David Mitchell’s books feature an interconnected universe that rivals Stephen King’s Maine obsession, and it all stems from Cloud Atlas. Mitchell’s nesting-doll novel features six stories, each with a distinct style. Want a 1970s political thriller? You got it. Nineteenth-century sea epic with something vaguely amiss? Sure thing. Futuristic sci-fi? Absolutely. They all thread together somehow, but I won’t spoil it. Instead, grab a drink and dig into it yourself with fellow readers at the Draught House. Bonus points – there is a movie, so maybe you can all figure out if the Wachowski sisters’ work is a true triumph or a massive misstep. – Cat McCarrey