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A review by jmross10
Midnight at the Electric by Jodi Lynn Anderson
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
First things first, this is only vaguely science fiction. How so, you ask? Because it's set in the future. That's it. There's a bit of talk about new technologies and colonies on Mars. For the most part though, it's not substantial or explored. So if you're looking for something that leans mostly in that direction, this isn't the book.
That being said, I thought it was a really interesting story. Usually I hate multiple timelines but Anderson did a really good job with it. How the author moves between the characters is easy to follow, but also makes sense in the overall narrative. It is building towards a cumulative conclusion instead of forcing the reader to go back and forth trying to piece things together.
All three of the main perspectives felt purposeful and none of them were there just for filler. Their stories also built interestingly upon each other without the connections being super predictable from the start. I enjoyed that Anderson choose post-WW1 and the Dust Bowl as historical points since there are obvious historical events on either side (WWI, 1920s, and WWI) that most writers gravitate towards. Also that it explored a part of the US that doesn't usually get much attention, even if New York City does come up eventually.
A number of side characters make appearances throughout the book. I felt that they really enhanced the story and forced the main characters to challenges themselves and their perceptions of each other.
Overall, I really enjoyed it. I picked it up on a whim and thought it was a worthwhile read.
That being said, I thought it was a really interesting story. Usually I hate multiple timelines but Anderson did a really good job with it. How the author moves between the characters is easy to follow, but also makes sense in the overall narrative. It is building towards a cumulative conclusion instead of forcing the reader to go back and forth trying to piece things together.
All three of the main perspectives felt purposeful and none of them were there just for filler. Their stories also built interestingly upon each other without the connections being super predictable from the start. I enjoyed that Anderson choose post-WW1 and the Dust Bowl as historical points since there are obvious historical events on either side (WWI, 1920s, and WWI) that most writers gravitate towards. Also that it explored a part of the US that doesn't usually get much attention, even if New York City does come up eventually.
A number of side characters make appearances throughout the book. I felt that they really enhanced the story and forced the main characters to challenges themselves and their perceptions of each other.
Overall, I really enjoyed it. I picked it up on a whim and thought it was a worthwhile read.