Cloud Atlas by David Millar - (his third novel published in 2004).
David Millar’s Cloud Atlas is not a read for the feint
hearted. It’s interesting in that it
covers three genres, that of Science Fiction, Drama and Fantasy. There’s the hint of a parable in there too. It
starts with Treasure Island and ends with Apocalypse, with some Jonathan Swift,
James Joyce and Douglas Adams to mention just a few, in between
The main appeal of the book and certainly what kept me hooked
was Millar’s use of language. It works on the mind as champagne bubbles work on
the tongue, with sparkle, surprise and is intoxicating. It’s opening the bottle that’s the hard
bit.
There is no plot to work through, you have to be ready and
willing to be taken by the hand by the teller, relax, and be led trough the
labyrinth of tales. Let the language
wash over you; accept the images and situations presented.
The opening storyline has an adventurous, but slightly
sinister tale of a voyage on the sea by a Dickensian character and his
attentive doctor, but, be prepared for your six voyages – past present and
future. None appear to be related, but
there is an underlying challenge of watch, listen and learn, then when you don’t
get a satisfactory answer, think it through yourself. You’ll have hours of fun, or perhaps tear
your hair out.
There is some satisfaction at the end, but no real
closure. The book made me think, very
hard and concentrate very hard and I still didn’t understand it fully. If you want something deep, that will keep
you awake and your mind ticking over, read it. If you want something to relax
and send you to sleep, don’t.
Margaret Rowland
