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laughlinesandliterature's review against another edition
3.0
Beth Revis always creates strong characters but there was something about this that just fell a little flat for me. I love a good sci-fi story, but although the world building was good I didn't actually like the science fiction aspect. It felt a little too far fetched, a good sci fi might be wild but it has to at least believably get us there and I didn't feel like this did it. I also didn't love the dead father aspect. It always feels vaguely toxic and unhealthy when dead family members start popping up as ghosts or memories, etc. I think most people will really like this and it was well-written. it just wasn't for me.
daisysbookmusings's review against another edition
2.0
To be honest I've really struggled getting through this book, i really loved Beths Across the universe trilogy and although at times I was slightly confused and noticed the off typo i loved the story so I didn't mind however with the body electric I found it increasingly hard to not notice the typos. I couldn't help but notice a repeat of certain things it was almost like she had forgotten something and once she had finished her new paragraph she went back to what she had said the page or paragraph before and it was rather confusing especially seeing as a few of the words that she had made up for the book (seeing as it is futuristic) she wrote expecting us to know what they mean. IF YOU LOVE BETH OR DONT MIND THAT SORT OF THING THEN GO FOR THIS BOOK it isn't a bad story at all I personally just found it really tough to get through and didn't have the same feeling of being totally engrossed in the story as I had with Across The Universe.
photogcourt's review against another edition
2.0
I almost rated this 3 stars, almost.
It started off great. The Body Electric has a super great title, it was this fantastic, mysterious blend of scifi and dystopia...until it went completely off the rails. I'm talking plugging along on a nice scenic track, to straight off the bridge. There were so many inconsistencies and strange bits, honestly was this book even edited for its fluidity? Because it really does not seem so. The end result was very strange. To be honest I was not a fan. It could have gone a different direction and been better, it could have had a better course with the same end and been better. I don't really recommend this, to be honest. If it didn't turn out to be such a disaster in the last part of the book things could have been so much different.
It started off great. The Body Electric has a super great title, it was this fantastic, mysterious blend of scifi and dystopia...until it went completely off the rails. I'm talking plugging along on a nice scenic track, to straight off the bridge. There were so many inconsistencies and strange bits, honestly was this book even edited for its fluidity? Because it really does not seem so. The end result was very strange. To be honest I was not a fan. It could have gone a different direction and been better, it could have had a better course with the same end and been better. I don't really recommend this, to be honest. If it didn't turn out to be such a disaster in the last part of the book things could have been so much different.
trisha_thomas's review against another edition
3.0
I'm so glad I finally got around to reading this one. Beth Revis is one of my favorite authors - so I hate that I delayed reading this.
I really enjoyed it. Filled with science fiction and androids, it tries to tackle what it means to be human. I loved the twists and turns and some of the interesting parts of the world. Jack was a great addition but I'm glad he didn't overwhelm the story.
I really enjoyed it. Filled with science fiction and androids, it tries to tackle what it means to be human. I loved the twists and turns and some of the interesting parts of the world. Jack was a great addition but I'm glad he didn't overwhelm the story.
kimberlydyer's review against another edition
3.0
I loved the plot and world building, but I didn't connect to any of the characters. Didn't really know much about them outside of how the plot.
readingwithhippos's review against another edition
2.0
I was immediately drawn in by the premise of this book: teenager Ella Shepherd works as an intern at her mother's Mental Spa, where she assists with “reveries” in which people can relive their happiest memories in a lucid dream state. But a series of strange occurrences leads her to believe that her own memory has been altered, certain parts plucked out and deleted. Ella doesn't know why anyone would want to do this to her, but after her father is mysteriously killed in his lab, she suspects it has something to do with a conflict between a rebel group and the new worldwide government.
I find the question of identity and self fascinating—who can we trust, after all, when we can't even trust our own minds?—and Ella's efforts to discover who tampered with her and why are engaging reading. The sci-fi/technology angle also raises some interesting questions: what separates humans from machines, and what constitutes a soul? The book is most successful when it is focused on these sophisticated philosophical issues.
One caution, though, for serious sci-fi readers: if you go in expecting a hard science fiction approach to androids, clones, and cyborgs, you'll be disappointed. The book is very light on explanations for how the (admittedly really cool) biotechnology actually works. In fact, I probably wouldn't classify The Body Electric as science fiction at all; in execution, it's more dystopian fantasy thanks to its focus on government control and individual freedom.
Casual sci-fi readers will likely find the book technical enough for their taste. The story manages to be unique even among the countless other YA dystopian novels in existence, which is no small accomplishment. However, those who prefer a little more emphasis on science in their science fiction may want to give this one a pass.
With regards to NetGalley and Scripturient Books for the review copy.
Find more of my book recommendations for grades 6-12 at www.read-or-die.com.
I find the question of identity and self fascinating—who can we trust, after all, when we can't even trust our own minds?—and Ella's efforts to discover who tampered with her and why are engaging reading. The sci-fi/technology angle also raises some interesting questions: what separates humans from machines, and what constitutes a soul? The book is most successful when it is focused on these sophisticated philosophical issues.
One caution, though, for serious sci-fi readers: if you go in expecting a hard science fiction approach to androids, clones, and cyborgs, you'll be disappointed. The book is very light on explanations for how the (admittedly really cool) biotechnology actually works. In fact, I probably wouldn't classify The Body Electric as science fiction at all; in execution, it's more dystopian fantasy thanks to its focus on government control and individual freedom.
Casual sci-fi readers will likely find the book technical enough for their taste. The story manages to be unique even among the countless other YA dystopian novels in existence, which is no small accomplishment. However, those who prefer a little more emphasis on science in their science fiction may want to give this one a pass.
With regards to NetGalley and Scripturient Books for the review copy.
Find more of my book recommendations for grades 6-12 at www.read-or-die.com.
lindaunconventionalbookworms's review against another edition
3.0
*I received a free ARC of The Body Electric from Xpresso Booktours in exchange of an honest and unbiased review*
My full review will be up on (un)Conventional Bookviews on January 12th for the blogtour.
My full review will be up on (un)Conventional Bookviews on January 12th for the blogtour.
erinarkin20's review against another edition
4.0
I loved the Across The Universe series so when I heard Beth Revis had a new book coming out I immediately added it to my TBR shelf and of course…once it was up on Netgalley I couldn’t help myself – I HAD to have it. I was not disappointed with this story at all and if you haven’t had the chance to read it yet, go get this!
The world building was very well done. The way Revis described and really, designed the world based on real places helped me to visualize just how much would have changed in this future. I was able to imagine Ella jumping from boat to boat in New Venice and the way Revis describes how the cities were constructed after the war created a base for the way the cities were designed. It also speaks to the unity the new government was hoping to achieve.
I also enjoyed the characters. Ella is the daughter of some very smart scientists, both of whom have developed some things that play a critical role in the story. Early on in the story, we find out that Ella’s father was killed in a rebel attack at his lab and her mother is suffering from a disease that is basically incurable. Things haven’t been easy for Ella over the last year or so but she is trying to make things work. I liked Ella – she is smart, tough, and willing to do whatever she has to in order to keep those she loves safe. This is a thread throughout the entire story and as things are revealed, it becomes very clear just how much Ella is willing to do.
There is the political aspect of this story that covers the government and its development but there is also the piece of the story that explores the use of robot/androids and to what extent they can be humanized. The science that Ella’s father was working on ties to this plot and I found it very interesting. The science of the mind is something that I will admit is beyond me but I found that part of the story to be an intriguing plot line. Could someone really get into someone else’s mind to know what they are doing? Who knows…but it definitely added another layer to this book and linked me back to the mystery of what was really going on with these key governmental players.
There is a romance here but the way the story comes out, it doesn’t take center stage – which I appreciated. It was definitely an important piece of the story (which you will understand as things unfold) but not the only thing. The mystery of who really is the “bad guy” here is what moves the story along and I have to admit, I wasn’t necessarily surprised so much about the who as much as I was surprised about the why. Only because it was pretty straightforward and makes me wonder what lengths someone would go to in order to get something they want…in this case, the person thought the ends justified the means and they were willing to put anything or anyone at risk to get what they wanted.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I think Revis has made it onto my autobuy list. I love her view of science fiction and the fact that she is able to integrate a bit of the swoony stuff alongside all of the world building and plot, only makes me love her stories more. Definitely check this one out when you can, I don’t think you will be disappointed.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the review copy!
The world building was very well done. The way Revis described and really, designed the world based on real places helped me to visualize just how much would have changed in this future. I was able to imagine Ella jumping from boat to boat in New Venice and the way Revis describes how the cities were constructed after the war created a base for the way the cities were designed. It also speaks to the unity the new government was hoping to achieve.
I also enjoyed the characters. Ella is the daughter of some very smart scientists, both of whom have developed some things that play a critical role in the story. Early on in the story, we find out that Ella’s father was killed in a rebel attack at his lab and her mother is suffering from a disease that is basically incurable. Things haven’t been easy for Ella over the last year or so but she is trying to make things work. I liked Ella – she is smart, tough, and willing to do whatever she has to in order to keep those she loves safe. This is a thread throughout the entire story and as things are revealed, it becomes very clear just how much Ella is willing to do.
There is the political aspect of this story that covers the government and its development but there is also the piece of the story that explores the use of robot/androids and to what extent they can be humanized. The science that Ella’s father was working on ties to this plot and I found it very interesting. The science of the mind is something that I will admit is beyond me but I found that part of the story to be an intriguing plot line. Could someone really get into someone else’s mind to know what they are doing? Who knows…but it definitely added another layer to this book and linked me back to the mystery of what was really going on with these key governmental players.
There is a romance here but the way the story comes out, it doesn’t take center stage – which I appreciated. It was definitely an important piece of the story (which you will understand as things unfold) but not the only thing. The mystery of who really is the “bad guy” here is what moves the story along and I have to admit, I wasn’t necessarily surprised so much about the who as much as I was surprised about the why. Only because it was pretty straightforward and makes me wonder what lengths someone would go to in order to get something they want…in this case, the person thought the ends justified the means and they were willing to put anything or anyone at risk to get what they wanted.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I think Revis has made it onto my autobuy list. I love her view of science fiction and the fact that she is able to integrate a bit of the swoony stuff alongside all of the world building and plot, only makes me love her stories more. Definitely check this one out when you can, I don’t think you will be disappointed.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the review copy!
diaryofthebookdragon's review against another edition
5.0
4.5 stars. We'll see where it will go when I write a full review...
=======================================
When I started reading The Body Electric, I knew nothing more about it than it had a pretty cover and that the author Beth Revis is pretty famous in the ya community. And now, that I’m finished reading, I simply don’t know how to put all these feelings into words without starting every sentence with ‘Spoiler alert’… Where to stop in comments when the whole plot is full of an unpredictable twists and turns?
The Body Electric is narrated by Ella, who is a daughter of the two famous scientists. Ella’s dad is dead and her mom is terminally ill. Ella’s uneventful life is disturbed when an unknown boy comes and warns her to be careful. A boy called Jack Tyler. A boy who is hurt when she tells him she does not know him…
And that’s how it begins: terrorist attacks, running, chasing, surprising revelations… You never know whom Ella can trust and what will happen next. The last 30% of book are particularly intense. I could not put it down. Just for this addictivity and for a great take on what makes us human theme The Body Electric earned a high rating from me.
The romance is overshadowed by world-building and action. I didn’t mind, since I loved all the other elements of the story, but if you can’t enjoy a novel without a sizzling love story, this might be a deal-breaker for you.
"I can’t let myself get distracted by whatever Jack is, or what I am, or what we used to be. I have to focus on finding whoever is attacking my nation—and my family."
The biggest warning i can think of about The Body Electric is that you should skip it if large amount of bees make you uncomfortable. Every chapter has a picture of a bee at the beginning and there are some very scary descriptions featuring bees.
"A bee lands on his lower lip. I watch, eerily fascinated, as the stinger punctures the pink skin. The bee jerks, leaving the stinger in Jack’s lip. The bee falls against Jack’s teeth, drops from his lips to the ground, where its body is swallowed up by the thousands of bees swarming on the cold tile floor. The floor used to be white, but now it is black-and-yellow, swirling, whirling, massive bodies of bees writhing along the ground, crushed under Jack’s feet, smeared into the tile as more bees swarm over the dead ones."
IN THE END…
The Body Electric is an intense thriller set in a distant future scary for the possibility of being real. I loved the world, the tech and the scary feel of the oppressive society.
If I had to compare it to something, I would describe The Body Electric as young adult version of movie Total Recall spiced up with the best elements of [b:MILA 2.0|10222362|MILA 2.0 (MILA 2.0, #1)|Debra Driza|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1341031998s/10222362.jpg|15122092].
If you like conspiracies, science fiction or what makes us human theme, I recommend you give it a try.
Disclaimer: I received this ebook from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. This text is also posted on my blog Bookworm Dreams in a little bit more styled edition.
=======================================
When I started reading The Body Electric, I knew nothing more about it than it had a pretty cover and that the author Beth Revis is pretty famous in the ya community. And now, that I’m finished reading, I simply don’t know how to put all these feelings into words without starting every sentence with ‘Spoiler alert’… Where to stop in comments when the whole plot is full of an unpredictable twists and turns?
The Body Electric is narrated by Ella, who is a daughter of the two famous scientists. Ella’s dad is dead and her mom is terminally ill. Ella’s uneventful life is disturbed when an unknown boy comes and warns her to be careful. A boy called Jack Tyler. A boy who is hurt when she tells him she does not know him…
And that’s how it begins: terrorist attacks, running, chasing, surprising revelations… You never know whom Ella can trust and what will happen next. The last 30% of book are particularly intense. I could not put it down. Just for this addictivity and for a great take on what makes us human theme The Body Electric earned a high rating from me.
The romance is overshadowed by world-building and action. I didn’t mind, since I loved all the other elements of the story, but if you can’t enjoy a novel without a sizzling love story, this might be a deal-breaker for you.
"I can’t let myself get distracted by whatever Jack is, or what I am, or what we used to be. I have to focus on finding whoever is attacking my nation—and my family."
The biggest warning i can think of about The Body Electric is that you should skip it if large amount of bees make you uncomfortable. Every chapter has a picture of a bee at the beginning and there are some very scary descriptions featuring bees.
"A bee lands on his lower lip. I watch, eerily fascinated, as the stinger punctures the pink skin. The bee jerks, leaving the stinger in Jack’s lip. The bee falls against Jack’s teeth, drops from his lips to the ground, where its body is swallowed up by the thousands of bees swarming on the cold tile floor. The floor used to be white, but now it is black-and-yellow, swirling, whirling, massive bodies of bees writhing along the ground, crushed under Jack’s feet, smeared into the tile as more bees swarm over the dead ones."
IN THE END…
The Body Electric is an intense thriller set in a distant future scary for the possibility of being real. I loved the world, the tech and the scary feel of the oppressive society.
If I had to compare it to something, I would describe The Body Electric as young adult version of movie Total Recall spiced up with the best elements of [b:MILA 2.0|10222362|MILA 2.0 (MILA 2.0, #1)|Debra Driza|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1341031998s/10222362.jpg|15122092].
If you like conspiracies, science fiction or what makes us human theme, I recommend you give it a try.
Disclaimer: I received this ebook from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. This text is also posted on my blog Bookworm Dreams in a little bit more styled edition.
alyssafraley's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5