jennyclay's review against another edition
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
mandyist's review against another edition
1.0
I’ve been asked why I gave this book one star which is a fair question but I tend to avoid reviewing the books I really don’t enjoy as they can be highly subjective.
I’ll try to keep it brief. First, the objective: this one is squarely on the shoulders of the editors / publishers. It’s as if they got one third of the way through and stopped editing. The story is fully of errors - this is a story that skips through three different timelines and the timing itself is messed up.
The characters celebrate New Year’s Eve on 31 January; a character gets pregnant and feels the baby moving within days; and the timing of the encounters described in a series of letters just feels wrong.
The book had factual errors too - the author mixed up the British and Natural History Museums and described seeing the Thames from the front steps of the museum which is not possible from either museum.
The subjective: for all the intrigue the author weaves in the first half of the book, I felt there was very little point to the actual story.
I’d never suggest avoiding a book but I personally will avoid this author altogether in future.
I’ll try to keep it brief. First, the objective: this one is squarely on the shoulders of the editors / publishers. It’s as if they got one third of the way through and stopped editing. The story is fully of errors - this is a story that skips through three different timelines and the timing itself is messed up.
The characters celebrate New Year’s Eve on 31 January; a character gets pregnant and feels the baby moving within days; and the timing of the encounters described in a series of letters just feels wrong.
The book had factual errors too - the author mixed up the British and Natural History Museums and described seeing the Thames from the front steps of the museum which is not possible from either museum.
The subjective: for all the intrigue the author weaves in the first half of the book, I felt there was very little point to the actual story.
I’d never suggest avoiding a book but I personally will avoid this author altogether in future.
kylas_library's review
4.0
4/5 stars!
OKAY I didn’t expect to like this book BUT OH BOY Adri’s pov was really annoying (until her last pov LOL) but I absolutely loveddd Lenore & Catherine’s povs! I liked getting to know them through their letters and from a first person pov instead of third person, like Adri’s. There were no super major plot twists but it was really fun when the storylines started to connect! And you finally figured out how everyone was connected! HOWEVER this book left soo many things unresolved and unanswered. THE ENDING WAS THE BIGGEST CLIFFHANGER
OKAY I didn’t expect to like this book BUT OH BOY Adri’s pov was really annoying (until her last pov LOL) but I absolutely loveddd Lenore & Catherine’s povs! I liked getting to know them through their letters and from a first person pov instead of third person, like Adri’s. There were no super major plot twists but it was really fun when the storylines started to connect! And you finally figured out how everyone was connected! HOWEVER this book left soo many things unresolved and unanswered. THE ENDING WAS THE BIGGEST CLIFFHANGER
shealwaysreads's review against another edition
3.0
I recently picked up Midnight At The Electric because the enchanting cover reminded me of the magical atmosphere in Night Circus. However, I soon discovered that the similarities ended there. While the book had potential, the pacing was off and the ending left me feeling underwhelmed.
📖 Plot and Pacing:
Midnight At The Electric follows the lives of three women from different time periods: Adri, Catherine, & Lenore. The story intertwines their narratives, connecting them through the mysterious Midnight at the Electric farm. The concept was intriguing, promising a blend of historical fiction & science fiction. However, the execution fell short.
The pacing was inconsistent, making it difficult to fully immerse myself in the plot. I found myself longing for more depth and development in the characters' journeys.
💔 Lackluster Ending:
After investing time & energy into the story, I expected a satisfying conclusion that would tie all the threads together. Unfortunately, the resolution felt rushed and left many loose ends. It left me wanting more closure and a stronger sense of fulfillment.
🎭 Character Development:
While the concept of three interconnected narratives was intriguing, the character development fell short. Adri, Catherine, & Lenore had the potential to be complex and compelling protagonists, but their stories lacked depth. I struggled to connect with them on an emotional level, which made it difficult to fully invest in their journeys.
🌌 Overall Impression:
Despite its captivating cover, Midnight At The Electric failed to live up to my expectations. The pacing issues and lackluster ending overshadowed the potential of the story. However, the book did have its moments of beauty and the writing style was pleasant. If you enjoy atmospheric settings and don't mind a slower pace, you might find some enjoyment in this book.
📖 Plot and Pacing:
Midnight At The Electric follows the lives of three women from different time periods: Adri, Catherine, & Lenore. The story intertwines their narratives, connecting them through the mysterious Midnight at the Electric farm. The concept was intriguing, promising a blend of historical fiction & science fiction. However, the execution fell short.
The pacing was inconsistent, making it difficult to fully immerse myself in the plot. I found myself longing for more depth and development in the characters' journeys.
💔 Lackluster Ending:
After investing time & energy into the story, I expected a satisfying conclusion that would tie all the threads together. Unfortunately, the resolution felt rushed and left many loose ends. It left me wanting more closure and a stronger sense of fulfillment.
🎭 Character Development:
While the concept of three interconnected narratives was intriguing, the character development fell short. Adri, Catherine, & Lenore had the potential to be complex and compelling protagonists, but their stories lacked depth. I struggled to connect with them on an emotional level, which made it difficult to fully invest in their journeys.
🌌 Overall Impression:
Despite its captivating cover, Midnight At The Electric failed to live up to my expectations. The pacing issues and lackluster ending overshadowed the potential of the story. However, the book did have its moments of beauty and the writing style was pleasant. If you enjoy atmospheric settings and don't mind a slower pace, you might find some enjoyment in this book.
literatehedgehog's review against another edition
4.0
A subtle novel between contemporary, historical, and epistolary fiction. It's about loss, what it takes to be brave, what it takes to love, to let go, to forgive. Despite some of the summaries out there, or even the cover, it's not about the sci fi elements of going to Mars, running away from home, or circuses. (I don't know about you, but I am so over circuses).
It's quiet but powerful, so it may get overlooked. It's not be the best beach read or exciting escapism, but it's worth a slow savor on a cloudy day.
It's quiet but powerful, so it may get overlooked. It's not be the best beach read or exciting escapism, but it's worth a slow savor on a cloudy day.
freesien's review against another edition
3.0
Even though I knew it wouldn't happen I wished there to be more science fiction because I was in the mood for some action. But nevertheless, the slow and moving read was still beautiful. I had difficulties connecting with Adria, though. Not until the end did I manage to form some emotional bond with her, even though with Catherine and Lenore the bond happened much earlier despite the fact that their POVs were written in form of letters. They were just so much more interesting.
taaja's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
i'm a sucker for multi-generational family novels. midnight at the electric reminded me a lot of sea of tranquility but with less sci-fi elements.
dlberglund's review against another edition
5.0
I read through this book in only two sittings; that's how gripping the stories of these three young women were to me. The book is both speculative fiction and historical fiction, nostalgic and melancholy and hopeful all at once. It's abut the connections between three young women in three different, trying times. I loved them all and felt sad and disappointed and proud of them all. What a great read.