The Bone Clocks

by David Mitchell
The Bone Clocks cover
Good Books rating 4.0
Literary Fiction
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Paperback • £10.99
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  • ID: 2206
  • Added: 2025-10-13
  • Updated: 2025-10-13
  • ISBN: 9781848945043
  • Publisher: Hachette UK
  • Published: 2014-09-02
  • Formats: 1
  • Reviews: 3

The Bone Clocks is a mesmerizing blend of literary fiction and speculative storytelling, weaving together the life of Holly Sykes with a secret war between immortals. Over six decades, the novel explores themes of mortality, survival, and the consequences of one's actions, all while delivering a thrilling narrative that spans multiple genres. The book has been praised for its inventive storytelling and profound meditation on life and death, making it a standout work by the acclaimed author of Cloud Atlas. /n/n Holly's journey begins as a rebellious teenager and evolves into a complex tapestry of interconnected lives and events. As the world around her becomes increasingly perilous, the promise she made to a stranger in her youth may hold the key to her family's survival. The Bone Clocks is not just a story; it's an experience that challenges the reader's perception of reality and time.

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 Guardian · Stephanie Merritt · 2014-09-02
dazzling 3.50

They found the book's narrative dazzling and self-protective mockery of critics to be an outstanding quality. They also noted that the review was too harsh to be fair.

The reviewer was captivated by the narrative brilliance of 'The Bone Clocks', highlighting how David Mitchell's writing stands out. They appreciated the book's ability to mock critics in a self-protective manner, which they found to be a remarkable quality. However, they also noted that the review itself was overly harsh and not entirely fair, suggesting that the book's strengths might have been overlooked in the criticism.

Quick quotes

    The Bone Clocks is a dazzle of narrative invention.

    The review is too nasty to be just, but its self-protective mockery does provide a good example of an outstanding quality of the book.

    Mitchell’s prose is as precise as it is inventive.

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