Cloud Cuckoo Land is a novel written by Anthony Doerr, a prominent writer of short stories and novels, who gained recognition in 2014 when his book, All the Light We Cannot See, won the Pulitzer Prize for fictional writing. Cloud Cuckoo Land revolves around five different characters whose stories are significantly intertwined, and although their lives span several centuries, their love for a single story connects them all. Written in 2021, this relatively new novel encourages readers to think about the state of the world we live in, and how it will affect future generations. 

             The book explores the lives of five different characters, two, Omeir and Anna, who live in the 15th century Byzantine Empire. They discover the Greek tale of Cloud Cuckoo Land, where, “A man transformed into a donkey, then a fish, then a crow, journeying across earth, ocean, and stars to find a land without suffering, only to choose to return home in the end.” The story encourages one to realize the safety and benefits of home, and that when the best is accessible, it can become common and unappealing. Anna and Omeir saved this book, passing it on through generations. Later, the story of an elderly gay man by the name of Zeno takes place in the present day in Lakeport, Idaho where he helps young children reenact the fable. His past as a POW in Korea haunts him, and he spends most of his time learning to translate old Greek into modern-day English. Meanwhile, Seymour, a kid with autism, is in love with the natural world and struggles with how humans have changed the outdoors to their benefit, and not in good ways. His life can represent how young adolescents’ lives have been affected by older generations, and how young people may feel about that. After spending time in jail, it becomes his job to compile Zeno’s translations of Cloud Cuckoo Land as a penance for his action. Finally, Instance spends her life on Argos, a spaceship traveling to a habitable planet, as Earth is quickly deteriorating. During her time there, she finds the story of Cloud Cuckoo Land begins to piece it together and allows it to shape her future. 

             This book is beautifully written, and Anthony Doerr demonstrates his extensive imagination and outstanding writing skills to create a world that grapples with current problems, and how even small actions can impact endless lifetimes. Even in just the first chapter, he creates high tension and encaptures the reader from the beginning. I highly recommend this book!