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Title: The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet
Author: David Mitchell
Narrator: Tim Pigott-Smith, Paula Wilcox
Format: Abridged
Length: 7 hrs and 3 mins
Language: English
Release date: 05-13-10
Publisher: Hodder Headline Limited
Ratings: 2.5 of 5 out of 3 votes
Genres: Fiction, Historical
Publisher's Summary:
The electrifying new novel by 'one of the most brilliantly inventive writers of this, or any country.' (Boyd Tonkin, Independent)
Imagine a nation banishing the outside world for two centuries, crushing all vestiges of Christianity, forbidding its subjects to leave its shores on pain of death, and harbouring a deep mistrust of European ideas. The narrow window onto this nation-fortress is a walled, artificial island attached to the mainland port and manned by a handful of traders. Locked as the land-gate may be, however, it cannot prevent the meeting of minds or hearts.
The nation was Japan, the port was Nagasaki, and the island was Dejima, to where David Mitchell's panoramic novel transports us in the year 1799. For one young Dutch clerk, Jacob de Zoet, a strage adventure of duplicity, love, guilt, faith and murder is about to begin and all the while, unbeknownst to the men confined on Dejima, the axis of global power is turning....
Members Reviews:
A great tale, bogged down by stilted and annoying dialog
Frustrating. 4.5 stars for historical and cultural background. 4 stars for the plot. But: the dialog was at times unreadable. Probably I'm missing something but some of the dialog and devices were like from a student essay. "Character says something" [italics] "Oh what a stupid thing I just said" When they were not stating the obvious, characters were rambling on [and then censuring themselves for rambling] Overall, a great story, but a difficult novel
Talk about fate
It's a thoroughly absorbing book to its bone dry brevity, that is, if you'd whittle out the many superfluous archaic phrases. Jacob de Zoet set out as a young man with definite plans to be a clerk to a Dutch trading company based in Japan. The story was set in late 1700, the time that Japan willfully isolated itself from foreign influences. However, the Dutch got a foothold in the lucrative trade by conceding to the Edo's idea of isolation: a man made island off Nagasaki for the Dutch to stay in, store their commodities, conduct trading, without setting foot on the mainland.
Jacob's plans have all gone a wry and he spent 20 years on the man made island. He arrived as a serious, morally upright young man, he was made to leave the island no longer young but still serious and upright.
The ending unfortunately has a cinematic formula that left me both annoyed and satisfied.
I got bored with it about the time Jacob sent the dictionary ...
First part of book was somewhat difficult to follow as I have little residual knowledge about Nagasaki in 1799. Style of writing changed and the story became
easier to read. I got bored with it about the time Jacob sent the dictionary as a gift. Finally gave up as the plot just wasn't realistic, even for 1799.
Interesting book
I read this book because it looked interesting and I don't know much about Japan in the period of history. Good plot and some surprises. Long but enjoyable read
Come on an exquisite journey
I felt like I had embarked on this wild adventure right along with each character. Described in visual detail and with such clear feeling-tone, David Mitchell brings a tender and thought-provoking tale that educates and moves and keeps you waiting for the next moment you can get back to this book.
I will certainly be reading more by Mitchell!
