Over recent years I feel that John Boyne has established himself as one of the master storytellers of our time, so I was hugely excited to pick up his latest, A Traveller at the Gates of Wisdom.

Boyne his hit it out the park with his last couple of novels, The Heart's Invisible Furies and A Ladder to the Sky, both 5-star books for me.

A Traveller at the Gates of Wisdom is perhaps Boyne's most ambitious work yet, an epic tale spanning two millennia. The story follows one man, or versions of that man, in different time periods and geographical locations. This conceit brings to mind David Mitchell's Cloud Atlas but whilst Mitchell was subtly exploring the links between lives and reincarnation, Boyne's story reads as the life of one person. In virtually every chapter, the slightly tweaked characters and situations hook the reader. Boyne is able to quickly drag you into each setting and leave you hoping that each one won't end. There are multiple memorable moments and images as we travel through history, experiencing the ups and (mainly!) downs of our hero's life.

However, the structure was a slight problem for me. It often felt disorienting and, in all honesty, there were several junctures where I wished that the story was structured in a more straight-forward manner within one location/timezone. However, I appreciate the author's ambition here, and the point he wants to make about how the basic needs and emotions of humanity are consistent across time.

I also found one chapter towards the end, focusing on a recent political figure, somewhat out of place, both in terms of it's overt political message and slapstick nature. Whilst my views on this figure are likely in line with the author's, this section just didn't fit with the rest of the book for me.

Overall, a hugely enjoyable page-turner, with fun characters, humour and pathos. Boyne aims high with this one, and while the format caused some issues for me, it was a great ride.

How do you describe this book....
It took three sections for my thinking to adapt to how John Boyne was structuring the book- it can only be described as unique. The historical detail in relation to events, lives and artistry is incredible. The narrative concerning the principal character was interesting but it was the next context that the story ventured into that had me hooked. I could imagine this book being used to explore so many aspects of human development / progress with students. The oppression of women and the violence to overcome / deal with life’s aggressions was at times shocking but the world / humankind has never been good to itself
The final section 2016 somehow did leave a bitter taste .....and i wondered how much the book needed 1961/2016
This is a book that will either have you hooked or bewildered. Monumental and epic and a triumph in so many ways..

The beginning few chapters confused me but once I understood what was happening I enjoyed the travel through history. And can see how our past can follow through time. I hope this book won't become the next Dr Zivago in America. The travel through history gives you a idea how situations are universal and makes you think on how they impact on people's lives. I'm glad I read this book and know it will have a place on book shelves for years to come.

With his latest novel, John Boyne proves once again what a talented, creative and versatile author he is. 

A Traveller at the Gates of Wisdom is unlike any other book I've read. Spanning over 2000 years and set in countries all over the world, it might seem at first that the individual stories are not related, but they are all intertwined. The narrator might be a different person each time but his voice is the same as his life story repeats and he seeks his vengeance over the course of 21 centuries. 

I can't imagine how long it must have taken JB to research all the historic periods this book is set in, but it's obvious he's done a really great job. This is a unique book that I really enjoyed and would highly recommend.

5★
“Indeed, Marinus was as likely to be found in a virgin’s bed as her grandmother’s, and on the rare occasions when his advances were rebuffed he assumed the woman suffered from a disorder of the mind and took her anyway, for he recognised no one’s rights but his own and those of his peers within the Roman legion.”

A family saga of the Family of Man, humankind from the first year in the Christian calendar, AD1 in Palestine. Roman legionnaire Marinus is the father of the family in a story that opens with bloodshed.

“On the night that I was born, my father, Marinus, left our home while my mother was in labour and, over the eight hours that followed, slaughtered a dozen infant boys, the sons of our neighbours and friends, each one under the age of two years.”

Whether the story of Herod killing babies is myth or truth, is not for the likes of me to decide. This is an epic tale that transcends truth, and (dare I say?), wisdom.

Boyne has done the impossible. I know nothing about the Gates of Wisdom, (because I am ignorant) or the philosophy or religion/s which may incorporate or refer to the concept (as I said, because I am ignorant). No matter, it isn’t necessary.

Have you ever stood in a lift/elevator that has multiple mirrors where you extend into infinity? This reminds me of that. Might my ancestors or all my other selves from way back when be informing my current self?

My Goodreads review includes an illustration captioned: Infinity mirror

I expect there will be people who will be reminded of Kate Atkinson's Life After Life, some of the works of James MICHENER, or more recently, Annie Proulx’s recent far-reaching Barkskins, but nothing I can think of can touch this for breadth. Moving at the pace of roughly a couple of generations, John Boyne takes a family around the world to live its story in a different place at a different time.

What seems confusing at first becomes compelling reading, as you quickly catch on that the father’s name begins with M, the mother’s with F, the sister’s with A, the brother’s with a J, and so on. As I recall, the first few stories pretty much repeat themselves, with only a little embellishment, but as it moves forward and the reader becomes more accustomed to what’s happening, more details are added.

The circumstances of the time and place alter people’s responses . . . somewhat. Wars, colonisation, slavery are commonplace. Enlightenment? Not so much, although art, in all its forms, continues to fight its way through.

My Goodreads review includes an illustration captioned: A truncated version of evolution, from self to selfie

The narrator is an artistic boy, “the boy” or “little brother” or similar. He grows up over the course of the novel. His father is a macho sort of fellow, his mother is loving and artistic, his sister is conniving and murderous, and his older half-brother disappears from home when the narrator is still young. The circumstances change, the names change, but the thread of the story picks up each change and nuance all the way to the year 2080.

I apologise to the author for the following illustration. I don't mean to suggest that this is another Dr Who, just that it's only the 'new' doctor we see today.

My Goodreads review includes an illustration captioned: Dr Who nesting dolls in 14 incarnations

There are many things this is not. It’s not time-travel, not time-shifting, not sliding doors, not alternative universes or the matrix. It’s a bit more evolutionary than that, more like different, slightly updated versions of a basic story.

I have also not read Ovid's classic Metamorphoses, which I understand includes the story of Pyramus and Thisbe, itself drawn from an old myth, which we would recognise as Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet and later the more modern musical, West Side Story. I will say this is kind of like that, each story appropriate to its own generation. Thwarted lovers must be a universal theme, no?

In some of the later stories, there are echoes from the past – designs that recur, patterns that feel familiar to a character. In the eighth century in Bulgaria, a dying father recounts to his son (our narrator) how he won his wife after fighting off enemies in Cappadocia.

“‘Cappadocia is in the Ottoman Empire, Father,’ I told him. ‘You have never travelled as far as that.’ . . .


‘I have travelled further than you know. As have you, my son. My journeys might be at an end now, but so many lie in wait for you. Do your memories never surprise you? Do you not dream of the past and the future and recognise both with equal clarity?’ . . .


‘Your shadow falls both behind you and before you while you stand between the two pretenders, a mask across your eyes.’”

What do we inherit? Whose influence is so pervasive that we aren’t even aware of it?

This is the most layered, multi-faceted story I think I’ve ever encountered. The base layer is the Roman legionnaire, and the tracing-paper layers build up on top of it, each layer covering the bottom but extending a bit around the edges as the characters acquire depth and the story itself extends and moves forward.

There is just enough bending of reality to make it still feel real. It’s as if you could put a needle through the centre of each layer and string them together, like the necklaces one of the narrator’s artistic selves makes.

It is amazing. I dare not think about the layouts and drafts that Boyne must have designed to incorporate world history, major events, and real people. Tsunamis, earthquakes, wars, the Plague, Shakespeare, all as they happened, where they happened. Crete, Guatemala, France, Norway, England. But also China, Russia, Mexico, Argentina. Babies, elders, blind prophets.

There are more than 50 countries/places (I think), with narrative language that suits the times without being historically accurate. It mostly “sounds” right, which is the point.

It’s hard to avoid the word “universal”, but that word sounds too dry to me. This is not dry history. It’s an ambitious, clever, intelligent novel, and it’s a lot of fun. Straight to the favourites shelf, or as Aussies would say “straight to the pool room”.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House (and John Boyne!) for the preview copy from which I’ve quoted. This is due to be published in July 2020.

This book is so unlike anything I've ever read before that it is difficult to review.

A Traveller at the Gates of Wisdom is one story, spanning 2080 years, following characters that change in each new chapter, while also somehow being the same characters that we already know. This can be confusing at first but stick with it and it will become clearer. You'll be fully absorbed in the saga before you know it.

As the book progressed through time and space, I found myself in awe of the amount of planning that went into it by the author. While the story at the heart of the novel is entertaining, all of the glimpses of different time periods and locations are what make this book really special.

Thank you, #NetGalley and Random House UK for the free copy in exchange for an honest review.

‘Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose’ could hardly be better applied than to the events told here. Over 2,000 years, we see humanity at its worst, people behaving to one another in all sorts of vile ways and it doesn’t make for happy reading. To show this, John Boyne employs a smart, entertaining structural device that kept me riveted. Short chapters follow one another in quick succession and I couldn’t wait to see where we were going next. I can’t fault its effectiveness and admire the amount of historical research that must have gone into segueing from one place and time to another seemingly effortlessly. We reach the present day and dare to look a little beyond. Is there hope for us there?

The nature of the story means there isn’t enough time or space for any real character development (something I would have said was John Boyne’s strength as a novelist so a disappointment there). Still highly recommended, though, for its sheer gusto.

Kills me to write this because I am a big Boyne fan, and The Hearts Invisible Furies remains one of my favourite reads of ther last decade. However this one really didn't work for me. Boyne tells a timeless story by literally hopping through time., but at the expense of a particularly interesting plot and absolutely NO characterisation. Imagine Cloud Atlas (without the self-conscious pretentious mechanism) meets Forest Gump as one storyline weaves through time, touching on momentous historical characters and events. EXCEPT, you never get to know the protagonist(s) as his character is never developed, or grows. And the different landmark events are never brought to life with new detail, or insight, The book takes us into the future and I stuck with it in the hopes Boyne's vision of the future would provide some escapism and enlightenment, but... nope.
All said, he is still a lovely writer so i made it to then end, I just felt so frustrated when i got there.

Hmmm… This is a narrative dressed as autobiography, of a man who survived the Slaughter of the Innocents as a newborn, and grew up over the next two thousand years. It's an odd story, however readable, that skips decades and localities with never a blink. One moment our hero's father is a Roman warrior, the next he is defending Romania from the very same – only for the switch to be made back again. And again. Throughout, what seem to be the same characters get new names every chapter, and throughout the threads of the hero's life build and reinforce – whether the son of a Praetorian Guardsman, or a fisherman, our guy is too effeminate and juvenile to please his father. Every episode then has a kind of Easter egg in it – a reference to someone or something we've seen elsewhere. There is often a loathsome fat bloke, there is quite regularly a sisal rope, and so on. Handicrafts and dreams recur, visions come to pass. But we do see over these pages the full story finally emerge, with both its intimate morals and moments and its inescapable epic feel.

I think that's the best quality of this book – the way, just by playing this saga out over millennia it has forcibly been made to gain a timeless, almost semi-mythological mood. But I think the book too easily allows you to miss that. If you don't read it that that is part of proceedings, or dislike that scope, or think it artificially in place, there is too much here that is easy to dismiss. It feels at times like an extended list of 50 Prequels to the #metoo Movement, for we get it drummed into us that a lot of men are rapists (this is a very 'earthy' book), and women never got a say in anything until the most recent chapters. Part Two is just there to be About Slavery, and a bit too much of it (and a bit too much of the characters' sexualities) are there for the 'triggerati' to prove their Wokeness.

That said, there is an ineluctable narrative drive, as things go from one situation played out in one time and place to the sequel to its variant from another place and time, and so on. Heck, we even, in this melange of Zelig-styled, Gumpian cut-and-paste, get the usual cross-references to Boyne's previous novels, giving the later pages here almost a best-of, career-rounding-up feel. Not bad for someone still in their forties and at the prime of their talent. That said, not even that talent – and the inordinate amount of knowledge and research so lightly put on show – can make me think this is the author's best, whether you look for cleverness, message or entertainment as your benchmark. It's silly to dump a star rating on something this rich, but for my appreciation of what I read I think three and a half is the closest.

Wow but Boyne is a prolific writer! His mind must be a constant swirl of stories and imagined lives and literary magic. This book is a definite manifestation of this.

I'm a big fan of the writer's work in general, and although I didn't enjoy this as much as The Heart's Invisible Furies, I can say it was a grand read. Gripping from the get-go and a pleasure to escape into.

The idea of a saga stretching over centuries and cultures might sound daunting but Boyne manages to make it one that is totally human and relatable. And fun too.

I can only presume that he did a huge amount of historical and anthropological research into subject matter and for someone like me, who only know's bits and pieces about the moments he writes about in this book, they are clever little vignettes. Perhaps the final chapters wrapped up a bit quickly, but I suppose a novel can't go on for ever.

A Traveller at the Gates of Wisdom is a great reminder how ultimately we are pretty much the same, no matter where we come from and what our beliefs are.

I'd wager that this is going to be a big success in book clubs. Thanks for the review copy.

John Boyne is a wordsmith of the highest order, and with ‘A Traveller at the Gates of Wisdom’, he’s surely created something quite unique. Its scope is immense, and the research needed to create this novel leaves me with unbridled admiration.

A strangely hypnotic read, relating the story of a man over the course of 2000 years, which though confusing initially, with the constant changes of both location and period in history, it soon becomes clear that intertwining themes such as family, love, loss, revenge, included in previous chapters, continue on into the next, leading to many escapades, and from there on in, I became completely absorbed in it.

This epic novel is really difficult to describe, so I can only suggest that you read it for yourself. I doubt you’ll have read anything quite like it.

Wow, how to give feedback on this book is challenging! Firstly I was delighted to receive an arc as I adore John Boyne's writing. I was aware it was going to be a bit different and I usually steer clear of books that can be described as 'mythical'. I am very much into realism. I almost gave up on it to be honest. But I started it again with fresh eyes after reading some reviews and suddenly it clicked what was going on.
The book features an unnamed narrator who is literally a time traveller. We follow his life in locations all over the world and beyond for over two millennia. Significant periods of history are covered with prominent historical characters appearing at relevant times. As a huge fan of history this really appealed to me and I enjoyed the insight into various cultures throughout time. The book veered between humour and tragedy, and as with all John Boyne's books it was extremely well constructed and cleverly written.
I have to add that Trump's demise was absolutely glorious!
I ended up loving this book and I persevered because of the brilliance of the author, but it was definitely not my normal read and I can imagine it will divide opinion.

I love Boyne, so I was super excited to get my hands on this ARC. But this is nothing like anything he’s written before. Structurally it’s ambitious and, after taking a bit of getting used to, I think he nails it. It has a mythical, old as time feel. Yet, for me, it was a tad too long and I got a bit restless in the middle. Did I enjoy it? Yes, but it was good rather than great. And I think that a lot of Boyne fans will be divided over how they enjoy it. It’s out 23 July, and I can’t wait to see what readers make of it!

I don't even know where to begin with my thoughts on this book. John Boyne has most definitely managed to do something special here and I admire him hugely for attempting to tell a story in this way. Initially, I didn't think it would work, but it absolutely did! I've read and loved every single one of John Boyne's books for adults and this one is no exception. The story begins in the year 1 AD and travels through the ages, up to AD 2016 and beyond in the epilogue to AD 2080. The characters remain the same throughout the story, as the time-frames change to different years and countries. Although, the characters names change for each chapter, they are easily recognisable, as their first letter of their name remains the same throughout. I was invested in their stories throughout. Somewhat confusing at the beginning, it doesn't take long to recognise each character as the story progresses and get into the flow of the way the story is told. I would imagine this was no easy feat for an author to connect up the characters, plot, time-frames, cultures etc from chapter to chapter but it is done seamlessly. I adored the nod to The Absolutist, one of my most favourite John Boyne novels and to Maude Avery!

This book will have John Boyne fans talking this year for sure, as it's so different to his other novels. It most definitely worked for me and I loved it for its pure uniqueness.

My thanks to NetGalley

How to describe this book, that’s the challenge. Reading it is certainly a different experience to that provided by any novel I’ve come across before. At first it confused and frustrated me and later, as I settled into its rhythm, it amused and entertained me but towards the end I started to wonder what it all meant, what it was it that was Boyne trying to say. And though I’m not really sure that I’ve gained a true comprehension of the author’s intentions I do believe this truly epic tale is one that’s going to get lots of people talking.

The story takes the form of a kaleidoscopic series of adventures: small sections of people’s lives that at first seem unconnected until gradually – or maybe suddenly – a connecting thread becomes apparent. A recognisable cast of characters evolves from the pages and despite the fact that the names are different, that time has lurched forward perhaps a generation and the location has moved to another part of the globe, these are the same people. At least that is true for a small central group of characters, and yes this defies logic but at the same time it must be so. The changing of the names really confused me to start with, but look closely and you’ll soon spot a pattern. As the narrative starts to settle we move steadily through time, taking in numerous countries and cultures. In all we’ll see events that transpire from 1 AD up to the present time, and somewhat beyond!

All this unfolds through the eyes of one man, a man who remains nameless throughout. It’s all here: birth, life, death – lots of death – and pretty much anything that can happen in a lifetime. No that’s not quite right, it’s what can happen in many lifetimes but compressed into one man’s experiences of a life spanning more than two centuries. Along the way we bump into real figures from the past, many of whom are easily recognisable, and quite a few famous historical events too. Our lead man walks in the shadow of history but without leaving a documented mark of his own.

By the time I reached half way through this book, and it’s a weighty tome, I had settled in and cast my doubts aside. I learned to go with the flow and hoped to work it all out later. And I’m really glad I persevered with it as I was now I was really looking forward to seeing how it would all be wrapped up but also dreading the book coming to an end – always a good sign.

So did it all eventually make sense? In truth I’m not sure. I think the clue to this book is in its title: we bear witness to some of history’s many vile characters and the terrible deeds they perpetrated, we experience some of the very worst moments our past has to offer. And along the way we also see how cultures through history mistreat whole swathes of people and how prejudice and bigotry gain a foothold and become ingrained. But the final section suggests that lessons may have been learned by the people who supersede the current population of this planet and that the mistakes of the past may have been largely eradicated by this new group, that maybe at last the lessons of history have been learned. Perhaps it’s a call out to people to wake up and smell the coffee, to do what’s right for the greater good. That’s my take on it anyway. It’s certainly an inventive and stirring book but one that might just divide opinion due to the very inventive way it’s constructed.

This was another FAB book from Boyne - Like A Ladder to the Sky and The Heart's Invisible Furies before it, it takes a life and looks at it in detail, really getting under the skin of the character.

What's unique is that it starts in AD 1 and finishes in the year 2080, spanning across 50 countries. It's one story that has happened time and time again - with small, environmental variations.

Despite the hundreds of characters it's easy to follow, and it does feel like just one tale. It's a thought-provoking, epic, global sweep of what it means to be human and shows that we have more in common than we don't.

At first, if you're not expecting the format of the story, it is a little confusing with the time jumps and the characters with similar names to the previous chapters. Trying to work out what is going on took 3 or 4 chapters, so could be off-putting for some if they're not clear on it.

My full review will feature in The Bert's Books Podcast Episode 19 (to be published 24th May 2020)

So much I could say about this - what I loved and what I loved even more. But I need time to digest this novel and to be able to put it into words.

Very unique, very well written and crafted.
This is a literary experiment and a journey you will never forget.

I have to say, I was really intrigued by the ambitious premise of this book and excited to read this after hearing great reviews for 'Hearts Invisible Furies' and 'A Ladder to the Sky'. However, unfortunately for me, this book sort of fell apart in the last few chapters.

While it was confusing at first to follow along with the constant changing of time and place in each chapter, very quickly I got used to it, and actually fell in love with it. Boyne takes an unusual approach to storytelling, and it was fun when a famous figure came up, or when a place I wasn't expecting was the backdrop for the next chapter. I can see a lot of research went into this, but there were some parts where there were little errors; one example I can think of was when the names during a South America chapter in the early 1400s were Spanish, even though the Americas at this time had not been discovered by Europeans yet! However, I'm aware of how things like that are me being a bit nitpicky, as it doesn't take away from the story.

I enjoyed the characters as well, and how Boyne has them easily identifiable no matter what century the reader is in. All were fully fleshed out and I liked the main character a lot, and I felt bad for him after he had to endure so many tragedies. I liked how there was LGBT representation, but it wasn't made a huge deal of, and was naturally incorporated into the story. Same goes for having a disabled character as well.
I also liked the writing style as it was simple and easy to follow, and was very distinctly John Boyne.

However, as I said earlier, this book really does fall apart after the main character goes to prison. The last chapter in particular was just kind of...weird? Maybe that is the way things will be in 2080 but it just felt strange to me, and the 2016 chapter was kind of annoying as well. The older centuries were much more interesting to read, but maybe I felt that way due to being a history major. Either way, I do think the book could have had a much better ending, as it felt rushed and there wasn't really a proper conclusion to the story.

Overall, I did enjoy the majority of this book. I expect it will sell very well, and while it was not entirely for me at some parts, I did appreciate what Boyne was trying to do, and for the most part he succeeded. Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an advance copy! 3.5/5 from me.

Wow, John Boyne has smashed it out of the park with this one. TOTALLY different to any of his previous novels, and he himself has described it as a bit odd, and will not be what readers are expecting.
An ambitious and bold structure, each chapter takes us through a period of history across the globe starting in AD01 and taking us to the present day and beyond. The main character, though unnamed, is brought to life in a different place in time, his journey is continuous yet his settings change. It seems impossible to think that the story of this one man's life can be told in this way - but it works, it just works.
Best summed up in one of the pages of this book - "I know this much; the things that surround us may change, but our emotions will always remain the same. A man who lost his beloved wife a thousand years ago suffered the same grief that I felt when I lost mine" Boyne demonstrates that our stories, our lives, our traumas, our joy, our experiences are no different from those of generations before - all of us are the same, we just lived them through different times and different places.
To chose this way of telling that simple fact is tremendous. This book was brilliant. I have been transported to Ancient Rome, monasteries in Ireland, the Globe with Shakespeare, the Vatican with Michelangelo, and I felt every step. At times mythical in its telling, but also with real humour - the penultimate chapter is a blast! John Boyne - I loved it!

3.5 stars.This is a book of huge scope covering millennia. It speaks to universal themes of power and its abuse, family, irrepressible passions and creativity. I liked that differing cultures and ages had similar themes. Many thanks to Netgalley for an arc of this book.