy.

'Cloud Cuckoo Land' is a moving series of stories about the resilience of children, the harsh realities that face every generation (war, trauma, disease, abuse, death) and hope that can overcome hardships. We follow the thread of one story/play throughout all these characters lives. It proves what we readers already know, that the magic of a good story/book is sometimes the best medicine. I don't know whether to call this historical fiction, Sci fi/fantasy or a contemporary masterpiece because it is all of these. It was quite simply an excellent piece of literature and very worthy of buying in my opinion. I can't recommend it enough. The only things I can caution you about are the multiple narrators and nonlinear timeline. However, the chapters are pleasantly short and well titled, so I didn't find it confusing at all. Trigger warning for animal cruelty during a time of war. Anthony Doerr's writing is superb, beautiful and at times heart-rending. This a book with a powerful message that will stay with you.

Never have I read a book that has managed to take my emotions through so many different levels. What begins as sadness and hopelessness moves to joy and hope. We see how the connection to an ancient text transcends the past, present, and, future. It takes us down a path and through a forest and deposits us in a sea of stars. I cannot wait to read it again and to catch what I missed during my first read!!!

This book may end up being my favorite of the year. I was hesitant to pick it up because I LOVED "All the Light We Cannot See" and was worried that this new book would not meet my expectations. While it is a very different book and I can't say that everyone that loved "All the Light..." will love this one too, it was perfect for me. I really enjoy reading books that have multiple story lines in different time periods with story threads that come together by the end. Plus, the way Anthony Doerr writes is amazing -- so much talent. I will be recommending and gushing about this book for a very long time.

The writing in this book is really beautiful. Never have I been so aware of how using lists in writing can play with time and build tension. However, there is SO MUCH sadness at the beginning of the novel, and timing-wise it isn't a great fit for me at this moment. I look forward to returning to it in the future!

Doerr's latest novel is not only ambitious but pleasurable. If I were teaching a YA lit class, I'd probably pick this novel because I think high school students would enjoy it a great deal. This novel takes place over many centuries in many countries and is connected by the title of our novel. To some degree, it's a bit of a mystery how it all connects, and we read along assuming we will see the connections more clearly through the chapters, which we do. Much of the book revolves around showing appreciation for librarians.

At times, I found myself speed-reading over sections because I was more interested in some characters more than others. Maybe I was just impatient. I was most interested in Seymour and Zeno, even though Zeno's visit to reconnect with the POW friend was a bit of a let down. Seymour and his mother were more interesting, mainly because they were the most contemporary characters and their experiences seemed the most relatable.

Overall, this is an enjoyable novel that provides readers with a glimpse into different cultures, historically and in futuristically, and shows how we are connected by mysterious threads.