Six different stories in different styles and formats that connect in some way. And "there's something for everyone," I was told by a librarian who loves recommending this book. (If there's a coming-of-age story, I'll at least like that part). There was no coming-of-age story but I liked this anyway, especially the second story, Letters From Zedelghem--One of the best stories I'd read in a long time: A flawed but brilliant character uses his wiles to win tutelage from a famous composer and prove himself, while trying to stay out of too much trouble. I skipped around to the second part of Letters From Zedelghem because I couldn't wait. (I'm told I'm supposed to read it how the author intended but I'm a linear reader, and I enjoyed it more by reading it my way). There is a theme of oppressed people that runs through all the stories, in all different variations. 
 My rating for each story: 
 Pacific Journal of Adam Ewig: 4 (A Melville-esque sea adventure) 
 Letters From Zedelghem: 5 (1930's Europe: a young inspiring composer contrives to get out of debt). 
 Half-Lives: 2.5 (A Grisham-like thriller, not really my thing) 
 Timothy Cavendish: 3 (An editor tries to escape an old-folk's home) 
 Orison of Sonmi: 3 (a dystopia) 
 Sloosha's Crossin': OK, this one is in dialect (so I skipped it), and I heard you have to go to the audio book for this story if it looks hard. I hear the audio is good, read by a cast of people, and the Sloosha's Crossin' story makes sense when you hear it and it's important to the overall book.