Re-read the Bone Clocks by David Mitchell

Submitted by ackthisisamess t3_10o0r18 in books

I'm currently undergoing a phase where I want to re-read old books rather than explore new ones... I expect that this is purely for comfort reasons as I have a lot of stressors going on in my life and these books provide me with a sense of consistency.

Revisiting the Bone Clocks is truly beautiful. I adore this book and I love how David Mitchell adds in little bits of narrative from his other book, Ghostwritten. I think David Mitchell is a truly amazing author and I'm often surprised how no one in my life seems to know of him. The way he weaves stories together and his combination of character and world building/description is truly remarkable, in my opinion.

Anyway, I was wondering if anyone else enjoyed this book/other books by David Mitchell. And, if you dont enjoy David Mitchell/this book in particular, I'd be curious to hear more about that as well!

...I think I'm off to re-read Ghostwritten, again, as it seems to be my current all time favourite book.

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Vermithor-BronzeFury t1_j6c6pcj wrote

I've also read cloud atlas and thousand autumns of jacob de zoet. Both wonderful, and for me more enjoyable than bone clocks. Enjoy the re-reads

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surells t1_j6cgi4a wrote

My favourites are:

Number 9 Dream - it just has so much narrative drive and youthful enthusiasm. The main character really felt real to me. And I loved the experimentation with style/genre in each section. Not a big fan of the Goat Writer stuff, but it's not a deal breaker.

Black Swan green - Being from the Midlands in the UK this had a lot of nostalgia for me. I liked how down to earth it was and how that would contrast with some of Mitchell's more unusual choice of metaphor. Plus Hugo Lamb was a great antagonist I was very glad to see reappear.

Thousand Autumns - Just a big wonderful beast of a book. He manages to get the bygonese perfectly, striking the balance between it feeling viably old whilst still being readable. it's incredibly well researched, and the setting is fascinating. I managed to visit Dejima when I went to Japan, and I never would have known about it without the book. Plus I think this is where we first meet Marinus.

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ackthisisamess OP t1_j6gj13b wrote

Number9dream I did in general enjoy (I loved the descriptions of Japan, and I've been to Japan like you and I'm very connected to the location) however I struggled about with a certain graphic scene (if I remember correctly).

I also really enjoyed the descriptions of England (I love and miss England) in Blackswangreen. However, I prefer the books with more magical elements so I wasnt crazy about this one either. Likewise with thousand autumns. All beautifully written books of course, but not suited for my very specific and picky "comfort" list haha.

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surells t1_j6h7tfn wrote

Good to know you enjoy the magic. I think he gets a lot of criticism for including magic from his more snobby reviewers and readers who think it's unbecoming of a writer of his quality, but like you I think it's great and always appreciate a writer ignoring genre boundaries.

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cwojanis t1_j6j681a wrote

I have read the same little book once a year for the last 30 years. Just a fantasy entitled The Blue Sword. Over my last 74 years I've read thousands of books and I've read many, many books more than once. It's spending time with old, dear friends.

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shadyshadok t1_j6c1i11 wrote

I had to google if it's David Mitchell the comedian who writes the books or another DM 😂 (It's another person)

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Brighteye t1_j6dd32k wrote

Seems I'm in a slightly different camp than folks here, David Mitchell is my favorite author, but my favorite books are Slade House and Bone Clocks.

I love the mythos of carnivores and vegetarians he has set up, and transmigration.

And across all his books, it's just amazing how he can write ANYONE. 16th century Japanese manservant, Dutch sailor, jazz player, depressed teen, romantic composer. His characters are just so rich and grey and fascinating

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ackthisisamess OP t1_j6gj9n3 wrote

I loved the magical aspect of slade house but I'm not much into the horrifying aspects (I'm in a bit of a "comfort" reading phase).

I love how he writes characters and scenery and world-building and everything. Just how the heck can one author do it all!!

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timtamsforbreakfast t1_j6cd032 wrote

I have only read Cloud Atlas and Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet. I liked both a lot, so would be open to reading more books by David Mitchell. Would you reccomend Ghostwritten as the next one to read?

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surells t1_j6cg3na wrote

Depends what you're after. Ghost written is his first book, and he hasn't quite landed his style yet, but it has great characters and moments. It's essentially a book of linked short stories on a theme.

If you prefer something with more narrative coherence then Number 9 Dream could be good. Set in Japan, strong plot but also some beautiful writing. Maybe my favourite.

His most down to Earth novel is Black Swan Green. Set in small town England following a key point in life of a boy with a stammer (quite autobiographical). Introduces a cool character who's key in Bone Clocks.

Later books like Bone Clocks and Utopia Avenue are great, but do build heavily on what's gone before, so I'd recommend reading some earlier stuff first. That said, if the blurb to any of them appeal you can certainly just go ahead and read them - they wont be incomprehensible., and it might be fun to go back and see where characters started.

Enjoy!

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ackthisisamess OP t1_j6gjgwd wrote

I was wondering what you thought about Utopia Avenue? I have not read it yet and was curious on what others thought, as well as if it shares some similarities with Bone clocks and/or ghostwritten?

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surells t1_j6h7ns3 wrote

It's probably closer to Bone Clocks, but there's much less magic for most of the book, and the narrative is quite straight forward. I liked it a lot; it's very well written and the characters are charming and have strong voices. The magic comes in quite naturally and had some great links for previous books that made me excited to see what he'll do with this world in the future. It's focused on the musical scene in Britain and the US in the 60s. Mitchell writes about music and people that love music really well. My only criticism would be it did sometimes feel the characters were randomly running into famous musicians early in their careers a bit too much. It started to feel like a Simpsons episode where they all shout "Tony Hawk!? What are you doing here!?" But it didn't ruin the book for me.

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ackthisisamess OP t1_j6cfdzj wrote

I read these as well, and actually did not like them that much personally, however it could just be that I got a bit confused and would benefit from re-reading them at some point.

Ghostwritten and Bone Clocks are my two personal favs! Maybe try out Ghostwritten first, as it's a bit shorter, so if you start and don't like it it's a bit less of a commitment if that makes sense :)

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nxcturnas t1_j6cno3m wrote

I've only read Cloud Atlas and loved it. the way the stories connected and the structure was very interesting. this thread makes me want to check out all the other books everyone is mentioning!

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Sl1210mk2 t1_j6drjg1 wrote

I liked Cloud Atlas but got stuck for ages on the central story Sloosha’s Crossin’. It just seemed to lose momentum here and the future language was a bit too Jar Jar Binks for me and felt really clunky.

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ackthisisamess OP t1_j6gjk61 wrote

Oh my gosh me too... haha glad to hear I wasnt the only one.

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nxcturnas t1_j6h3zh3 wrote

I understand! it took me a bit to get through that part too, specially since English isn't my first language, but I felt it was worth it in the end

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I-Sort-Glass t1_j6c8f0y wrote

Love his work. Always enjoyed the references to previous events and characters from his other books.

I found that his earlier works, number9dream and Ghostwritten, did a great job of building the momentum almost to breaking point, but then just ended before the storyline had been satisfactorily resolved, leaving you to make up your own mind. He stops doing this so much from Black Swan Green on.

Anyway. Long way of saying I’m a fan.

Easily in the top 2 David Mitchell’s.

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Laurax-1994 t1_j6dozln wrote

I loved number nine dream, but do agree the ending was extremely frustrating. Probably my favorite read of his though for some reason.

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emperor_toby t1_j6cr3jy wrote

Love David Mitchell and love the fact that the more of his stories you read the more you realize that they are all episodes from a much larger, interconnected universe.

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somuchfeels t1_j6ck0pd wrote

Kind of related- I’ve been thinking about Utopia Avenue all day. I just read Daisy Jones and the Six, which was a totally okay book, but just not as impactful to me as Utopia Avenue with really similar subject matter. I loved when the Bone Clocks characters (can’t remember who) show up in Utopia and it made me want to reread it. David Mitchell is definitely underrated!

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ethanvyce t1_j6esfff wrote

Utopia is such a good story, love how he mixes real people in

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ackthisisamess OP t1_j6gjofo wrote

Glad to hear you liked it! I have yet to read Utopia Avenue and I was wondering whether it incorporates lots of magical elements/is similar in style to Ghostwritten and/or Bone Clocks?

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Thalattos t1_j6chfdr wrote

I love David Mitchell, though the Bone Clocks doesn't come close to Ghostwritten, Cloud Atlas and The thousand autumns for me. I liked it better than Number 9 Dream though.

It just felt a little less focused and the fantasy-elements where a tad too much for my taste. But all in all, Holly, Crispin and Hugo where great characters and the last part was so bittersweet, it gutted me. So all in all still great novel.

Ghostwritten pulled me through a very dark time in my life, I listened to the audiobook every night when I couldn't sleep because my mind was spiraling. When I finished I restarted the next day. So aside from being better in a literary and technical sense in my opinion, Ghostwritten will always hold a very special place in my heart.

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ackthisisamess OP t1_j6gk0nu wrote

Ghostwritten has also accompanied me during some very very rough/shit times. I'm glad it provided you with a sense of comfort as well.

My favourite chapter (at the moment) is probably the Moscow one. Not sure why though. I also love the Tokyo one and the mountain one. And all of them! Haha I can't pick :)

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My_Name_is_Galaxy t1_j6d89a2 wrote

This is my #2 favorite book, and I also gravitate toward re-reading favorites when life is stressful. Everything about the writing seems so natural - I recall telling a friend that The Wedding Bash chapter was like attending a family wedding as it (to me at least) captured just how people behave and talk at a wedding or big family event, and I consider the passage in the labyrinth one of the most beautifully written scenes ever.

I’m also just a few years younger than the Holly character, and the last episode makes me wonder about the future and hope that it will be less bleak.

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ackthisisamess OP t1_j6gk7x6 wrote

The part with the apple got me in particular. I personally loved any chapter from Holly's point of view as I just love her character. Same with Marinus. And I love the last chapter for including Mo :)

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ottopivnr t1_j6dywqb wrote

I re-read the entire Mitchell canon in 2021 after reading Utopia Avenue. There really is a coherence among all of them and I kept notes about which characters reoccurred and in which books. It was totally worth it. He' such a great storyteller and it's amazing how his vision of a particular universe has remained consistent.

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ethanvyce t1_j6etgg8 wrote

What sequence?

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ottopivnr t1_j6fab7r wrote

Publication order. Ghostwritten, N9D, CA, BSG, JdZ, BoneClocks, Slade House. I had just finished UA, so I didn't re-read that one.

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Noreek2803 t1_j6cv7pt wrote

I enjoyed the bone clocks..I grew up when and where it is set at the start so I was instantly interested.

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ackthisisamess OP t1_j6gkcyc wrote

That must make it particularly special for you :) that's so great to hear

I just love how Holly is written.

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Doogenyesseah t1_j6d6hym wrote

Love David Mitchell! Cloud Atlas is among my favorite books and his attempt at building a shared universe with Bone Clocks is really cool - if not little strange how dedicated he is to it these days. Reading Utopia Avenue, an otherwise reality grounded novel, and having a major character/plot point harken back to Bone clocks and Jacob de Zoet in such a big way was a pretty bold move!

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Typical-Dark-7635 t1_j6djhj9 wrote

Amazing author! Black swan green is criminally underrated, one of the best closing lines of any book I've read. One of the few authors I have to consistently look up the words he uses, my favorites are hemidemisemiquaver and catamite. And I love that there is a coherent universe between all his works

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joeythelips46 t1_j6cm44v wrote

Absolutely my favourite book if all time, read it at least once a year

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ItsStaaaaaaaaang t1_j6cwptz wrote

Is this the UK comedian David Mitchell or a different gentleman altogether? Will have to give it a look. Seems like a very bright guy.

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Dimoroc t1_j6dbg2w wrote

My heart like a batted baby seal.

Quote that remained me for such a long time.

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AssociateDear6001 t1_j6dgsci wrote

I've Bone Clocks and my only gripe is I wish there were more books out there like it!

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DarthDregan t1_j6dkgbv wrote

I also wonder why the hell so many people don't know his name.

The man never misses.

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HelomaDurum t1_j6dmz8c wrote

Read most of his books. Loved them all. Utopia Avenue is his latest. I loved how de Zoet enters the narrative at the end.

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BuldopSanchez t1_j6drohr wrote

I reread books alot and always have. Every couple years I read Ringworld by Latrry Niven. I'd bet tat I've rad Jonathan Livingston Seagull a thousand times as a teenager.

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ackthisisamess OP t1_j6gkm86 wrote

I'm glad to hear others love re-reading their favourites. I feel as though there is almost this pressure to only read new books with all of the social media-esque reading challenges, but I often feel as if I can't fully enjoy a book until I've re-read it! Often the more I re-read a book, the more I enjoy it :)

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mutharunner t1_j6dy3ex wrote

I love David Mitchell. He’s like a more accessible, better-written and less misogynist murakami (I do also really like murakami despite all that). Definitely read thousand autumns then utopia avenue

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ackthisisamess OP t1_j6gkqh1 wrote

OH MY GOSH YES. I love so many aspects of Murakami's writing style, but I really really struggle a lot with the sexual bits.

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Khelek7 t1_j6e8yj6 wrote

I read this while on work travel years ago. I remember reading it in the Jakarta Airport and just having it not click. I really really wanted to like it. I have had similar probable problems with his other books i have tried.

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vibraltu t1_j6eh3ql wrote

Jacob de Zoet is his best, Cloud Atlas is pretty good, everything else is just okay, except for Utopia Avenue, which sucks. It's like cringey rock fan-fic.

I'm harsh on Utopia Avenue because the concept is interesting, but he really botches it. I was also rather put off by really fake-sounding cameos by real famous persons frequently intruding in the story.

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superherowithnopower t1_j6f7m9z wrote

Bone Clocks is my favorite Mitchell book, hands down! I've enjoyed all of them (number9dream was a trip), but Bone Clocks stands out above the rest.

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ackthisisamess OP t1_j6gkupu wrote

number9dream is indeed a trip! The name is very fitting in my opinion.

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Blue_planes11 t1_j6f8dht wrote

I read his Slade house and the soul scenes (those who read it knows) was absolutely so icky and well written! But I did not like the ending so now I am hesitant to read any of his other books

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munkie15 t1_j6fa9kc wrote

I randomly found this book at a used book store and figured I would give it a whirl. I too thoroughly enjoyed the book. I was impressed with how much I was sucked into his story. I know I missed some details about things reading it as an American, but it was still great. I enjoyed it so much it made me check out “Slade House” as well. Also, just as good.

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metalwrist t1_j6fb0rh wrote

I love David Mitchell. The little interconnections between the books are such small things that make such a difference to me, and that can make re-reads so gratifying.

I recently re-read Black Swan Green which I think is one of the most underrated and least talked about coming of age novels, and it held up so well.

On the back of this post i think I might re-read Ghostwritten along with you.

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ackthisisamess OP t1_j6giiz3 wrote

Yes I love how he connects those things!! Its so satisfying when you recognize a reference and when you re-read a book and notice little things you missed before.

I personally didn't enjoy that book much, but maybe I'll try it again. I struggled to focus on it a bit and I read for escapism so I do enjoy some more magical elements. It definitely speaks more to me as a reader than the book itself, I just struggle with focus issues. It was very well-written in my opinion!

Please join me with the re-read (if you want, no pressure of course haha)!

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PoorPauly t1_j6fdkhe wrote

I thought that book was utter trash.

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