5 posts tagged “the electric church”

I've done as I hoped and finished "The Electric Church" by Jeff Somers today. Now that I'm done with it, I can say it wasn't half bad - though there is supposed to be a sequel and I'm not sure if I'll read that. Overall the book had good characters, a good plot (if albeit, a bit repetitive & predictable) and was very creative. The language (I'm not referring to the profanity I mentioned in an earlier post) was easy to read and take it. Not too many words that were unrecognizable or too many descriptions that I wasn't able to grasp and use in my mind. The ideas were good, the character relatable, and the theme of survival was understandable and drove me to continue reading. If I do read the sequel, I'll be sure not to read it in conjunction with something else and to stay committed. My mind's ability to wander as I read it made it seem forgettable and boring but it wasn't. I started this on the 13th so it took me approximately 9 days to finish it - though I would think more like 5 days because I was reading The Handmaid's Tale during as well. With this book done, I've reached my goal of four books in a month - a goal that will keep me on track for my final goal of 50 books in 365 days.

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 :)

This book has fallen out of my favor, and I can't really pinpoint why. I think it may have something to do with the fact that its taking me longer to read than the other books so far. Also, perhaps me starting this book while reading another threw me off. Either way, I'm a bit bored.

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.

I'm about 1/3 of the way through this book and the difference in genre is very nice. As I'm reading it though, I now realize why on the back of the book it says, CONTAINS STRONG LANGUAGE AND GRAPHIC VIOLENCE because it seems  "fuck" is the word of choice in all conversations and in a lot of personal descriptions. I'm not letting it effect the story for me though. If anything, it's making it more...gritty & less unbelievably futuristic. I was telling Paul last night that this book could be an over elaborate screen play for how casual it seems. Sometimes, books are very obviously books. Other times you wonder if its based on something more.

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.

What. A. Great. 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 :)