I didn't like this one as much as "Cloud Atlas" or "The Bone Clocks" mostly because it didn't have the SF/F stuff (or very little of it, anyway) that I normally go in for. However, to give it only 3 stars would be a disservice. The writing is just too good, and the setting so beautifully rendered. ( )

Similar to Cloud Atlas in terms of themes and general feeling. Apparently, Mitchell likes writing about living the hard life, survival versus principles, and ships.

It occurs to me that Mitchells books are permeated with melancholia. This beautiful sadness makes you respect and sympathise with main characters that try to make the best of their lives, even when they've been dealt a bad hand.

If you like this book, read Stoner (Williams) and Shogun (Clavell) next. ( )

A book club pick :)

I wasn’t too keen on picking up another David Mitchell novel after Cloud Atlas. I did enjoy it, but it felt too much like an “I’m writing a bestseller and don’t I know it” exercise. Then I happened to read about The Thousand Autumns in a couple of blogs I trust, that basically said “don’t read Cloud Atlas, read his other books”. And then I suggested it for my book club, and I am glad I did (well, I am writing this review before the book club meeting, anyway… ;) ).

The very first chapter will floor you. Orito is an awesome character (more on this below) and I wanted to see so much more of her.

So I felt the joy that comes upon you when you dive into a good story told well. The history of Dejima is intriguing and I hadn’t explored it much, despite my fascination with Japan (because there is a lot to explore, you know). The author has done a lot of research, and it shows. I loved all the details and the melting pot of Dejima from the very beginning – smart-ass sailors, merchants, slaves, interpreters, courtiers, smugglers etc. Even the minor characters shine!

Jacob de Zoet steps into this medley. Corruption and thievery abound, so he walks on shaky ground and in a web of intrigues.

I always like to read about different cultures meeting:

“ ‘Ask, Vorstenbosch orders, ‘how His Honour enjoyed the coffee I presented’. The question, Jacob notes, provokes arch glances among the courtiers. The Magistrate considers his reply. ‘Magistrate says’, translates Okagawa, ‘Coffee tastes of no other.’ “

The academia meetings were very interesting to read about, with Dutch and Japanese scholars trying to make sense of western science together, as things got lost in translation. Historical figures, such as Sugita Genpaku, make an appearance. Nice!

The writing hooked me and sang to me. Here is Jacob (who has been doing his homework, as one should), catching a Japanese interpreter at a lie:

“Ramifications hatch from the appalling hush.”

And here is the impossible romance:

“I wish, he thinks, spoken words could be captured and kept in a locket.”

And here is autumn:

“Birds are notched on the low sky. Autumn is aging.”

Besides being a very well written piece of historical fiction, this is a novel about choices and their consequences. Jacob makes a noble choice, and then he makes a horrific one, and the difference between doing something noble that is detrimental to you alone and truly taking responsibility for another human being, hits the reader hard. When it comes to responsibility, Orito makes a different choice. I love Orito’s strength, resilience, and agency – while her would-be lovers are busy with angst for months, she plans. I enjoyed her POV much more than Jacob’s (who sometimes comes off as a bit of an everyman), she is a lot more interesting.

The end chapters transformed this book from a four into a five star read. Perfectly done.

P.S. I suspect David Mitchell has seen a lot of samurai movies. The scenes, dialogues, turns of fortune in the samurai/ronin adventure part of the book were exactly right. ( )

Here's what I wrote in 2012 about this read: "Nice. Learned about Dutch trade with Japan when the Dutch and Chinese were the only traders with Japan. Dejima Island in Nagasaki Bay, late 1700's through early 1800's. Oh, and a good story of love and secret sects thrown in for fun." First two quotations in the comments section are my exact kindle highlights. ( )

I really enjoyed reading this, but ultimately didn't think it was very good. Essentially there are two plot threads: one a reasonably straight-forward historical fiction, about a Dutchman struggling to live in a trading station in early 19th century Japan; the second involves more adventure/suspense/mystery elements, and is really far less convincing - with clichéd characters. It kinda felt to me like Mitchell lacked confidence in the first plot and so tried to ginger the book along with something a bit more uptempo, but for me it undermined the whole thing. Certainly, I felt that the second half (two thirds? not sure) didn't live up to the promise of the first part of the book. That said, I did really enjoy reading it - but any recommendation would be qualified. ( )