A must-read! (Ghostwritten - David Mitchell)

Member Name: nomie

Product:	Ghostwritten - David Mitchell
Date:	09/05/01 (59 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Gripping book, Vivid descriptions, Insight into lives in other parts of the world

Disadvantages: Hard going in parts

As a first novel this book excells. A friend was reading it and recommended it to me. After scanning the blurb on the back I wasn't sure- it didn't sound like my usual cup of tea- but once I started to read I was engrossed! Never judge a book by it's cover- I should have listened to that old saying!

The book follows nine main characters in very different situations. When I first started to read it seemed rather like a book of short stories. After a while I realised that there were things linking each character- just little coincidences, like they'd seen each other in the street. It was a very interesting and different way to write a novel.

I'm quite interested in eastern and oriental cultures, and this is part of the reason why this book appealed to me. From Tokyo, to Hong Kong and a Holy Mountain with Buddha perched on top, I could really imagine myself there. Sometimes I didn't want to be there, like when it followed a character in dreary Petersburg or a poverty-stricken area of Mongolia!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book- one of it's many advantages is that it's set in lots of different parts of the world and gives the reader a real 'feel' for where the character lives. I also found that I learnt some things about different cultures which I wouldn't have known before. It must have been really well researched by the author for him to have written in such detail.

The descriptive passages are vivid- it is so easy to imagine yourself in crowded Hong Kong or on a beautiful Irish island.
Another point in favour is that the author keeps you hooked by the sense of mystery- I was intrigued to find out who the next character would be and which location it would jump to. The chapters focus long enough on a single character, so the book doesn't seem to 'jump' too much as others can do.

The main disadvantage was that it was a little confusing at times and some read
ers may find it a little hard going, especially when they are introduced to a nuclear scientist and her technical jargon!

I thought that the idea behind this book was brilliant and that the novel itself was a thrilling read. If you love reading and are looking for a gripping-can't-tear-yourself-away read, then Ghostwritten could be it. I'm definately going to read David Mitchell's next one!

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