: Cross-cuts between all six stories simultaneously rather than using the book's nested format.

: Each of the six sections is written in a distinct genre and dialect, from 19th-century journals to futuristic "broken" English. It is a more detailed and nuanced exploration of themes like reincarnation and human greed.

: The "Cloud Atlas Sextet" is a central piece of music that many reviewers claim is a reason alone to watch the film, as it provides an emotional bridge the book cannot physically replicate. Where to Buy Product Edition Price Range Retailer Options Hardcover (20th Anniversary) around $18.15 - $33.00 Target , Walmart , Penguin Random House Paperback around $9.50 - $18.00 Barnes & Noble , Penguin Random House eBook / Nook around $8.99 Barnes & Noble , eBooks.com

: Uses a "Russian doll" or pyramid structure. You read half of five stories, then the entire sixth story (set in a post-apocalyptic future), and then finish the first five stories in reverse chronological order.