Comments on: David Mitchell: The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet

By: Ken

Ken — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 07:48:04 +0000

This is comically late. But…I was disappointed too. I loved Cloud Atlas about as much as one can love a book and found Black Swan Green very moving. This struck me as a superior version of Shogun with better writing and some great moments. I enjoyed it but expected more. The key confinement and deception of the sisters is exactly like plot elements in the Orison of Sonmi section of Cloud ATlas

By: The Thousand Autumns of Jacob De Zoet, by David Mitchell « KevinfromCanada

The Thousand Autumns of Jacob De Zoet, by David Mitchell « KevinfromCanada — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 19:45:02 +0000

[...] the only dissenting voice. My fellow Shadow Giller juror, Trevor Berrett at themookseandthegripes had some similar concerns in his review although he does end up much more positive than I did. And a couple of readers whom I respect on [...]

By: Man Booker Prize 2010 Speculation « PJE's Booker Blog

Man Booker Prize 2010 Speculation « PJE's Booker Blog — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 01:00:33 +0000

[...] “It’s good storytelling, but it’s really just storytelling. I wanted more. I have a hard …“ [...]

By: Trevor

Trevor — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 14:30:53 +0000

See the link in the above pingback for another disappionted admirer’s look at Jacob de Zoet. Kevin from Interpolations even coins a new term of art for one of Mitchell’s literary techniques: the prolapsed arm. Perfect!

By: The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet « Interpolations

The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet « Interpolations — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 14:13:10 +0000

[...] are, however, other mannerisms that are not so easy to ignore. As Trevor over at The Mookse and Gripes points out, Mitchell’s treatment of characters’ thoughts is quite clumsy. Indirect and [...]

By: Lee Monks

Lee Monks — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 20:13:20 +0000

I’m not sure what to say. I have a hunch you might not really enjoy him; having said that, I do think he’s one of the three or four most under-rated writers around. I found Imperial Bedrooms to be exquisite and pitch-black hilarious. I just love the dialogue exchanges and the pristine, sardonic wit of it. It’s an acquired taste, I guess. Give it a go! Blame me by all means if you loathe it!

Though I must say I owe you a great recommendation after your mentioning of Alistair McCleod. I’ve only read ‘The Boat’ thus far but you’re absolutely right there – what a writer.

By: Trevor

Trevor — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 15:23:57 +0000

I’ve been watching that a bit too, Lee, though since I haven’t read it I haven’t been as interested. I’m not that interested in Bret Easton Ellis anyway, for some reason. At this point, I don’t think I’ll ever pick him up. Am I way off?

By: Lee Monks

Lee Monks — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 15:16:25 +0000

“I keep linking to reviews because I’m really fascinated by them in this particular case. A book that gets called both shallow and deep by reputable writers (though I’m no fan of Eggers) is worth watching.”

I refer you to the case of Bret Easton Ellis and Imperial Bedrooms, which I must admit to really enjoying, possibly for the same reasons that some hated it.

By: Colette Jones

Colette Jones — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 19:11:22 +0000

Yes, that’s funny, and I disagree with Eggers.

It was an easy book, period. Everything could be followed very easily, as it was all explicitly laid out, no thinking around it required.

By: Trevor

Trevor — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 00:22:27 +0000

I just have to ask if this is funny to anyone else. In Egger’s review, this is the example he uses to say lead into the “this is not an easy book period.”

And are there even nods to the story of Persephone, also born of privilege, also found plucking exotic fruit, also abducted — whose removal from the world causes the world’s seasons? Maybe, maybe not. There are no easy answers or facile connections in “The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet.” In fact, it’s not an easy book, period.

Is not knowing whether a book is alluding to another text what passes for rewarding difficulty?