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davianareads's review
1.0
I’m officially DNFing this book, because it isn’t worth my time. I hate the formatting, the author’s voice and writing style, the characters, the story arc, pretty much everything.
ishouldreadthat's review
3.0
Originally posted to I Should Read That
I received this book in exchange for an honest review. This review is spoiler-free.
The Electrical Venus jumped out at me because it is historical young adult fiction -- something I don’t think you see very often. On top of that, the book is set in Georgian England, which is even more of a rarity in YA. Although I didn’t know much about it, I decided to give it a shot.
To be perfectly honest, this book was just not for me. The writing style, the characters, and the story are all just things that I don’t particularly enjoy in books. However, don’t let that sway you because I do think that many people will enjoy The Electrical Venus.
I really liked the fact that this is a historical novel set in an unusual time period for YA. Young adult books can get a little same-y after awhile and it’s so nice to see something fresh and new! It’s an interesting period in time and the inclusion of Doctor Fox and his electricity machine really took advantage of that in the best way. What seems very normal to us would have been a marvel to people of this time and it suited the sideshow setting very well.
I thought the narrative style was interesting, even if it didn’t work for me. There are two point of view characters in this book -- Mim and Alex. Each chapter is told as though they’re speaking to one of the animals in the sideshow’s menagerie. Mim talks to her parrot, who was came with her when Mr. Grainger bought her, while Alex talks to the pig in the menagerie. It was a little strange at first, but you get used to it pretty quickly.
The inclusion of Mim, a mixed race black girl, was refreshing, as some people seem to think that black people just didn’t exist at this period in time -- you rarely get to see diverse casts in historical fiction. She was an interesting character, along with Alex, but I don’t think they’re the kinds of characters I particularly like, nor had the type of romance I usually enjoy. I am a big fan of slow burning romance, which we have in this book, however I don’t like the fact that their issues could have been resolved if they just spoke to each other. The two fight and make up constantly and this just isn’t really my thing.
Overall, The Electrical Venus didn’t really click with me. It’s a hard book to review for that exact reason. However, if you’re looking for books that deal with sex, young romance, or falling for the wrong person, this is a great title to pick up. I think it’s unusual historical setting is very appealing and it’s a fast read.
I received this book in exchange for an honest review. This review is spoiler-free.
The Electrical Venus jumped out at me because it is historical young adult fiction -- something I don’t think you see very often. On top of that, the book is set in Georgian England, which is even more of a rarity in YA. Although I didn’t know much about it, I decided to give it a shot.
To be perfectly honest, this book was just not for me. The writing style, the characters, and the story are all just things that I don’t particularly enjoy in books. However, don’t let that sway you because I do think that many people will enjoy The Electrical Venus.
I really liked the fact that this is a historical novel set in an unusual time period for YA. Young adult books can get a little same-y after awhile and it’s so nice to see something fresh and new! It’s an interesting period in time and the inclusion of Doctor Fox and his electricity machine really took advantage of that in the best way. What seems very normal to us would have been a marvel to people of this time and it suited the sideshow setting very well.
I thought the narrative style was interesting, even if it didn’t work for me. There are two point of view characters in this book -- Mim and Alex. Each chapter is told as though they’re speaking to one of the animals in the sideshow’s menagerie. Mim talks to her parrot, who was came with her when Mr. Grainger bought her, while Alex talks to the pig in the menagerie. It was a little strange at first, but you get used to it pretty quickly.
The inclusion of Mim, a mixed race black girl, was refreshing, as some people seem to think that black people just didn’t exist at this period in time -- you rarely get to see diverse casts in historical fiction. She was an interesting character, along with Alex, but I don’t think they’re the kinds of characters I particularly like, nor had the type of romance I usually enjoy. I am a big fan of slow burning romance, which we have in this book, however I don’t like the fact that their issues could have been resolved if they just spoke to each other. The two fight and make up constantly and this just isn’t really my thing.
Overall, The Electrical Venus didn’t really click with me. It’s a hard book to review for that exact reason. However, if you’re looking for books that deal with sex, young romance, or falling for the wrong person, this is a great title to pick up. I think it’s unusual historical setting is very appealing and it’s a fast read.
piperbunny's review
This was a DNF from me after reading 67%. I couldn't get into the flow of the book. I liked the characters and I was gripped at the start but I always felt like an observer of the story, not taking part in it. Also two DNF's in a row... I might be in a reading slump :( I have read other Julie Mayhew books and loved them!
literaryleisha's review
3.0
Full review over on my blog https://literaryleisha.wordpress.com/2018/04/14/review-the-electrical-venus-by-julie-mayhew/
hollyp23's review
2.0
** 2.5 stars **
I thought I was going to really enjoy this book and unfortunately ended up being disappointed.
This story follows mixed race Mim who is treated like an animal in her oppressive society, but is chosen by Dr Fox to be ‘the electrical venus’ and gains the headline act in their travelling show but it isn’t all she expected it to be. As well as one armed Alex who struggles with his identity and achieving more than he is expected to be.
Although I enjoyed their relationship to begin with and felt it’s potential, by the end I felt the story was rushed and didn’t flesh it out for me to truly root for them.
I also disliked the characters of Mim who was naive and didn’t develop as the story went on, although I did appreciate the exploration of women’s position in the Georgian era.
One thing I thought was very quirky and unique about this story was how each section was addressed to an animal, such as a parrot or a pig, which I enjoyed and allowed for reflective monologues. However at points the writing did feel immature and unrealistically hyperbolic which meant that I often didn’t enjoy the reading experience.
I thought I was going to really enjoy this book and unfortunately ended up being disappointed.
This story follows mixed race Mim who is treated like an animal in her oppressive society, but is chosen by Dr Fox to be ‘the electrical venus’ and gains the headline act in their travelling show but it isn’t all she expected it to be. As well as one armed Alex who struggles with his identity and achieving more than he is expected to be.
Although I enjoyed their relationship to begin with and felt it’s potential, by the end I felt the story was rushed and didn’t flesh it out for me to truly root for them.
I also disliked the characters of Mim who was naive and didn’t develop as the story went on, although I did appreciate the exploration of women’s position in the Georgian era.
One thing I thought was very quirky and unique about this story was how each section was addressed to an animal, such as a parrot or a pig, which I enjoyed and allowed for reflective monologues. However at points the writing did feel immature and unrealistically hyperbolic which meant that I often didn’t enjoy the reading experience.
ijustkindalikebooks's review
4.0
I’m not always the biggest fan of historical fiction, however reading the synopsis really pulled me into the story and I am glad I requested this book. A coming of age story for Mim, a teenager who is trying to figure out who she is, The Electrical Venus is a gorgeous read.
The characters throughout this book are really well developed, particularly Mim as she develops into the title character, but also Alex too as the book goes on, leading to a really nice finale. If this book is anything, it’s short and sweet and the characters for the amount of pages really are very good.
The story is okay and I feel like it really does have a nice ending to it with moments in the story that really give this book some drama but I feel like the characters are what steals this story and the fact they are characters you rarely see in fiction, makes this an important (for representation) but also an enjoyable read.
(I received an ARC from Netgalley for a honest review).
The characters throughout this book are really well developed, particularly Mim as she develops into the title character, but also Alex too as the book goes on, leading to a really nice finale. If this book is anything, it’s short and sweet and the characters for the amount of pages really are very good.
The story is okay and I feel like it really does have a nice ending to it with moments in the story that really give this book some drama but I feel like the characters are what steals this story and the fact they are characters you rarely see in fiction, makes this an important (for representation) but also an enjoyable read.
(I received an ARC from Netgalley for a honest review).
dramaturgist's review
4.0
I really enjoyed reading this! It's about a biracial "exotic" girl called Mim, and about Alex, who's a one-armed acrobat. The story's set in eighteenth century England, and in a circus (similar to Caraval, but also way way different) - I'm a sucker for a good steampunk novel, so of course I had to read it.
The layout of the book was so beautiful! The chapter images, changing perspectives, switches between first and third person - they were all so intriguing? I especially loved the little illustrations of animals before each chapter <3
The writing style was really easy to read? It was sort of diary-like, but at times it felt a little dry. A bit too deep in descriptions, maybe. The best part was definitely how they included the feelings of Pig and George the parrot (who, let's be honest, were the true stars of the show).
I loved the characters so much!! Mim was snarky and funny and a bit headstrong but Alex,, god I would die for him. He's so soft and beautiful and trying so hard and skshskhsjs??? And their relationship was so sweet and unhurried !!!
Something I would've wanted is more backstory? Especially for Abel and Joe, I just feel like it would've brought the whole thing home. Sometimes they felt a little unrealistic.
I'd recommend it to anyone looking for character-driven historical fiction, or just something breezy and intriguing!
thank you to the publisher for giving me an early copy in exchange for an honest review!
(and yes, I'm extremely late. sue me.)
The layout of the book was so beautiful! The chapter images, changing perspectives, switches between first and third person - they were all so intriguing? I especially loved the little illustrations of animals before each chapter <3
The writing style was really easy to read? It was sort of diary-like, but at times it felt a little dry. A bit too deep in descriptions, maybe. The best part was definitely how they included the feelings of Pig and George the parrot (who, let's be honest, were the true stars of the show).
I loved the characters so much!! Mim was snarky and funny and a bit headstrong but Alex,, god I would die for him. He's so soft and beautiful and trying so hard and skshskhsjs??? And their relationship was so sweet and unhurried !!!
Something I would've wanted is more backstory? Especially for Abel and Joe, I just feel like it would've brought the whole thing home. Sometimes they felt a little unrealistic.
I'd recommend it to anyone looking for character-driven historical fiction, or just something breezy and intriguing!
thank you to the publisher for giving me an early copy in exchange for an honest review!
(and yes, I'm extremely late. sue me.)
saccalai's review
3.0
Mim and Alex are part of a travelling carnival show run by Mr Grainger and his wife. Both have been travelling since they were young and as they got older their friendship seems like it could grow to more as they start to notice each other as something more. Then Mr Fox arrives with his Electrickery, philosophy and his inventions and Mim is raised to top billing, leaving Alex behind.
It took me a while to get into this book, it was a bit slow throughout but the prologue adds some suspense which builds to the almost-finale at the end. I found the changing perspectives a little confusing at times and the language made it difficult to picture what was actually happening at first but I got used to it soon enough.
It took me a while to get into this book, it was a bit slow throughout but the prologue adds some suspense which builds to the almost-finale at the end. I found the changing perspectives a little confusing at times and the language made it difficult to picture what was actually happening at first but I got used to it soon enough.