SciFi and Fantasy Book Club discussion
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Elysium
Group Reads Discussions 2019
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"Elysium" First Impressions - *No Spoilers*
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I would think twice about the audiobook. The narration is otherwise fine, but the computer bits are really annoying! It didn't stop me from finishing the audio, but I don't understand what they were thinking. I also think that the structure might work slightly better in print/ebook than audio.
I finished it a bit earlier. From the start computer bits strongly hint to Matrix. While I understand that the earliest pieces are necessary for the structure of the novel their kaleidoscope may put some readers off - so go on and the story will get more consistent.
Anna wrote: "I would think twice about the audiobook. The narration is otherwise fine, but the computer bits are really annoying! It didn't stop me from finishing the audio, but I don't understand what they wer..."I was going for the audio, but after listening to the sample there was no way. The voice of the narrator sounds completely unfavourable to me.
The audio is on Storytel, so it was "free" for me, which is why I stuck with it. Also I've been having trouble with my eyeglasses (fixed soon hopefully!) and can't eye-read much at the moment. Otherwise I would've switched to ebook.
Yes, I got the audiobook from my library (only format available), but gave up on it.
Anna wrote: "...the computer bits are really annoying!..."Gabi wrote: "I was going for the audio, but after listening to the sample there was no way. The voice of the narrator sounds completely unfavourably to me. "
Anna wrote: "The audio is on Storytel, so it was "free" for me, which is why I stuck with it."
Same, same, same. It's overall tedious, and the digital bits are excruciating to listen! And even though it's free I'm debating should I go on with it. It's relatively short though.... perhaps I'll let it run out in between other stuff at some point, but so far the plot isn't grasping me either.
And the character portrayals of the narrator aren't helping one bit.
The first three chapters were rough to get through. This feels like a confusing romance novel, not a science fiction. Personally, I find no pleasure in reading romance novels. If this book were longer I would have added it to my DNF list.
Paul wrote: "If this book were longer I would have added it to my DNF list."I'm feeling the same way. It's really not working for me.
Mod
I read this ages ago and it’s in my top ten books of all time. Yes, that’s correct. It didn’t once feel like a romance.
Alan wrote: "I read this ages ago and it’s in my top ten books of all time. Yes, that’s correct. It didn’t once feel like a romance."Can't wait to hear your thoughts in the spoiler thread! I'm also a bit baffled by the romance comments, but this seems to be a very polarizing book.
Mod
The focus on romance was my first impression. I can elaborate on a few days :)I'm being a little opaque until we get to the spoilers thread.
Having seen some folks’ reactions I was sort of dreading starting this, but in the early going I’m intrigued. I’m finding the actual prose itself to be refreshingly spare and subtle, which are welcome qualities after spending a long time with the more verbose, lush, and witty prose in Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell. It’s always interesting to read something that seems to have no clear consensus.
For me the start of it was the toughest, but after getting (somewhat) used to the audio and discovering that the story wasn't exactly what it seemed, it started to gain intrigue. Not the most enjoyable listen, but the ending indeed seemed worth it (though I admit lazyness for a more detailed interpretation of events... yet? I feel one would need the text for that - not just audio).Anthony wrote: "Having seen some folks’ reactions I was sort of dreading starting this, but in the early going I’m intrigued. I’m finding the actual prose itself to be refreshingly spare and subtle, which are welc..."
I'm extremely interested to hear your final impressions of it in particular (...for a specific, spoilery reason).
And curious to read any interpretations people might have.
It's an ambitious debut, no doubt.
Dark, cynical, good visuals no, excellent visuals all around.
W.L. wrote: "...excellent visuals all around."Oh, yes. Definitely loved the scenery (being kind of a sucker for abandoned cityscapes).
40% in and I'm not really enjoying the narrative style so far, I find it confusing and a little tedious.
I fall very firmly in the "this was not for me" camp.
Please remember that this is the first impressions thread, let’s save the ”finished, hated it” comments for the spoiler thread, thank you! :)
Sorry, Anna!I don't normally comment on the first impressions thread because I worry about what constitutes a spoiler. I'll be less definitive next time. :)
It's OK Kristin, it's not just you! :) I've hated on a book in the first impressions thread before, and then felt guilty about it later, which is why I try not to do it anymore. Some people might be scared off by everyone saying they didn't enjoy it, which is why we ask that the finished reading verdicts stay in the spoiler thread. I know it's hard to go into a book completely neutral if most people either love it to bits or want to burn it with fire!
For those of you audio-booking it--like me--the computer sim voice gets less annoying over time. Or perhaps I'm just getting used to it. The plot on the other hand--I have no idea where it is going--good or bad. But I'm still reading/listening , so maybe that's good. And I am encouraged by the line:Alan wrote: "I read this ages ago and it’s in my top ten books of all time. Yes, that’s correct. It didn’t once feel like a romance."
Let's see...
Just started this today and I’m definitely intrigued by the structure of the narrative and the overall idea of the story. It reminds me of the song “In Another Life” by Vienna Teng. I’m less enthralled by other elements of the plot, which I’ll save for the spoiler thread.
Well...so far I'm not really liking it. I don't mind the "romance" part so much as the "swapping" part. I keep thinking that if I stick with this for a few more chapters, either the swapping will get straightened out or the story might make more sense soon. Tempted to jump to the spoiler thread to see if that happens.
Listening to the audio. The computer voice doesn’t really bother me. So far I’m really struggling to get into the plot at all, though. Does it get better? About 1/7 in.
Mod
Yeah I realize that’s a very subjective question. Tired and sick so difficult to type coherently. Bacially it just feels like two people going around living life so far. Nothing very sci-fi or interesting about it to me. I’ll listen to the next leg on my drive home. I tend to push through and finish books even if I don’t like them and this may be one of those times.
It definitely gets more Sci-Fi, if that helps. :)
Right now I am mid-way through and just meh. To be fair, while I love the concept of the nested story approach, they very rarely land well with me. I will say that this one takes a novel approach to any that I've read.I'm not giving up. I started out hating Cloud Atlas, but ended up loving it.
Mod
What are your first impressions? Please leave all commentary about characters, plot or meaning for the spoiler thread open on the 7th!
A few content warnings: (view spoiler)[Suicide, loss of a loved one, long illness, domestic violence, gore/effluvia (hide spoiler)]