Cloud Cuckoo Land Book Review

 I was eager to read Cloud Cuckoo Land because I loved Anthony Doerr’s previous book, All the Light We Cannot See. While Cloud Cuckoo Land is a very different type of novel, it is just as beautiful and will stay with you for a long time. In fact, I wish it were already widely available because I want to discuss it with others.

What makes this novel consuming? Again, the novel is beautifully written. The sentences are lyrical without drawing attention to themselves. The plot is well-crafted, and the characters are engaging. But what sets this book apart is that it asks the reader to consider deep philosophical questions about truth, suffering, and the value of story. It has been a long time since I have read a novel that has raised so many thoughts and questions.

That said, CCL starts off a bit slow—in spite of a compelling opening—because the novel has four point-of-view characters, excerpts from an ancient (fictitious) Greek epic, and multiple times periods. While that can be hard to absorb in the beginning, all the characters and settings are fully realized and engrossing. I loved traveling between 2020 America, 1453 Constantinople, and a futuristic spaceship.

I won’t attempt to summarize the plot, but you can read a summary here.

Bottom line, I highly recommend this novel both for the story itself and its profundity. Five stars.

Cloud Cuckoo Land will be available on 9/28/21.

Nota Bene: I received an ARC (advanced reader copy) of this novel from Scribner.