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sc104906's review against another edition
4.0
I got this as an eARC through Edelweiss.
It is difficult to summarize this novel, because it is both a futuristic dystopian novel and a historical novel. Anderson explores three perspectives throughout time, all of which are connected through letters and a turtle named Galapagos.
Adri lives in 2065 and she has been chosen to colonize Mars. Before she leaves earth, she must relax and prepare to leave the only home she has ever known. Adri spends her last few weeks on earth with a distant aging relative in Kansas. While there, she uncovers Catherine's journal, which is set during the dust bowl. Things are becoming increasingly stressful for Catherine as her sister sickness from the dust and her romantic interest is falling for another. Along the way, Lenore's story in England during WWI is uncovered. Lenore is working through the grief of losing someone to the war and developing feelings for a soldier whose life was irreparably changed by the war.
This novel was fantastic! I would read hundreds more pages of this book and would even be cool if it were turned into a series. I think Lenore's perspective could have been better developed and clarified further. However, I couldn't put this book down and loved its unique perspective!
It is difficult to summarize this novel, because it is both a futuristic dystopian novel and a historical novel. Anderson explores three perspectives throughout time, all of which are connected through letters and a turtle named Galapagos.
Adri lives in 2065 and she has been chosen to colonize Mars. Before she leaves earth, she must relax and prepare to leave the only home she has ever known. Adri spends her last few weeks on earth with a distant aging relative in Kansas. While there, she uncovers Catherine's journal, which is set during the dust bowl. Things are becoming increasingly stressful for Catherine as her sister sickness from the dust and her romantic interest is falling for another. Along the way, Lenore's story in England during WWI is uncovered. Lenore is working through the grief of losing someone to the war and developing feelings for a soldier whose life was irreparably changed by the war.
This novel was fantastic! I would read hundreds more pages of this book and would even be cool if it were turned into a series. I think Lenore's perspective could have been better developed and clarified further. However, I couldn't put this book down and loved its unique perspective!
emilyfelker7's review against another edition
4.0
This was the first time I have read a book that took place years ago and it was so interesting to see what that world was like.
The story was really interesting and I loved how each of the characters connected over the span of so many years. Everything made sense and came together full circle.
I loved the writing of this book too. It was very easy to read and was simple yet lyrical.
The story was really interesting and I loved how each of the characters connected over the span of so many years. Everything made sense and came together full circle.
I loved the writing of this book too. It was very easy to read and was simple yet lyrical.
plaidpladd's review against another edition
4.0
This book was really three interwoven and connected stories, one set in 2065 about a teen preparing to travel to Mars and a budding colony there, another told through a journal and a series of letters from the 1930s dust bowl, and the last series of letters from England, just after World War I. The dust bowl parts were straight up terrifying because in addition to the horrendous drought, the dust itself can literally kill you, quickly or slowly, buried alive in an instant or coughing to death over a period of years.
lady_mair's review against another edition
4.0
I have to rate this 4 stars because of how it kept me intrigued the whole way through, staying up late several times just to read another chapter. Otherwise, I'd say 3.5 stars, because the ending didn't...pack as much of an emotional punch as it seemed to build towards. Maybe I missed something. Maybe I read too fast. Maybe I was irked with the relationships left open-ended. It just didn't hit the high mark for me. Maybe I need to come back to this one in a year or so. In the meantime, I hear this author has written other books...
bookishlizz's review against another edition
4.0
What an unlikely story. When I originally added this to my TBR I was adding anything that looked like a Circus themed story (there is a lesson here about judging a book by it's cover).
Although nothing alike, this reminds me of when I read Wink, Poppy, Midnight last year, because it totally took me off guard and even further commits me to reading more books outside of my preferred genre this year.
Anyway, Midnight at the Electric takes place in three different women's lives in the past, present (I think), and future (she's getting ready to go to Mars, this one I'm fairly confident on). The storyline was unexpected but quite delightful.
The best part of this book thought is that is wasn't about the story, the setting, the world ... it was about the characters. Although it doesn't rival The Raven Boys as an art form, it does remind me about how when you describe the plot the book sounds terrible, because it is more about the people than what they are doing.
There is no prince charming anywhere in sight (but some supportive guys which is always awesome), but a bunch of strong women helping each other and truly succeeding.
Anyway, don't read this is you're hoping for an awesome Circus themed story, but do read if you like to read about awesome characters ;)
Although nothing alike, this reminds me of when I read Wink, Poppy, Midnight last year, because it totally took me off guard and even further commits me to reading more books outside of my preferred genre this year.
Anyway, Midnight at the Electric takes place in three different women's lives in the past, present (I think), and future (she's getting ready to go to Mars, this one I'm fairly confident on). The storyline was unexpected but quite delightful.
The best part of this book thought is that is wasn't about the story, the setting, the world ... it was about the characters. Although it doesn't rival The Raven Boys as an art form, it does remind me about how when you describe the plot the book sounds terrible, because it is more about the people than what they are doing.
There is no prince charming anywhere in sight (but some supportive guys which is always awesome), but a bunch of strong women helping each other and truly succeeding.
Anyway, don't read this is you're hoping for an awesome Circus themed story, but do read if you like to read about awesome characters ;)
thearosemary's review against another edition
5.0
This book had a slow start for me and I worried it wouldn’t live up to my love for TIGER LILY or THE VANISHING SEASON, but it did and I’ve been crying off and on for the last thirty minutes.
Jodi Lynn Anderson, you have done it again.
Full review to come.
Jodi Lynn Anderson, you have done it again.
Full review to come.
booksnbrains's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
piperhudsburn's review against another edition
4.0
Sad, melancholic, and more angsty than a Three Days Grace song from the 00's, but 100% worth it.
Jodi Lynn Anderson has a gift for stories about loving and leaving. Her children's series May Bird and the Ever After dealt with the notion of leaving in a very literal way: a child dies and reappears in another galaxy, while in The Vanishing Season, a love triangle is torn apart over the course of winter and an "emotional" absence in the form of unrequited love. In Midnight at the Electric, Anderson's chosen themes of magical realism, unexpected narration, and lost love return, this time in the form of two twin stories: one set in the future, and one set in the not so distant past: the Great Depression.
Midnight isn't as interesting or enthralling as Anderson's other books, but it feels like a stronger work. Anderson takes on sci-fi, mental-illness, war, racism, political strife and a whole bunch of other important issues in this story, and she handles them all pretty well. Every idea is complete and easy-to-follow.
It's worth a read and a place on your shelf.
“I wonder if sometimes you can miss something so much it breaks you, and still be happy you left.”
Jodi Lynn Anderson has a gift for stories about loving and leaving. Her children's series May Bird and the Ever After dealt with the notion of leaving in a very literal way: a child dies and reappears in another galaxy, while in The Vanishing Season, a love triangle is torn apart over the course of winter and an "emotional" absence in the form of unrequited love. In Midnight at the Electric, Anderson's chosen themes of magical realism, unexpected narration, and lost love return, this time in the form of two twin stories: one set in the future, and one set in the not so distant past: the Great Depression.
Midnight isn't as interesting or enthralling as Anderson's other books, but it feels like a stronger work. Anderson takes on sci-fi, mental-illness, war, racism, political strife and a whole bunch of other important issues in this story, and she handles them all pretty well. Every idea is complete and easy-to-follow.
It's worth a read and a place on your shelf.
bigdreamsandwildthings's review against another edition
5.0
"I think all my life my heart's been broken," Adri whispered, "and I didn't even notice. And I don't even know by what."
It felt more like it had just come from being born, from time existing.
Wow. I can't see through the tears and this book is skyrocketing to the top of my list of favourite, quiet surprises. This is not a sci fi adventure. It's not historical fiction. It's just the stories of these three girls, both connected and separated by time, and the way it deals with that is so beautiful and intricate and emotional. It deals with getting old, with outgrowing places and things and moving on, with leaving and being broken apart by grief but relieved at the same time. It deals with pain and trauma and heartbreak and family and love and happiness. It's so beautiful, and I absolutely adored it.
It felt more like it had just come from being born, from time existing.
Wow. I can't see through the tears and this book is skyrocketing to the top of my list of favourite, quiet surprises. This is not a sci fi adventure. It's not historical fiction. It's just the stories of these three girls, both connected and separated by time, and the way it deals with that is so beautiful and intricate and emotional. It deals with getting old, with outgrowing places and things and moving on, with leaving and being broken apart by grief but relieved at the same time. It deals with pain and trauma and heartbreak and family and love and happiness. It's so beautiful, and I absolutely adored it.
tigermuffin's review against another edition
4.0
A gorgeous story but in your mind when you read the word 'gorgeous', make a tender version of the word. I love the gentleness here but it's not a snoozy cozy either (which is good, imho). I'm always on the hunt for books, authors, with a certain kind of voice and I'm happy to find Jodi Lynn Anderson (Robin Sloan is another favorite).
Continue reading this at your peril, as it gets grumpy, directed toward the publisher:
Something that bothered me so much it lost half a star: there were several (3 that really stuck out) typographical errors and one of the best quotes, featured on the dust jacket, is not how it is said in the story! I'm human too and make errors but book publishers...I mean to say...come on! It was not an ARC version. Am I being petty?
"No one wants to disappear. Words pin things down and make them real, and they last so much longer than we do.' (jacket)
"No one wants to disappear. Words made things real, and they last so much longer than we do." (pg 253).
Kinda meta, eh?
Continue reading this at your peril, as it gets grumpy, directed toward the publisher:
Something that bothered me so much it lost half a star: there were several (3 that really stuck out) typographical errors and one of the best quotes, featured on the dust jacket, is not how it is said in the story! I'm human too and make errors but book publishers...I mean to say...come on! It was not an ARC version. Am I being petty?
"No one wants to disappear. Words pin things down and make them real, and they last so much longer than we do.' (jacket)
"No one wants to disappear. Words made things real, and they last so much longer than we do." (pg 253).
Kinda meta, eh?