The Bone Clocks

by David Mitchell
The Bone Clocks cover
Good Books rating 4.12
Fantasy
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Paperback • £10.99
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Technical
  • ID: 2206
  • Added: 2025-10-13
  • Updated: 2025-12-30
  • ISBN: 9781848945043
  • Publisher: Hachette UK
  • Published: 2014-09-02
  • Formats: 1
  • Reviews: 4

The Bone Clocks is a kaleidoscopic story that weaves together the life of Holly Sykes, a wayward teenager turned unwitting pawn in a metaphysical thriller. Over six decades, the consequences of a single moment unfold, drawing Holly into a world far beyond her imagination. As life in the near future turns perilous, the pledge she made to a stranger may become the key to her family's survival. /n/n David Mitchell, the author of Cloud Atlas, crafts a profound meditation on mortality and survival, blending fantastical elements with a deep exploration of human resilience. The novel has been praised for its epic scope and mind-spinning narrative, making it a standout in contemporary literary fiction.

Reviews
Schicksalgemeinschaft · 2019-03-02
compelling 4.00

They praised the effortless and tasty prose, filled with real characters and genuine emotions. They found the themes relevant and urgent, making the book a compelling read.

The reviewer was impressed by the effortless and tasty prose of 'The Bone Clocks', noting how it is filled with real characters and genuine emotions. They found the themes explored in the book to be relevant and urgent, making it a compelling read. The reviewer appreciated the way Mitchell weaves together different elements to create a cohesive and engaging narrative.

Quick quotes

    Written in a seemingly effortless and tasty prose, filled with real characters, genuine emotions.

    Strong & urgent themes relevant to us all.

    A novel that is as thought-provoking as it is entertaining.

R.R. Horton's Blog · R.R. Horton · 2019-01-12
enjoyable 4.50

They found the novel tremendously enjoyable with serious speculative thought and deep character insight. They highlighted the book's ability to combine entertainment with profound themes.

The reviewer thoroughly enjoyed 'The Bone Clocks', praising its ability to balance entertainment with serious speculative thought. They appreciated the depth of character insight and the way the novel tackles relevant themes that resonate with readers. The reviewer found the book to be a remarkable achievement, blending genres and ideas seamlessly.

Quick quotes

    The Bone Clocks remains a tremendously enjoyable novel.

    A novel with enough serious heft of speculative thought, and character insight, to keep the reader engaged.

    Mitchell’s writing is as compelling as ever, with a narrative that is both intricate and engaging.

The People's Friend · 2018-06-01
captivating 4.00

The Bone Clocks is a very long, well-written book filled with characters to love and fear. It's a novel that has three acts and is fan fiction in the best sense of the word.

The reviewer at The People's Friend found The Bone Clocks to be a captivating read, praising its length and the depth of its characters. They appreciated the novel's structure, which is divided into three acts, and found the characters to be both compelling and memorable. The reviewer also noted that the novel is fan fiction in the best sense of the word, as it pays homage to the genres it draws from while also standing on its own. They commended Mitchell's writing, which is both engaging and thought-provoking, making it a novel that is well worth the read.

Quick quotes

    The very long, well written, peppered with characters-to-love, and characters-to-fear, book.

    Fan fiction If you're a fan of a novel having three acts, and a lot of fun.

    The Bone Clocks is a novel that is well worth the read.

KevinfromCanada's Blog · KevinfromCanada · 2014-10-30
positive 4.00

The reviewer ranks The Bone Clocks as the best of the six Booker longlisters they have read, but with significant reservations.

KevinfromCanada's review of The Bone Clocks is generally positive but with some reservations. They rank the book as the best of the six Booker longlisters they have read, but they also note that this endorsement comes with significant reservations. The reviewer appreciates the book's complexity and the way it weaves together different narrative threads. They also note that the book has a unique and engaging style that makes it stand out among other works of speculative fiction. However, they also find some aspects of the book to be problematic, such as its pacing and character development.

Quick quotes

    While I have ranked The Bone Clocks as the best of the six Booker longlisters that I have read, that endorsement does come with significant reservations.

    The Bone Clocks is a book that demands to be read and reread, its layers of meaning and narrative complexity rewarding the patient reader.

    The Bone Clocks is a book that will stay with you long after you've finished reading it, its themes and characters resonating in your mind.

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