The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet in Constant Reader

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The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet

David Mitchell

Start date: January 15, 2011

Finish date: February 15, 2011

Discussion: Reading List

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Reading List

* Nominations list for July - December 2025
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What Members Thought

Jan 07, 2010 Jenny (Reading Envy) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: read2010, location-japan

I never know what to expect from David Mitchell, and feel like I look forward to each of his novels, just ready to give myself over to it. To find myself reading a work of historical fiction was a bit of a surprise, but I really enjoyed the characters and setting - I definitely knew nothing about Japan in 1799-1800 or the history of their trade with Europe.

I loved the contrast of the story taking place on the port with the story taking place on the mountain, and the conflict between the cultures ...more

16 likes · Like · see review

Dec 21, 2010 Barbara rated it it was amazing

This is a great tale by a masterful storyteller.

4 likes · Like · see review

Dec 03, 2010 Yulia rated it did not like it

Shelves: never

How can such terrible writing be acclaimed? There must be a good story hidden within, but I'll have to take others' word for it. ...more

3 likes · Like · see review

Jul 12, 2010 Ruth rated it did not like it

If this had not been a CR selection, and if so many people whose opinions I respect had not kept saying how much they liked the book, I would have thrown in the towel about 75 pages in.

I liked the middle portion of the story best, not for its subject, but because here Mitchell allowed us to get to know Orito, her feelings, her outlook, the reasons for her actions. We were allowed inside her head. We felt we knew her.

The major failing of the rest of the book is that we never got to know Jacob. We ...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Dec 29, 2010 Katy rated it really liked it

Shelves: historical-fiction

I had little interest in reading THE THOUSAND AUTUMNS OF JACOB DE ZOET and did not expect to like it, but it turned into a true 鈥漧ife interrupter.鈥� Not since I read Corelli鈥檚 Mandolin many years ago have I been so absorbed in a novel. It is rich and complex offering so much: an exotic locale, feudal Japan with its insular culture and its competing war lords; the Dutch East India Company with its wide open business culture; the rivalry of the nations of Europe as they fight for markets and tradin ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Jan 19, 2011 Mary Ellen rated it really liked it

I loved this book! I'd rate it 4 1/2 stars, if it were possible here on GR. My only quibble is with some annoying verbal tics Mitchell uses. He has recreated several early 19th century worlds beautifully: the Dutch trading center of Dejima set in Nagasaki's harbor; the inner circle of the captain of a British ship of the line; the court of a Japanese magistrate. And he manages to jump from historical novel to fantastic adventure story and back, without straining my patience or losing my interest ...more

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Jul 06, 2010 Pam rated it it was amazing

Best historical fiction I've read in years. Actually, best "fiction", period. Something I noticed and appreciated was that Mitchell's characters never went out of character to advance the plot. Some of their actions are hard to understand, until you realize that it totally fits their character. Very satisfying book. ...more

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