A collection of short stories on the topic of slavery. But the fascinating thing is that each one is split in half - like pealing an onion the stories are interlinked.

It's amazing. ( )

I bought this because my son recommended it. I really couldn't get on with it at all, I found the format contrived and the characters unattractive and was unable to really empathise with any of it. I suppose technically it is very good and shows a lot of research but it left me uninvolved and unmoved, and so I have to say it really didn't work for me - I actually thought it took a long time and a lot of detours to be long winded and unpleasant. But it has had rave reviews and my son loves it, so I seem to be in a minority. ( )

Mitchell is a talented writer, in that he can turn it on and off at will - the different styles, the construction of narrative, the rounded but quirky characters, the vividness of description. However, his attitude towards writing feels a bit like that of a surgeon towards the body: slice, dice and try to leave everything in good working order but once you leave theatre, you have forgotten whose body it was you have just worked apparent miracles on.In other words, the sensibilities informing this work, like the rather banal comments that some of the figures in this kaleidoscope of a novel pronounce as profundities that are in fact no more than platitudes, are cold and abstracted. There is no warmth that a lover or carer might lend to the body of writing under their affection or charge, but more of a sense of job done.If you want a slightly more challenging and more than usually diverting aiport novel, this is it; if you are looking for great literature, give this guy maybe another 20 years of living. ( )

This book,( along with 9 of the 10 Library Thing recommendations for those who like this book), picked me up by the shoulders and carried me along, leaving me dropped and wrung out after 509 pages. A ripper. ( )

A drift through time?alternate universe?a dream? Usually don't have patience with such, but book moves through the lives and times of who/what/wherever and is painful, moving and lovely all at once. Dont' worry, it does have structure and a plot of sorts, it just takes a while to put it all together, so don't get irritated. Mitchell is a fine writer. ( )