Average Bufph Rating: 5.0 / 5.0
David Mitchell
1999
An apocalyptic cult member carries out a gas-attack on a rush-hour metro, but what connects him to a jazz-buff in Tokyo? A Mongolian gangster, a redundant English spy in Petersburg with a knack for forging masterpieces, a despondent "zookeeper", a nuclear scientist, a ghostwriter, a ghost, and a late night New York DJ whose hard-boiled scepticism has been his undoing all also have stories to tell. Add to this saxophones and causality, Buddha, cherry blossoms, island cities, a mind unhooked from memory, the Trans Siberian express, hidden narratives of the new world's order, circles and roulette in London, Baggins the Tarantula and a quantum computer born one century ahead of its time. All elements are interconnected and each character must play their part as they are caught up in the inescapable forces of cause and effect.
What a thrilling ride! Mitchell's storytelling is like a culinary journey, layering flavors in ways that'll have you salivating for more. Each chapter felt like a new course, rich with its own taste and texture. I was particularly hooked by the Spanish chapter—it was a delicious reminder of my heritage and Miami's vibrant scene. A bit complex at times, but oh, so worth it.
