Cloud Cuckoo LandCloud Cuckoo Land
What it's about
Five people in three times are linked by one ancient Greek story about a shepherd who longs to fly to a city in the clouds. In 1453, a girl inside the walls of Constantinople and a boy in the army besieging it find the manuscript. In present-day Idaho, an old man rehearses a play based on it with children at the library, while a troubled teenager plants a bomb there. And in the future, a girl travels alone aboard a spaceship.
Why it's worth reading
It was a finalist for the National Book Award and the Goodreads Choice Award. Anthony Doerr, author of All the Light We Cannot See, writes a big-hearted love letter to stories and libraries.
You'll love it if you liked
All the Light We Cannot See
Cloud Atlas
Station ElevenGood to know
It's long and moves between five storylines, which take time to connect. The payoff is moving.
By the numbers
- Readers76 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics30 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller60 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz19 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #38 of the 116 historical novels we rank
- #44 of the 309 literary novels we rank
- #75 of the 481 new books we rank
- #394 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Adventurous, Moving, Thought-provoking
More by Anthony Doerr
If you like this, read next
Babel
Outlander
The Dispossessed
Beautyland
Sea of Tranquility
Bliss MontageExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is Cloud Cuckoo Land worth reading?
Yes. It was a finalist for the National Book Award and the Goodreads Choice Award. It ranks #394 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 79.9 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Cloud Cuckoo Land about?
Five people in three times are linked by one ancient Greek story about a shepherd who longs to fly to a city in the clouds. In 1453, a girl inside the walls of Constantinople and a boy in the army besieging it find the manuscript. In present-day Idaho, an old man rehearses a play based on it with children at the library, while a troubled teenager plants a bomb there. And in the future, a girl travels alone aboard a spaceship.
How long does it take to read Cloud Cuckoo Land?
About 16 hours (640 pages), or about 5 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Cloud Cuckoo Land?
If you liked it, try All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr, Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell or Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel.