As always, this is spectacular read, the characters and culture portrayed come to life vividly, there are fun nuanced alleyways and homage to hos other works, all-in-all a wonderfully nostalgic experience for me, plus he handles the appearances of the famous past better than most authors, once you are caught up or reread all of Mitchell's books and if you like the 60s then check out 26. Lewis Shiner's "Outside the Gates of Eden" (similar themes from an American point of view)...

I finished this book, reluctantly, this morning - I say reluctantly because I didn't want it to end. Great writing, in the same way as great music, evokes strong emotions and this had me laughing, crying and everything in between. David Mitchell brought the music to life so vividly I wanted to buy the albums. I loved the way he wove in cameos of some legendary musicians, with humour and respect. Just brilliant

Simply Orgasmic!

Despite the large volume I tore through this novel with so much to recall by way of places and bands of my youth. The throw-away comments such as news paper sellers calling out the headlines made me realise how much has changed since my days in London in my younger days. The issues of a female coping with unwanted advances in the rock world and without mobile phones, the difficulty of keeping in touch when some one was away in another country so a post card had to suffice, are just examples of how things we took for granted then are unthinkable for millennials. Meeting all manner of old rock stars from Bowie to Marc Bolan throws in a touch of glamour - how I would have loved to be Elf the central female character. Thoroughly recommended for all those who enjoy 1960s/1970s music, and that era in general. Nostalgia at its best.

I love Mitchell’s work and this novel did not disappoint. It transported me to the sixties London my parents lived through, with colourful characters and a complex plotline as we would expect from Mitchell. I only gave it 4 stars because, for me, this is not in the same league as Cloud Atlas, but it’s still worth every minute of reading it and was worth the hype.