Books Read in April 2005

1. Cloud Atlas - David Mitchell
2. Pay it forward - Catherine Ryan Hyde

Pay it forward - Catherine Ryan Hyde

Trevor McKinney undertakes an assignment from his social studies teach to ‘think of an idea to change the world, and put it into action’. Trevor’s idea is simple, do a big favour for three people and instead of asking them to pay it back, ask them to pay it forward to another three people.

The writing style is very interesting as the book is ‘written’ by an investigative reporter Chris Chandler. His police friend tells him that gun crime in New York has dropped by 80% and he investigates what has caused it. So as well as consisting of 1st person narrative the book includes extracts from Chris’ interviews as he works his way back to Trevor. It also consists of other extracts from Trevor’s diary and two books written about the pay it forward movement. So as well as the book changing 1st person point of view each chapter, it also changes writing style, which takes some getting used to.

The idea is simple and could be very effective, however I think the writing lets it down. The writing seems rushed and not detailed enough so some of the characters don’t have the presence you’d expect. However it is an easy, moving and uplifting read and it is certainly worth discovering the effects paying it forward could have on the world.


Bookcrossing journal - controlled release (book ring)

Cloud Atlas - David Mitchell

This is an intriguing and interesting book. The book is skilfully written in six very different styles, from thriller to sci fi. I found the book very difficult to read for the first two thirds and could easily have given up if it wasn’t for other people saying it was worth persevering. I don’t tend to like books that have a different point of view in each chapter (Jodi Picoult books seem to be the exception) and this book took this to extremes. Each section had a different character often centuries apart and I found it difficult to accept the sudden changes in story; sometimes part way through a sentence. However the second half of the book tied everything together and was ingenious and enjoyable in the different ways it did.

My favourite character was Sonmi ~451 (the fifth character), who is a clone developed to work in a fast food restaurant and having read her section I was much more interested in finishing the book. The book also made me think a lot about the things we do as humans, from slavery to apocalypse. Adam Ewing talks about building a world we want to inherit and how each person’s efforts will add to a large accomplishment. I think this is a great message to take away from the book.

I still don’t know if I enjoyed the book. It was a certainly a struggle, especially for the first part, but I recognise it is an clever and inventive book. I think I will enjoy the book more the second time I read it, but suspect this could be some years in the future.


Bookcrossing journal - controlled release

Books read in March 2005

1. My sister's keeper - Jodi Picoult
2. The red tent - Anita Diamant
3. The Eyre Affair - Jasper Fforde
4. Persuasion - Jane Austen
5. Dragon Prince - Melanie Rawn
6. Lost in a good book - Jasper Fforde