April 2018 Group Read #1: THE ELEMENTALS, by Michael McDowell

[Kimberly]

For the April 2018 Group Read, we have a tie! Since we use the top two winners for Group Reads anyway, they will both be featured this month!
Our first Group Read is The Elementals, by Michael McDowell.

Remember to use spoiler tags, and have fun!

[K.L.]

Great, I've had this sucker on my kindle forever and now have a yet another reason to finally get to it! Also a huge fan of the cover art, Corley is dang talented.

[Jen from Quebec :0)]

I've had this book on Audible forever, as I try to get everything narrated by the awesome RC Bray....I am afraid I have been a naughty girl- once I saw that this book *might* win the group poll, I started listening to it....and I listened to the entire book is one sitting a few nights ago! OOPS! Of course, I will still be popping into this group thread to see what other ppl thought of it....anyone else have the Audible version? I highly recommend it! --Jen from Quebec :0)

[Kimberly]

I've read it three times already, and plan on re-reading it again this month. This is one of those books that I "discover" a little something new every time I read it. :D

[Matthew]

The Elementals is one of my favorite books ever. :)

[Ami]

:) looking forward to reading this.

[K.L.]

Jennifer Lynn wrote: "I've had this book on Audible forever, as I try to get everything narrated by the awesome RC Bray....I am afraid I have been a naughty girl- once I saw that this book *might* win the group poll, I ..."


don't have it on audible, but may have to pick it up. I enjoyed RC Bray's narrating quite a bit.

[Jen from Quebec :0)]

RC Bray is awesome. I mean, I intended to "just listen to the first few minutes, just to check it out in case it wins the group read"...8.5 hours later, I was STILL listening as the words THE END- AUDIBLE HOPES YOU HAVE ENJOYED THIS PRESENTATION were said. RC Bray does that to a person! --Jen from Quebec :0)

[Sania]

Had this one on my tbr list since forever but never got the time to read it.
Excited to finally starting now!!

[Benjamin]

I read this the other month, as it happens.
(view spoiler)[
I really like the build-up and the atmosphere, especially the decaying houses being gradually swallowed by sand, but I felt the climax of the book undermined things a bit by making the Elementals themselves too explicit and too comprehensible to the main character - the fact she could clearly see and explain what they were robbed them of a lot of their menace. I'd have preferred something a little vaguer.
(hide spoiler)]

[Ami]

I can't decide on if I want to read the kindle version or if I want to listen to it on audible. Hmm....

[Char]

Since this won, I will probably be listening to it again during this month. It will be my third time around with book and I'm still looking forward to it because it's just so damn good. :)

[Char]

Benjamin wrote: "I read this the other month, as it happens."

I understand where you're coming from Benjamin, but I cheerfully disagree!

(view spoiler)[ I enjoyed the hell out of the atmosphere, same as you. At times I could actually feel the heat and humidity. I feel that most of McDowell's stories have a synchronicity to them as far as their endings are concerned and I felt that this one was perfect. (hide spoiler)]

Perhaps I'll feel differently this time around, but I don't think so. :)

[Kimberly]

Char wrote: "Benjamin wrote: "I read this the other month, as it happens."

I understand where you're coming from Benjamin, but I cheerfully disagree!

[spoilers removed]

Perhaps I'll feel differently this ti..."

Fourth read for me--and that atmosphere is something I can never get over! (view spoiler)[ As Char stated, I felt--physically like I was right there with them. This is one of my all-time favorite novels now. While I won't say anything concrete about the ending, personally, it couldn't have been any better imho. :) (hide spoiler)]

[Kimberly]

Picked it up today.

[Kimberly]

Kimberly wrote: "Picked it up today."

I hope you love it!! :)

[David]

Benjamin wrote: "I read this the other month, as it happens.

I really like the build-up and the atmosphere, especially the decaying houses being gradually swallowed by sand, but I felt the climax of the book under..."

This is in my top twenty reads of all time. I loved the atmosphere. Reading late at night with the lights low made it almost palpable. It's all about opinion, of course, but I felt like the ending fitted perfectly.

[Benjamin]

Kimberly wrote: "Char wrote: "Benjamin wrote: "I read this the other month, as it happens."

I understand where you're coming from Benjamin, but I cheerfully disagree!

[spoilers removed]

Perhaps I'll feel differ..."

That's entirely fair! I just think I have an issue with
(view spoiler)[anything supernatural being too clearly described/categorised/explained. It always sucks the menace away for me.
(hide spoiler)]
I enjoyed it otherwise, though!

[David]

Benjamin wrote: "Kimberly wrote: "Char wrote: "Benjamin wrote: "I read this the other month, as it happens."

I understand where you're coming from Benjamin, but I cheerfully disagree!

[spoilers removed]

Perhaps..."

I take your point, and - depending on the particulars of the story - it's something I often agree with. Though, with The Elementals, I felt there was just the right amount of explanation. Either way, a very good book!

[Dustin]

This sounds terrific!!

Thankee again, Char, for the most encouraging and heartfelt (as always) review!

[Kimberly]

David wrote: "Benjamin wrote: "Kimberly wrote: "Char wrote: "Benjamin wrote: "I read this the other month, as it happens."

I understand where you're coming from Benjamin, but I cheerfully disagree!

[spoilers ..."
Definitely a favorite of mine, too!

[David]

This is a brilliant book! You guys are in for a treat.

[Rachel]

Great book. I read it for the first time this past November while on vacation. Perfect book to read at a beach or late at night with the sound of the ocean :)

[Maria Hill]

Jennifer Lynn wrote: "I've had this book on Audible forever, as I try to get everything narrated by the awesome RC Bray....I am afraid I have been a naughty girl- once I saw that this book *might* win the group poll, I ..."

I‘ll be listening to it too. Love RC Bray!

[Kimberly]

So far so good but Id like to see it pick a bit it isn't holding my attention as I had hoped.

[Kimberly]

This one is more of a slow-burn; especially in the beginning.

[Maria Hill]

I will start this as soon as I Finish Stephen King's the Stand. It's okay - I only have 10 out of 46 hours of the audiobook to go. Wait the Elementals is only 8 hours on audio. LOL

[K.L.]

This reminded me I need to get started!

[Daniel]

20% in and I’m liking it so far. It has the hallmarks of a good southern gothic without being too overtly lugubrious. It IS a bit of a slow burn, but not so much that I want to put it down for good.

[Latasha]

if anyone comes across this line & scene, please let me know the direct quote. I think ? this is where I remember it from.

ok, so the Luker is standing with Odessa's girl and she's trying to tell him something. Luker tells her no one cares.
that has stuck with me so strongly but I'm not sure I'm remembering it right or if it was even in this book. I hope everyone likes it. it sure is a great one!

[Kimberly]

Latasha wrote: "if anyone comes across this line & scene, please let me know the direct quote. I think ? this is where I remember it from.

ok, so the Luker is standing with Odessa's girl and she's trying to tell..."

I've read it three times, and I don't remember that at all..... hmmm... I'll be re-reading it again soon, and I "usually" have a photographic memory when it comes to text in a physical book, so I should know soon. ;)

[Latasha]

Kimberly wrote: "Latasha wrote: "if anyone comes across this line & scene, please let me know the direct quote. I think ? this is where I remember it from.

ok, so the Luker is standing with Odessa's girl and she'..."

I usually don't either but maybe it was in the Blackwater series or I dreamed it? I wouldn't rule either out just yet lol.

[Daniel]

Please tell me I’m not the only one who keeps reading “Lurker” every time Luker makes an appearance.

[Maria Hill]

I have just finished Stephen King's the Stand and will be starting this tomorrow. It will be my first Southern Gothic.

[Kimberly]

Daniel wrote: "Please tell me I’m not the only one who keeps reading “Lurker” every time Luker makes an appearance."

I've read it so often, that Luker is an actual name to me now!! LOL!

[Ami]

Daniel wrote: "Please tell me I’m not the only one who keeps reading “Lurker” every time Luker makes an appearance."

Omg, his name is Luker?? -.-; I have the audio and thought the narrator kept saying Luger!

I just finished the audio. Man that book went fast, for a slow burner... It was just so good I found I was sticking my ear buds in and listening to it wherever I went and with whatever I did. I really liked it a lot. The location felt like another character from the very begining. It was creepy and a tension builder. I didn't have a problem with the elementals being explained too much, because it still left plenty of questions to wonder about. But, I did have a little bit of a problem with the very, VERY end - (view spoiler)[ Where India is talking about why she doesn't like Lee's twin boys. India just says she doesn't like them because they are Savage children. ......? I didn't understand what the problem was with that? Is it because of the whole Savage mother's eat their young comment from earlier? I missed what India meant I think...? (hide spoiler)]

[Nathan]

Just finished this and I’m still trying to get my thoughts into something approaching order. Loved the atmosphere and it is genuinely unsettling. You can feel the heat radiating off the pages. I felt that the ending was a bit rough and had to re read some of it. In fairness I do have a three week old son and am largely existing on caffeine and sugar so it is probably me. Really enjoyed it and will read it again in the future

[Pixelina]

I finally got it. Book depository has been so slow lately. It looks like it ain't too long though so I will be caught up in a few days

[Kirsty]

I really enjoyed this book. Loved the setting, it really gave it a ghostly feel. Left wanting more but it didn't feel forced with too much horror so probably got the balance just right.

[Aaron]

I liked it too. I haven't been around to comment but it was a good read. I like the idea of the sand slowly eating the house.