I was looking for Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell and the place I got my ebook gave me this book, only the epub had Mitchell's cover on it. I soldiered on bravely, for 150 pages, not comprehending why it felt like such a different book then I was expecting, till I finally figured it out. (I was saying to myself: whyyyy am I reading a boy's book, it doesn't make any sense....!!!)
Wrong cover, wrong book

This book was not at all what I expected. I was a very strange mix of Indian mythology, history of the Japanese ballon attacks on the the United Sates during WWII all told as a reflection by a Priest as his Shaman friend is dying in hospice. I enjoyed the historical parts of the book and the mythological parts but it took it wasn't a strong mix. With the exception of the Lieutenant who was crazy, the characters were interesting.

I really wanted more on the history of the balloon flights into the United Stated.

The book is intriguing, but it also so out of print.

I could wish to like this story more than I do. Liam Callanan is a beautiful lyrical writer, and he has discovered an unexpected setting and story in his tale of a young soldier's life in Alaska during World War II. Within the historically accurate drama of Japanese bombs sent across the ocean in hot air balloons, Sergeant Belk's life is tangled with that of a brutal superior officer, the Eskimo woman they both love, and his top secret mission to search the tundra, find, and diffuse the bombs that make their silent way to American soil.

It is hard not to admire a tale that weaves wartime heroism with Eskimo mysticism played out by rich fully-drawn characters in a fresh and novel narrative setting. I do admire the tale, and its teller, but I must regretfully also tell you that despite all of its fine qualities, this story never hooked me.

I don't fault Callanan. That would be a gross injustice. In fact, I'll be keeping an eye out for more of his work. His writing is wonderful.

If you have a place in your heart for Alaska's wild frontiers and hardy people, you should read this book. If you are drawn to World War II stories of all kinds, Callanan has spun one out of untrod cloth, and you have a treat in store.

It wasn't a treat for me, but that could be for the sheerly superficial reason that I am not a hardy enough outdoor girl to be caught up in the sere frigid setting of Callanan's imagination.

I'm still trying to figure out what I think of this book.

I found the first 2/3 to be somewhat slow. It wasn't difficult to set it aside to tend to other things, like some books are. The last third was much more riveting, faster paced, and I was surprised to find myself crying at one point.

The topic was interesting and one I'd never heard of before - hot air balloon bombs from Japan. I think there was something a little off about all the characters that made it difficult for me to connect.

There was some beautiful writing. Clearly well-researched. But something didn't hit it for me.

Not to be confused with time-bending "Cloud Atlas" of Tom Hanks moving fame (though that one's also on my "to read" list), THE Cloud Atlas is the account of Father Belks, who spent time in WWII in Alaska as a soldier and remained to serve the church. Magical realism? Brutality. An account of Yup'ik culture for which I don't (yet) have reference.

I'd read more by this author.

Sadly, not a book I enjoyed. Like many others, I purchased the book thinking it was the other Cloud Atlas. I decided to read it because I enjoy Alaska or frontier stories as well as the early 1900's, but it just did not deliver for me.

I don't recommend.

I enjoyed reading this. I was captivated by the descriptions of Alaska as well as the air balloons. I was never toughgt about this piece of history and found my self searching for more information regarding these balloons. the only disappointment I had in reading this was the ending. I felt the author rushed this, and was racing for the finish line. however the story stayed me. So I had to give it 4 stars.

Sí, yo también he sido uno de esos despistados que empezó a leer este libro pensando que se trataba de "Cloud Atlas" de David Mitchell. No era lo que esperaba pero me sorprendió para (muy) bien! Está escrito de manera preciosa y la historia es, sí, una más sobre la WWII pero original y entretenida. Nice one!

Well written and interesting novel, but what fascinated me most was that I never learned about balloon bombs in Alaska during WWII. I think most Americans would only know about Pearl Harbor and be surprised to know balloon bombs were sent from Japan not only to Alaska, but also the mainland US.

Ok, me too. I also became one of those who thought that it was a book which was made into a movie, but it was a different book.

But I must admit although I expected something completely different, I quite liked what I found in this book.

Full disclosure I accidentally started reading this book instead of Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell. The title page and forward said it was that, took me until about halfway through to realize it definitely was not. All things considering it wasn't a bad book. The plot was interesting, I really liked the interactions between Ronnie and Louis. I had no idea about the balloons that were used during WWII so those parts were particularly interesting. I'm not generally a hug fan of historic fiction and this wasn't quite what I was expecting so it was a bit slow going, but I'm glad I decided to stick with it to the end. It was definitely a unique read.

Unexpectedly winding and intriguingly layered tales.