5 posts tagged “the electric church”
My Next Read? I don't know - to tell you the truth. I kind of feel like reading the first volume of the Vampire Hunter D series, but Paul is reading that. I've been wanting to read the Earthsea series - but now I'm wondering if I want something more grounded in reality after this one. Perhaps I'll read The Other Boleyn Girl? ... That reminds me that Erin has been posting about her Christopher Moore reads and those sound fantastically light-hearted and fun. Who knows, I'll skim through my choices tonight and post my next read tomorrow :)
Thinking about it, the book has really begun a repetitive circle of run-shoot 'em up-be weary-run-shoot 'em up-be weary so far as the plot is. The list of characters that pop up and become a nuisance is growing longer and longer and longer and maybe that's also why my interest is fading. You can only be surprised so often before it becomes formulaic and predictable.
I'm on page 240 which means I've only read another 1/3 since my last post - not very much compared to my other records. I'm going to concentrate on getting through this either tonight or at least by tomorrow. I'm anxious to start on another book.
Also, I should note, that the science and the fantasy in the sci-fi aspect of this book is so far limited - which I'm happy about. One thing that keeps me from reading this genre is the fact that I'm not that versed in science and I can't look past so much fantasy. Does that make any sense? I don't like fantasy books that have oogles and oggles of names & places & things I can't pronounce. If I can't say it - its difficult for me to read it and see it. This book so far has taken a real-life approach to descriptions and names and the author generally uses acronyms and slang for everything else.
In short, as someone who does not generally like this genre - I'm really enjoying this book.
If you were one of the many people who commented saying they wanted to read this, DO IT! It was phenomenal - and I'm not just saying that because so many others commented saying what a great book it was. It really was great. A bit slow to start for me, it took me awhile to get used to the structure that the author was using. Often the author would tell stories first person but in a hearsay form causing the dialogue to run on and stop without any kind of punctuation. It was a bit confusing but I was quick to learn and soon I really began to like it! It was different. It made the story seem more real and first person biographical rather than third person historical. The ending of the book really threw me for a loop too - but in a good way :) I thought I'd stumbled upon a reader's group discussion or something, but when I realized what it was I was so excited and interested.
This book was not a pleasant story though - I'll be the first to say. Its about a breakdown of society and how pleasant can that be? I supposed the most pleasant thing about it is to remember that it's not real and though we may see signs of what led to the book's alternate society breakdown - we're not there yet and I hope we never will be.
This book also made me want to have a child - so women teetering on the edge of that idea, beware :)
My next read? I'm going to continue with "The Electric Church" by Jeff Somers, as I've already made that my fourth. Once I'm done with that the possibilities are endless as I've finally borrowed and have in my possession The Other Boleyn Girl, I've found the first four books of the Earthsea series, and I've got the first volume of the Vampire Hunter D series. I'm ready :)
Book Count: Four
Title: The Electric Church
Author: Jeff Somers
Genre: Sci-Fi
Pages: 384
Synopsis: In the near future, the only thing growing faster than the criminal
population is the Electric Church, a new religion founded by a
mysterious man named Dennis Squalor. The Church preaches that life is
too brief to contemplate the mysteries of the universe: eternity is
required. In order to achieve this, the converted become Monks --
cyborgs with human brains, enhanced robotic bodies, and virtually
unlimited life spans. Enter Avery Cates, a dangerous criminal known as
the best killer-for-hire around. The authorities have a special mission
in mind for Cates: assassinate Dennis Squalor. But for Cates, the
assignment will be the most dangerous job he's ever undertaken -- and
it may well be his last.
Thoughts so far: Paul picked this book out tonight, but since I wasn't really able to concentrate on The Handmaid's Tale (I'm a little over 80 pages in), I decided to check this one out. It's kept my attention pretty easily and I'm about 40 pages in so I've decided to make it my fourth book which I'll read in conjunction with The Handmaid's Tale. I'm enjoying the narrative of the main character who feels a bit like Keanu Reeves "Constantine" and Clive Owen "Dwight" mixed together - a hard smartass trying to survive and not giving a shit how. Other than the character impression and as I mentioned the grab of the initial story - I don't know much about the plot or story but I'm willing to keep reading to find out!