The Bone Clocks by David Mitchell showcases his masterful storytelling, weaving complex narratives across decades. Reviewers praise its rich character development and intricate world-building. However, some find the plot meandering and the blending of genres disjointed. Overall, it’s hailed as an ambitious, imaginative work that challenges and rewards its readers.

The ideal reader for David Mitchell's The Bone Clocks appreciates intricate narratives and genre-blending fiction. Fans of Haruki Murakami's surrealist tales in 1Q84 and the interconnected stories in Mitchell's own Cloud Atlas will enjoy the rich, multi-layered plot and the exploration of metaphysical themes.

The Bone Clocks by David Mitchell spans nearly six decades and follows Holly Sykes, a young woman from Kent, England, as she becomes entangled in a clandestine conflict between two factions of immortal beings called the Horologists and the Anchorites. Through multiple narrators, the novel explores themes of individual actions in history, morality, and the role of literature in preserving memory. This story includes portrayals of racist and anti-gay behavior, offensive actions against unhoused and elderly individuals, and depictions of addiction, suicide, mental illness stereotypes, and a sexual relationship between an adult and a minor.

David Mitchell

Adult

Novel

Fiction

Guide

Study Guide

title

content

Overview

Get ready to explore The Bone Clocks and its meaning. Our full analysis and study guide provides an even deeper dive with character analysis and quotes explained to help you discover the complexity and beauty of this book.

The Bone Clocks Summary

Background

The Bone Clocks Background

chapter

chapterType

section

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Part 1: “A Hot Spell: 1984”-Part 2: “Myrrh Is Mine, Its Bitter Perfume: 1991”

Parts 1-2

The Bone Clocks Parts 1-2 Summary & Analysis

Part 3: “The Wedding Bash: 2004”-Part 4: “Crispin Hershey’s Lonely Planet: 2015”

Parts 3-4

The Bone Clocks Parts 3-4 Summary & Analysis

Part 5: “An Horologist’s Labyrinth: 2025”

Part 5 The Bone Clocks Part 5 Summary & Analysis

Part 6: “Sheep’s Head: 2043”

Part 6 The Bone Clocks Part 6 Summary & Analysis

character

Character Analysis

The Bone Clocks Character Analysis

theme

Themes

The Bone Clocks Themes

Symbols & Motifs

The Bone Clocks Symbols & Motifs

quote

citation

Important Quotes

The Bone Clocks Important Quotes

primaryCharacter

Essay Topics

The Bone Clocks Essay Topics

The Bone Clocks

Before You Read

Reviews & Readership

Review Roundup

Who Should Read The Bone Clocks?

Reading Age

Book Details