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.

Mysterious / Fantastical / Suspenseful / Adventurous / Emotional

- The Bone Clocks was a finalist for the 2014 Man Booker Prize, highlighting David Mitchell's continued acclaim in the literary world.
- The novel features interconnected stories and characters, a trademark of Mitchell's style, and ties in with several of his previous works, expanding his unique fictional universe.
- In crafting The Bone Clocks, David Mitchell explored themes of time, mortality, and human consciousness, threading speculative elements into a narrative that spans multiple decades.

**Holly Sykes**  
The central protagonist and one of the narrators, first introduced as a rebellious teenager with psychic abilities that play a crucial role in her journey and relationships throughout the novel.

**Marinus**  
A secondary character and narrator, an Atemporal being with psychic abilities who assists Holly and has lived many lifetimes in different bodies, playing a key role in the larger conflict between Horologists and Anchorites.

**Hugo Lamb**  
An antagonist and narrator, depicted as a morally ambivalent Cambridge student whose actions and decisions are influenced by his ambitious and opportunistic nature.

**Ed Brubeck**  
A narrator and Holly's primary romantic interest, introduced as a supportive friend during her rebellious youth and later depicted as a war correspondent struggling to balance his professional aspirations with family life.

**Crispin Hershey**  
A secondary character and narrator, a fiction writer whose declining career trajectory is complicated by his arrogance and rivalry with a critic, eventually forming a significant friendship with Holly.

David Mitchell

Adult

Novel

Fiction

Guide

Study Guide

Before You Read

Explore The Bone Clocks reviews, reading age recommendations, and essential genre and thematic details before you start reading.

Before You Read The Bone Clocks | SuperSummary

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

Before You Read

Reviews & Readership

Review Roundup

Who Should Read The Bone Clocks?

Reading Age

Book Details