Has any one read the book 'cloud atlas?' ....?

Question

I recently read this book whilst on holiday. It seems quite highly acclaimed in it's reviews. But I just didnt seem to 'get it', can someone please explain how all the seperate lives are suppost to meet, or what they have in common.
I enjoyed the seperate storys but, I kept on reading hoping they would all have some relevance and I couldn't find any.
I'm hoping I just missed some massive point and someone can help me out here!

Answer 1

I've just bought it on reccommendation. Is it good?

Answer 2

Each story contains a passing reference to the one before. For example (I can't remember the names, sorry) the man staying in a house in 19th century France found the diary of the previous character, the doctor in the south sea islands; the clone in the future watched a film about the man trying to escape from the old age home, and in turn the post-apocalyptic person had a statue of the clone. And so on.

Answer 3

What answerers before me have said about little links and the comet shape birthmarks is, of course, right.

However, that's just cleverness. As far as I could see there was no common theme or big idea interconnecting the stories. If there was I missed it. And, like you, this bugged me about the book. Don't get me wrong, they were entertaining enough stories, but the structure of the book was ultimately just an empty gimmick in my opinion.

Answer 4

Not only are the previous stories mentioned or referred to in future stories but there is also the comet shaped birthmark and the suggestion that the birthmark belonged to a certain sole that was destined to change the world.

Somtimes the decisions of previous lives affect the outcome of later lives.

Answer 5

Try 'Ghostwritten', by the same author. It's a little more accessible.

Wasn't Cloud Atlas essentially about reincarnation?

Answer 6

Theres only 1 way to find out and its not by asking on here!!!! ;)