In the eighteenth century, Dejima was an established Dutch trading post (and artificial island) in the bay of Nagasaki, Japan. In The Thousand Autumns
Mitchell flexes his imaginative muscle with prowess throughout the novel, with different sections of it taking place on Dutch Dejima, Japanese Nagasaki, the Shrine of Shiranui (a monastery/convent shrouded in rumour and mystery), aboard an English trading ship, and in the minds, hearts and memories of many of the book’s endearing characters. It is a tale rife with colour and culture, atmosphere and ambience.
What I liked best about The Thousand Autumns was the rhythmic nature of its prose. Mitchell has employed a very subtle and structured poeticism in the writing of this book which made me feel that it would be quite fun and interesting to read aloud. There is a distinct rhythm which runs all the way through, especially in the dialogue, which gives it a Shakespearean, stage-play feel. There is also a fantastic section which is written in rhyming prose; look out for that, it’ll make your linguistic antennas tingle (a symptom of Mitchell’s usual stylistic genius)! He plays with language; moulding and manipulating words into new and exciting shapes, making you notice and, in turn, think about his choice of wording.
The Thousand Autumns is a beautifully well-rounded novel, sharing with its readers the incredible wisdom of David Mitchell’s imagination, while being elusive and enigmatic enough to give your mind an imaginative workout, too. If you’re an established Mitchell fan (comme moi), it’s a must-read. If you were bored/annoyed by Cloud Atlas (as I know some of you were), probably don’t try to improve your Mitchell-affection with this one – turn your eyes to Number9Dream
2 comments:
lost the thread in the monastery section, seemed so cumbersome .. took a week off from the book, basically having given up .. finally read the last section, and enjoyed ... my conclusion, having read everything he has written, this one was not finished, he should have left it in the drawer for 6 months or so, then looked at it with fresh eyes
Hi Gregory!
Yes I can see why Mitchell is not for everyone, his settings & storylines are sometimes convoluted; it cannot be denied! :)
I do recommend you try Black Swan Green which is completely unlike this one; it's about a 12 year old boy with a stammer, and the awkwardness of growing up. It showcases Mitchell's ability with words in a very different way & is easily read & enjoyed.
Thanks for visiting Evie Reads! :)
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