Midnight at the Electric audiobook

“Earth,” Alexa finally said. “It’s not that great anyway.” And they all smiled sadly. Because, of course, she was being sarcastic. Of course, it was everything. What a strange, quiet, beautiful book. Anderson is the author of one of my favourite YA books of all time - Tiger Lily - making her someone whose books are auto-buys for me. And Midnight at the Electric didn't disappoint. I feel like I should issue a warning that those going into this book should prepare themselves for a slow, gentle, but emotional read. Anderson fans will expect this after reading both Tiger Lily and The Vanishing Season. There is something so haunting and all the more effective about the subtle way these stories unfold. The author reveals powerful concepts and insights into humanity through the quiet interactions between people, and their private thoughts. When she retells Peter Pan, the focus is on the inner turmoil of a young girl and the heartache that comes with growing up, changing, and not having things turn out how you'd hoped. When she tells this story about a Mars colonist in the year 2065, the focus is not on space travel and the future, but on the deep sadness of leaving something behind, and the excitement of experiencing something new. “I think that’s what you say when you can’t have something you want, isn’t it? You say you don’t want it in the first place.” Though the book starts with Adri - an orphan who has been chosen as one of the first colonists on Mars - it actually tells three different stories. Adri has been sent to live with her distant and aging cousin, Lily, while she prepares for her new life, but in Lily's home she discovers the diaries of a girl called Catherine who lived during the Dust bowl of 1930s America, and letters to Catherine's mother from Lenore, an English girl who lost her beloved brother in the First World War.All of these stories are tied together by Galapagos, a tortoise that has appeared in the lives of all three women. And all three women are on the cusp of leaving - Lenore leaving England; Catherine leaving her dust-covered town and the boy she loves; Adri leaving Earth. The book is infused with melancholy... because there is something very sad about change and leaving, even new beginnings are tinged with the sadness of that left behind.The book is full of relationships, reluctant friendship, love and loss, without ever feeling too sentimental or manipulative. It is strange how a book that has such a sad atmosphere can be somehow hopeful and uplifting at the same time. It contains all the bittersweetness of something ending, and something else beginning. “Do you think I can change?” she finally asked.Lily looked at her, curious and thoughtful. “Well,” she replied, “are you dead?”They smiled at each other, a slow unfolding. Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Youtube

This is a beautiful, quiet story told in paucal timelines, 2 of which are in an epistolary format. I was surprised by how much I equally enjoyed each section and connected with the characters within in it, being only 250 pages. It was a unique choice to have none of the timelines be in current day, making this an interesting novel to try to shelve. Is it historical fiction? Sci fi? Was it a romance? All I know is it was flawless, thoughtful, and atmospheric as all hell.

This book is a quiet masterpiece. The type of book that relies on the empty space, survives off the quiet and the human rather than the rich and the sci-fi. And it's the type of book you remember. The type of book you won't forget. Don't go in expecting a shocking sci-fi element or glorious worldbuilding; that's not this book's game. This is a book that thrives on questions, rather than focusing on the small stuff. I'm really not going to say much more, beyond this: Midnight at the Electric is fundamentally a book about leaving. There's a sense of melancholy here, but it never overwrites the book's message of hope and love. It's a clever book and one I can't see myself forgetting soon. Blog | Goodreads | Twitter | Youtube

im pretty sure if you looked up the definition of bittersweet, you would find a picture of this book.picking this up, the cover and title implied to me that ‘the electric,’ the travelling show, would have some sort of main focus in the book. so i went into this very much expecting a carnivalesque type story, but this was far from that. this was not what i was expecting, not in the slightest. this was very slow and gentle story about the quiet strength it takes to leave everything you know for the hope of something better - adri leaving earth for a future on mars, catherine leaving her dusty hometown for the health of her sister, and lenore leaving england to follow her best friend. and i absolutely loved how all three points in time connected in such an emotional way. but despite the melancholy nature of each of the three girls’ stories, there was also something quite hopeful and uplifting about their courage in the face of sacrifice. again, the only word i can use to describe this book is bittersweet - its the perfect portrayal of the feeling of something ending in order to make way for a new beginning. such a well told story.↠ 3.5 stars

This book is a goddamn masterpiece. I can all ready see myself rereading this and taking away something new every time. While this lured me in with the circus tent on the cover, don’t be fooled. This has very little to do with a circus. It’s a sci-fi, historical fiction, literary fiction and just plain beautiful. With themes of time and space being used in a literal and metaphorical sense, this was a book that I needed right at this moment.Told through three perspectives, two historical and one in the future, I love that present day isn’t a part of this story. The only constant is a sea turtle (don’t get me started on the symbolism of that). This has elements of found families that never actually come in contact. It’s a found family over generations of letters and story telling. I was so invested in every single characters’ well-being and I have no idea how Anderson developed these people in such a short time. Definitely not going to be everybody’s cup of tea but this was a story that I very much needed and I loved every word.

Midnight at the Electric follows three different protagonists: Adri, Catherine and Lenore as they navigate love, sacrifice and what it means to leave something behind. “I wonder if sometimes you can miss something so much it breaks you, and still be happy you left.” The writing in this book was beautiful but I had no doubt about that. Jodi Lynn Anderson is so adept at writing, it’s actually unreal. Her writing is so lyrical and beautiful. It’s no secret that Tiger Lily is one of my favourite books of all time. This author can make you feel so much with so few words that I actually need this woman to write more books. Like seriously, I’ll actually pay her to write another book because that’s how much I love her writing. “I think all my life my heart’s been broken,” Adri whispered, “and I didn’t even notice. And I don’t even know by what.” The best thing about this book is its characters. They felt so realistic and I sympathised with all of their situations. It’s crazy how in just over 200 pages, the author was able to make me feel so much for each of these three different characters. I did cry. A lot. Am I surprised? No. I don’t think this author could ever write a book that would not make me cry. I have to say though, my favourite character was definitely Catherine, followed by Lenore and then lastly, Adri. I just connected a lot more with Catherine and Lenore than I did with Adri but that did change as the novel went on and I learned more about Adri. “I think that's what you say when you can't have something you want, isn't it? You say you don't want it in the first place.” There’s something deeply satisfying about reading Jodi Lynn Anderson’s books. I first experienced it with Tiger Lily and now with Midnight at the Electric. There’s this weird sort of sadness that the books make you feel, like you’re hollow and empty inside. But they also leave you with hope. That no matter how dire your situation is, there is always room for it to get better. This novel isn’t really a science-fiction novel about a girl’s trip to Mars, its about the sadness of leaving something behind and the pains of growing up and changing in a world filled with uncertainty. But the ending was perfect for me. It made me feel the same way I felt after I finished Tiger Lily but on a smaller scale and with less tears, that there’s always room for hope in your heart. “I think the rest of the world is not as cold and lonely a place as you think. At least I have to hope.” Midnight at the Electric is a beautiful book. It’s just over 200 pages but it packs so much emotion and character development that this author deserves all the praise in the world for her talent in making you feel so much with just only a few words.

such a beautiful book. every word just makes you want to read more. so much of feelings & emotions through the pages. the ups & downs of these people. their struggles, love, loneliness, living through their lives is captured beautifully by the author.

"Grief isn't like sadness at all. Sadness is only something that's a part of you. Grief becomes you; it wraps you up and changes you and makes everything - every little thing - different than it was before".While the genres of this book are sci-fi and historical fiction, they're only relevant in the setting - one part of it takes place in the future, two others in the past. Other than that, it's a character novel which is filled with feelings of loneliness, despair, regret; but also hope, unity, and peace. For such a short story, it brought up a lot of topics and really impacted the way I think about the future ahead of us. It made me hope for the humanity again."I think the rest of the world is not as cold and lonely a place as you think. At least I have to hope".

"Beth, I've made a discovery, and it's that grief isn't like sadness at all. Sadness is only something that's a part of you. Grief becomes you; it wraps you up and changes you and makes everything -- every little thing -- different than it was before." there are books that you seek out and there the books that seem to find you. this book found me at a time when i've recently experienced a huge loss in my life. and jodi lynn anderson really knows how to write about loss and how empty it can make you feel but also how when all is said and done and despite the emptiness, life can and will move forward. the human spirit is always resilient. so i'm really thankful this book found me. i loved this. 4.5 stars.

To be honest, This isn’t my first time with the book, I picked it up before and I ended up DNFing it but I always knew that I’ll give it a second chance and thank God that I did cause this isn’t a book you want to miss reading; quiet, powerful and melancholic, Midnight at the electric is a beautiful and soft tale of three women linked together through time and human connections. I wonder if sometimes you can miss something so much it breaks you, and still be happy you left Really, this book is so lovely yet gut-wrenching that it left a mark on my soul and will stay with me forever. The simplicity of its emotions and the nostalgic vibe the book fills you with is something I rarely came across. This is a unique experience that filled my heart and drowned me in feelings. What a hidden Gem, what a tremendous story about love, loss, friendship and connecting. Sadness is only something that's part of you. Grief becomes you; it wraps you up and changes you and makes everything - every little thing - different than it was before I don’t want to say a lot about the plot of the book, it’s really way better if you go blind into this one and let the book take you on a journey you don’t know anything about before, it’s immersive, it’s addictive, it’s impossibly human and in its core, it’s about the idea of home, leaving that home behind in search of something more or staying even though it will break you; Home being different thing for each character in the book, it can be a friend, a place, a lover or a memory. I think the rest of the world is not as cold and lonely a place as you think. At least I have to hope I just don’t think you can’t review such a tale without becoming emotional; it’s just not that possible. Highly recommend this one, it’s touching beyond imagination, it’s equally painful and hopeful and that balance, between agony and pure joy is done in a manner that makes you believe. I’m aware that Midnight At The Electric isn’t for everyone, but for those who enjoy the quiet and the melancholic, this book is definitely something you need to check out. I don't care if there are cracks in us, we are still us. We don't have to be perfect to be right

Simplicity is beautyThis book is a really great example. "I know I'll never see England or China and never have Ellis and never be rich. So I want to hold that ball of lightning in my hands. I want my chance at living too, and this is as close as I can get." Scattered here and there are utterly relatable passages. Surely the characters are going through something far different that what you're going through but the way they describe their feelings, it's very easy to think of moments where you felt the exact same way.Even if Catherine and Lenore's POV's were journal entries and letters within Adri's POV, the emotions emanating out of them are still strong and authentic. The writing was raw and vivid. You'll be able to feel how special these papers are. I adored all the characters but I loved Lenore's personality the most - she was just so hilarious. "Ellis once told me that if they had a way of weighing people's souls along with their bodies I'd be 2 percent fat, 10 percent water, and 90 percent unattainable desires." Nevermind that the components won't add up to exactly 100 percent. This book has a way of making me laugh in spite of the gloomy setting. "I've made a discovery, and it's that grief isn't like sadness at all. Sadness is only something that's a part of you. Grief becomes you; it wraps you up and changes you and makes everything - every little thing - different than it was before." The reflections are stunning. Words like these arrange themselves on paper only when they are unquestionably heartfelt - when the author is brave enough to part with a little bit of her soul to share with others. "Her faith never changes, while mine does all the time - blinking out at times, flaring up at others. For the moment, I think maybe there is a God but a different one than she says. I think God might be the dust and the jackrabbits and the rain, that God might be Teddy and the bullet that killed him, the beautiful and exquisite moon and the terrible zeppelins, all spread out and everywhere. I've begun to think that maybe we are God's fingers rubbing against each other to see how it feels. Do you think that is a sacrilegious thought - that God might be everything and its opposite?" I love this quote most of all. Lenore appeared to be most real here. Critical, philosophical, and blunt. It's a refusal to perceive only in blacks and whites and a refusal to not question.This book is definitely wonderful. So many beautiful thoughts and the ending was a fresh breath of optimism - not denial, but faith. I didn't see any radical change in Adri and I think I loved that as well.It's a simple, easy read and definitely worth it.

Read again 3/18/19. Still my favorite**Warning: this text may contain spoilers** 4.5 StarsJodi Lynn Anderson is one of my very favorite authors. Tiger Lily is my favorite YA book, and that and The Vanishing Season both made me cry.Her writing is so beautiful, her stories so bittersweet. After reading this I felt sad... but not in a bad way. More like how sometimes you feel lonely when you remember a good memory. Or when something happens that you know is right, but it doesn't make it any less melancholy. I'm honestly not sure how to review this. I'll try though. *sobs*As always, each of her characters were so well developed. Which is pretty amazing, as this book is under 300 pages. I got a clear sense of who each person was, and the intricacies of their personalities, motives, and hopes. I thought Adri's development in particular was fantastic. She started out so closed off and lonely, and throughout the book slowly starts to feel okay letting people in. I'll admit I didn't like her at first. But she grows sooo much. And then she leaves. And while this was the right ending, it didn't make it any less bittersweet. I should really stop being surprised by these PAINFUL endings. All of Anderson's books are like this. *sniffles* I really enjoyed Catherine's journal and Lenore's letters as well, and their individual stories were so sweet and compelling and the way they connected was really well done. One important thing to know about this book is that there really isn't a plot. Nothing happens. But this book isn't about what happens. It's about relationships, romantic and friendly and familial, and the tiny moments that can change a life forever. I did feel like Lenore's and Catherine's characters lost a lot of their development the second half of the book. Or maybe they just changed? Either way, I definitely preferred the first half. The second half was still so good, just not AS good. If that makes sense. Also, didn't like how SHORT this book was. I want more!! I need more!!But really, the shortness really makes this book powerful. The ending leaves a lot to the imagination, much like real life.Would you pay $10 for Eternal Life? You Can at the Electric! Midnight Shows Only!"That quote makes clear both the title and the ending of the book. My emotions are too muddled to discuss it clearly, but it is really poignant and compelling. And that was a terrible review. But the FEELS. Ugh. Maybe I'll reread this closer to the release date and write a more coherent review... Also, think it's time to reread Tiger Lily. Because apparently I need more emotional agony in my life.**Thank you to the publisher for the review copy.