littlefoot10's review against another edition
4.0
This was a very quick read. It was intriguing to be flashing back to the bus hijack, and to before Veda's move from Vancouver to New York. This novel was very compelling and definitely made you want to find out what exactly happened on the bus, and what led Veda to leave her home town. There is a lot more layers happening within this novel other than just the bus hijack. The relationships in Veda's life aren't always the most positive, and I think that is something everyone will be able to related to in this book. What stopped this from being a 5 stars for me, was the lack of bus scenes. I was waiting the full novel for the final moments on the bus... and it was the shortest chapter in the book. This novel was very entertaining and I would definitely recommend this author to others.
happyglowlucky's review against another edition
5.0
Wow! This book had lots of twists and turns to keep me engaged, and turning pages. The main character winds up in a hostage situation, and the story keeps you on your toes. The writing was very alive, and vivid, and super-detailed - in other words, really well-written! It made me want to look up this author (who I was not aware of before I read this book) to see what else they've written. It's one of those un-put-down-able books, and an excellent read!
meloches's review against another edition
5.0
If I had to use one word to describe Be Ready for the Lightning by Grace O’Connell, I would say vivid; from the descriptions of the scenery to the characters, everything in this book was so intricately developed and detailed. I could smell the smells and hear the sounds. I felt like I knew these people, they were my friends and my confidants. Throughout my reading, I felt a visceral attachment to them, which made this one feel suspenseful and explosive. O’Connell is a master of imagery and I was captivated by her prose.
The novel opens like every other day. Veda has just moved from Vancouver to New York, running from her complicated relationship with her brother, and is starting her day like every other day: by almost missing her bus. As she gets on just in time and begins to the monotony of her bus ride, a man a hijacks the bus and shoots the driver. Veda finds herself in an unpredictable hostage situation.
The narrative style of this novel was incredibly unique and interesting. The novel is told in several sections and in several time periods. It is told partially in the relative past as Veda experiences the events on the bus, partially in the present as Veda deals with the aftermath of the ordeal and the rest, told in flashbacks, as Veda remembers moments from her childhood and timelines the relationship with her brother, Conrad as they grow up in a Vancouver suburb. I couldn’t help but consistently wonder how all these pieces would fit together and how her past experiences would help her in the present. Veda, as a character, is very observant. Constantly taking inventory of things around her. I found this to add to the tone that O’Connell sets throughout the novel. No detail is missed and no stone is left unturned.
This is absolutely a slow burn of a read, definitely not a fast-paced, in your face style of thriller. But don’t get it twisted, this one, although not the type of novel I am usually into (I know I complain about slow moving books ALL THE TIME), Be Ready for the Lightning had me grabbing on to every word and holding my breath. I could not wait to see what would happen and how this would pan out.
If you like stories that are character-centered and will have you anxiously awaiting a resolution, this would be a perfect read for you. I also feel like there is so much in this narrative that would make a fantastic book club discussion. AND to top it all off, O’Connell is a Canadian author. Which you know I am always delighted to find!
The novel opens like every other day. Veda has just moved from Vancouver to New York, running from her complicated relationship with her brother, and is starting her day like every other day: by almost missing her bus. As she gets on just in time and begins to the monotony of her bus ride, a man a hijacks the bus and shoots the driver. Veda finds herself in an unpredictable hostage situation.
The narrative style of this novel was incredibly unique and interesting. The novel is told in several sections and in several time periods. It is told partially in the relative past as Veda experiences the events on the bus, partially in the present as Veda deals with the aftermath of the ordeal and the rest, told in flashbacks, as Veda remembers moments from her childhood and timelines the relationship with her brother, Conrad as they grow up in a Vancouver suburb. I couldn’t help but consistently wonder how all these pieces would fit together and how her past experiences would help her in the present. Veda, as a character, is very observant. Constantly taking inventory of things around her. I found this to add to the tone that O’Connell sets throughout the novel. No detail is missed and no stone is left unturned.
This is absolutely a slow burn of a read, definitely not a fast-paced, in your face style of thriller. But don’t get it twisted, this one, although not the type of novel I am usually into (I know I complain about slow moving books ALL THE TIME), Be Ready for the Lightning had me grabbing on to every word and holding my breath. I could not wait to see what would happen and how this would pan out.
If you like stories that are character-centered and will have you anxiously awaiting a resolution, this would be a perfect read for you. I also feel like there is so much in this narrative that would make a fantastic book club discussion. AND to top it all off, O’Connell is a Canadian author. Which you know I am always delighted to find!
karabk's review against another edition
2.0
Veda and her brother Conrad (Connie) are the main characters in a group of five close friends that grew up together. Everyone tip toes around Conrad's constant fighting that began in adolescence, which to me, is the meaning for the title. Veda and Conrad's parents ruminate over why Conrad didn't change after high school. The expectation for him to attend university and then get a proper job was shattered when he didn't snap out of it.
Narrator Veda hooks up with one of The Five, Ted, and they fall into a relationship of convenience. She unfortunately spends many years hoping he will become the boyfriend she wants. It's when she becomes a hostage on a New York city bus that the most fascinating part of this book takes place, when she develops character. The interaction between her and the hijacker is unusual.
My full review is on: https://booksandbrands.blogspot.ca/2018/03/be-ready-for-lightening.html
Narrator Veda hooks up with one of The Five, Ted, and they fall into a relationship of convenience. She unfortunately spends many years hoping he will become the boyfriend she wants. It's when she becomes a hostage on a New York city bus that the most fascinating part of this book takes place, when she develops character. The interaction between her and the hijacker is unusual.
My full review is on: https://booksandbrands.blogspot.ca/2018/03/be-ready-for-lightening.html
zoemig's review against another edition
2.0
A semi-recent giveaway win, I'm not sure I would have picked up Be Ready for the Lightning by Grace O'Connell on my own otherwise, but I was intrigued enough by the synopsis–plus, it's a Canadian author–to give the book a try. This is the story of Veda, who finds herself on a bus in a hostage situation. The story then switches to her childhood in Vancouver, to the bond she had with her brother, despite his violent tendencies, and to the situations that lead to her being on that bus in the first place.
Despite the intensity of the opening scene, Be Ready for the Lightning is definitely a slow-moving story, and the pace meant it took me much longer to read than it should have. I can also be a bit frustrated by books that switch between tenses, I always spend one waiting for what happens in the other, and that was the case here as I waited to find out what happened on the bus. Plus, when I did find out, any "twist" was just disappointing to me. Ultimately, even though the book is well-written and has some lovely imagery, I just wasn't very committed or enthralled by the story.
Despite the intensity of the opening scene, Be Ready for the Lightning is definitely a slow-moving story, and the pace meant it took me much longer to read than it should have. I can also be a bit frustrated by books that switch between tenses, I always spend one waiting for what happens in the other, and that was the case here as I waited to find out what happened on the bus. Plus, when I did find out, any "twist" was just disappointing to me. Ultimately, even though the book is well-written and has some lovely imagery, I just wasn't very committed or enthralled by the story.
chukg's review against another edition
4.0
Lots of local colour, in depth characterization. Told mostly in flashbacks, pretty interesting and has some good audiology detail.
briarsreviews's review against another edition
3.0
This story was dark and it hit hard. I felt some real hurt from this book, and that only shows how good of a writer Grace O'Connell is.
Our lead, Veda, is taken hostage on a bus. It's scary, people are going to die, and Veda is just the random bystander who got stuck in the middle of the mess. She hasn't had the easiest of lives, and it seems like everyone around is is slowly figuring everything out (yet also crashing and burning just as hard as her at the same time). Everyone's relationships seem to be struggling or really bad for them, yet everyone goes on as if life is normal.
I'd be curious to see someone tear this book apart and explain the themes. I think Grace was trying to go somewhere with these issues, but it just felt all around dark. People's lives were crumbling, Veda takes a deep dive in a random direction near the end, and the ending is just as mind blowing. Was there a reason? Was this just fiction and meant to shock people? I want to know.
This book was presented to me as a thriller, but I feel like it's more of a character development study or contemporary story. The thrills don't last as long as the relationships and drama. It's also a very slow moving story, so if you love fast paced books like me then it might not hit as well.
My biggest con of this book was that it jumped back and forth between the timelines. I wanted to see how the entire scenario before the incident occurred and then jump into the scary situation Veda was presented with. The way the book was written, it did leave me clinging to the pages and wanting to know more, but it also frustrated me immensely.
Overall, this book is truly unique and I'm glad I had a chance to pick it up. I love reading books by Canadians even if they aren't my typical genres. I think this book will really hit with some people! It's truly moving.
Three out of five stars.
I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
Our lead, Veda, is taken hostage on a bus. It's scary, people are going to die, and Veda is just the random bystander who got stuck in the middle of the mess. She hasn't had the easiest of lives, and it seems like everyone around is is slowly figuring everything out (yet also crashing and burning just as hard as her at the same time). Everyone's relationships seem to be struggling or really bad for them, yet everyone goes on as if life is normal.
I'd be curious to see someone tear this book apart and explain the themes. I think Grace was trying to go somewhere with these issues, but it just felt all around dark. People's lives were crumbling, Veda takes a deep dive in a random direction near the end, and the ending is just as mind blowing. Was there a reason? Was this just fiction and meant to shock people? I want to know.
This book was presented to me as a thriller, but I feel like it's more of a character development study or contemporary story. The thrills don't last as long as the relationships and drama. It's also a very slow moving story, so if you love fast paced books like me then it might not hit as well.
My biggest con of this book was that it jumped back and forth between the timelines. I wanted to see how the entire scenario before the incident occurred and then jump into the scary situation Veda was presented with. The way the book was written, it did leave me clinging to the pages and wanting to know more, but it also frustrated me immensely.
Overall, this book is truly unique and I'm glad I had a chance to pick it up. I love reading books by Canadians even if they aren't my typical genres. I think this book will really hit with some people! It's truly moving.
Three out of five stars.
I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
jilljemmett's review against another edition
4.0
Veda's life changes when she is trapped on a hijacked bus in New York City. She reflects on her life growing up in Vancouver. Her brother got into many fights. She blames herself for starting them because his first fight was to defend her. Veda would always look after him following these fights, until she gets involved herself. Then she decides to leave Vancouver and get a fresh start in New York. She never expected it would lead to this hostage situation. Veda has to use a strength that she didn't know she had to get off the bus.
This story is very character driven. It follows Veda's life before and after the hostage situation. Each of the eight parts of the book begins with a chapter about Veda's time on the bus.
Usually I prefer plot-driven novels but I liked this one. It kept returning to the life changing moment in Veda's life when she was trapped on the bus. I kept expecting something very dramatic to happen, but when there was a major plot twist, it was soon resolved. The "lightning" wasn't as big a flash as I thought it would be. However, I liked the image of lightning and how it kept coming back up in the story.
This is a good story and it's very well written!
This story is very character driven. It follows Veda's life before and after the hostage situation. Each of the eight parts of the book begins with a chapter about Veda's time on the bus.
Usually I prefer plot-driven novels but I liked this one. It kept returning to the life changing moment in Veda's life when she was trapped on the bus. I kept expecting something very dramatic to happen, but when there was a major plot twist, it was soon resolved. The "lightning" wasn't as big a flash as I thought it would be. However, I liked the image of lightning and how it kept coming back up in the story.
This is a good story and it's very well written!
karenllowe's review against another edition
5.0
This is a wonderful book! Grace O'Connell has created living characters that leap off the page. We follow Veda through some of her childhood events and see her friends and relations with all their good and bad traits. Their actions and choices resonated through her, revealing that we never know if we said the right thing or made the right choice. Reasons for actions and reactions, as well as how those truly affect others, are unknowable in others and in ourselves.
We watch as she remembers and forgets, acts or doesn't act. Each section was framed wonderfully by pieces off the horrific event that touched Veda's life. Through the novel, wee learn more about Veda as she begins to understand herself, her own limitations and her strengths.
It was a truly awesome book. I felt so connected to Veda and her world, like it was mine.
Thank you to Goodreads for the give-away advanced copy in exchange for this honest review. I recommend this to everyone!
We watch as she remembers and forgets, acts or doesn't act. Each section was framed wonderfully by pieces off the horrific event that touched Veda's life. Through the novel, wee learn more about Veda as she begins to understand herself, her own limitations and her strengths.
It was a truly awesome book. I felt so connected to Veda and her world, like it was mine.
Thank you to Goodreads for the give-away advanced copy in exchange for this honest review. I recommend this to everyone!
petitetami's review against another edition
4.0
I received this book in a goodreads giveaway. I was hooked on this book just a few pages into it. I forgot the synopsis before I started reading it, adding to my intrigue with Veda's current terror/dilemma and her back story of growing up in Vancouver. It seems that all the books I've been reading lately are split time lines, which can be hard to keep straight, but are such an enjoyable puzzle to piece together. I found Veda's complex and detailed life's story so interesting that if I didn't know it was fiction, it could pass for non-fiction. Now I just need to find someone to "read it forward".
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