February 2022 Group Read #2, THE LUMINOUS DEAD, Caitlin Starling

[Kimberly]

Aficionados,

This second group read was a close one! We will be reading/discussing The Luminous Dead , by Caitlin Starling.

Remember to use page numbers/percentages, and spoiler tags when necessary.

Have fun!!

[Michelle]

I've heard a lot of good things about this one. And it fits the Space Horror category in my 2022 horror challenge. Excited to start!

[Emilie]

Put it on hold! Excited to get into this one.

[V]

I look forward to listening to this!

[LTJ]

This looks like a good one! Looking for to it in February :-)

[Jennifer]

This one looks really interesting. It's out of stock everywhere in the UK so I'll join in if I can get a copy in time!

[Giovanni]

I second Michelle. one of my new year's proposals is to read more sci-fi than last year, let's go with this space horror

[Netanella]

This is the first time EVER that a book I voted for has made it to the top two for a Group Read. I'm very happy right now.

[Giovanni]

I voted for dowry of Blood, but this one was my second choice

[Hayley]

I read this when it came out so I'll skip this month, but I hope you all enjoy it! It is a wonderful book!

[Hayley]

I will join for the Luminous Dead though!

[Ami]

Yay!! I’ve been dying to read this one since it came out! :) Can’t wait to read this.

[Tyler]

I read this already. I just found it ok but that's a me thing because I have medical trauma and am a medical nightmare. If anyone has medical trauma it might be a difficult read for you. I hope y'all enjoy it :).

[Alan]

This was claustrophobic and a bit difficult to read at times, but in the end I really enjoyed it. Great Sci-fi/horror.

[Anja]

I'm in for this one :)
Jennifer, if you're into audiobooks or ebooks it's cheap on Kindle right now ($2.49) and available on several audiobook platforms fx scribd

[Kimberly]

A sci-fi/horror mash up sounds perfect now!

[Daniel]

Got a hold at my local library! I just started using it again and they network with a bunch of local libraries to get all sorts of good stuff! It’s been really great now that I’m reading again!

[WendyB]

I'd like to read both books chosen this month if I have the time. I'll start with this one since I suggested it and I have it on my Mount TBR challenge. Been sitting on my bookshelf for too long.

[destiny ♡]

Not 100% sure if I'll have the time to join in, but I'm definitely going to try because I've been meaning to read this since it released!

[JasonA]

I read this one a couple of years ago, so will probably skip. I thought there were some really good things about it and some really bad things. It didn't really work for me, but I know a lot of people in my friends list enjoyed it.

[Kimberly]

JasonA wrote: "I read this one a couple of years ago, so will probably skip. I thought there were some really good things about it and some really bad things. It didn't really work for me, but I know a lot of peo..."

That's what I love about group reads--the different interpretations. There's no "right" or "wrong", just different perspectives. :)

[Kimberly]

Emma wrote: "Had this on my TBR for a while. I'll join in with this if I may."

The more that join in, the better the discussions! :D

[Navi]

I'll be reading this in Feb - can't wait!

[Kay]

I read this one last year and attended a horror author seminar that Starling was part of right after. It was a great time and I really enjoyed it. More than almost any other novel, I hope this one gets a low-budget adaptation directed by some up-and-coming indie filmmaker. Could be fantastic.

Starling has been advertising some Luminous Dead themed pins on Twitter and I want one BAD.

[Lauren]

I read this book in November 2021 so I will just lurk in this thread in February to see the discussion lol.

I will say to anyone reading this for the first time that I personally found the book a bit of a struggle for the first 50% but then was suddenly gripped and flew through the second part.

[Laura]

got my copy today! cant wait to dig in!

[Kasia]

I got this audiobook a while ago so I will try to join since I've wanted to read this for months now. Anything that's "Annihilation" like sign me up! But yeah my 7th group/buddy read for Feb. Uff, bit ambitious but let's see haha.

[Lisa]

I read this one last year, I'm curious to see what everyone thinks of it. It's different than anything I've ever read, and kept me hooked from cover to cover. I had to see how it ended. Please make notes everyone I love reading them!

[Laura]

I am so in for this one! I just put a hold on in my library!

[WendyB]

I'll be starting the book this weekend... I hope. I have some house painting to outside. Hope it won't take long. I'd rather read than paint.

[Kasia]

WendyB wrote: "I'll be starting the book this weekend... I hope. I have some house painting to outside. Hope it won't take long. I'd rather read than paint."

Uh oh don't do both at once!!

[WendyB]

A Mr Bean pic for everything! LOL

[Kimberly]

WendyB wrote: "A Mr Bean pic for everything! LOL"

Seriously! I can't get enough of them!!! LOL!

[jamako]

I'm just excited to get my hands on SciFi Horror again. So, I may have started a few days early :p

[Daniel]

Just picked it up from the library!

[Michelle]

I got the audiobook today. Going to start this weekend.

[Emilie]

Finished it today. Found this novel extremely repetitive- I would have enjoyed this much more in a shorter format.

[Giovanni]

starting it today

[jamako]

Meh, sadly I have to echo Emilie's take. The book is, indeed, quite repetitive, and not what I expected or wanted it to be at all. It is heavy on the (unhealty) relationship drama and rather light in terms of horror. The whole claustrophobia thing also didn't work for me, the atmosphere never really materialized - despite the great premise. I think a lot of this was due to the unexpected focus on the relationship, but also due to the author's heavy reliance on dialogue - when the dialogue, honestly, wasn't all that great. Several times I genuinely asked myself who talks like this.

I was really excited about this one, but it really wasn't my cup o' tea. I hope the rest of you has a better time in the caves.

[Jacqueline]

This is totally different from my usual reads but I’m excited to venture out and read this!

[Michelle]

I'm on chapter 6 and not quite sure how I feel about it so far. I get the claustrophobia aspect... (view spoiler)[not from the cave surroundings, but from Gyre's suit. The idea of a suit physically connected to my internal organs and someone else having control over me is my definition of horror. Em dosing her with the epinephrine was very unsettling. (hide spoiler)]

[Jerry]

Uggh, this one is tedious and way too PC, struggling to finish. I'm hoping the two main characters die, it's such a chore.

[Jacqueline]

I’m about 25% of the way in and I love it! I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to get into it but I really don’t want to put it down.

[Giovanni]

ok, I'm halfway and it's becoming a bit boring, monotonous

[WendyB]

At page 50.... I'm very claustrophobic so maybe this story bothers me more than it bothers others.
Already though, I can see how this might become repetitive with Gyre going through cave after cave.

And I have to ask, how is Gyre pronounced?

[Kasia]

I just started the audiobook and Gyre when pronounced rhymes with Squire if that makes sense.

[Daniel]

Ah, but is it “Guy-er” or “Jai-er” (hard or soft G)?

[Badseedgirl]

I read this back in December . It ended up being a 2 star book for me. I posted my thoughts in my review below. (There are no spoilers in my review.)

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Jerry]

Badseedgirl wrote: "I read this back in December . It ended up being a 2 star book for me. I posted my thoughts in my review below. (There are no spoilers in my review.)

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show......"

Exactly - a time suck (per your review).

[Michelle]

Daniel wrote: "Ah, but is it “Guy-er” or “Jai-er” (hard or soft G)?"
Hard G. Jai-er