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

[October]

My copy is on its way, hopefully it will show up tomorrow. I can't wait to start it.

[Chandler]

I'm on Chapter 12. It's okay so far. Personally, I think it's moving along at a brisk pace and I'm only a third of the way through. Makes me wonder what else could happen...

[Greg]

I'm on Chapter 7 just under the 20% mark. So far I'm enjoying it a lot more than anticipated. I went in hesitantly due to some of the reviews and comments here. However so far this is hitting the right notes for me. Yeah it doesn't feel like horror. Scary scenario that I wouldn't want to be in absolutely but it's reading a lot like an adventure novel and I have no qualms with that. Hopefully it stays that way for me.

I like both characters but I'm doing the Audiobook version and I must say that the voice that the narrator is using for Gyre seems off to me. She voices her too passively particularly in the inflections. It makes Gyre come off as a little hesitant, nervous, and mousy but the text makes her sound like she's a take no shit bad ass bitch. Anyone else doing the Audiobook think this?

[Kasia]

Hi Greg, yes I listened to most of this on audio and agree about Gyre completely.

[Laura]

I am about 25% done and I am really loving this so far!

[Harry]

Jerry wrote: "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."
Lol! I'm 50% through it and I agree.... kill them both now and fill the next half with cave crickets. That would be an improvement!

[Harry]

Kasia wrote: "On Chapter 3.. Gyre's suit reminds me of the Fremen stillsuits in Dune."
I agree, I was thinking the same thing!

[Denise]

I am about 60% done and am finding it getting really repetitive. I read a few comments here that it picks up toward the end, so I guess I'll hang in there.

[Daniel]

3 pages in… (view spoiler)[others have mentioned it - “intestinal rerouting” is something I hope to never contemplate again. And the feeding tube is special to me: I had one in for a week when I was in the hospital a few months back, for a throat issue they can’t really fix; if symptoms get worse again a surgical implant, direct to the stomach, might be next. I try not to think about, so, thanks Caitlin! :) (hide spoiler)]

[Elizabeth]

I really enjoyed the story, but I felt that it was a little lacking in the drama/horror department. I was expecting more from this novel. I am left a little disappointed.

[Greg]

I just finished. I felt it started well but about 1/5 the way in it petered out and didn’t pick up again until the last 1/5. There’s definitely some good stuff here but the book as a whole was a bit of a slog.

I didn’t think anything in the book was too PC. What is the basis for the argument? The sexuality of the characters? I really am just curious I didn’t get that vibe at all.

All in all the book was a 3/5 for me. I didn’t hate it but it wasn’t great.

[Greg]

Wow I didn’t take away any of that.

[Greg]

But to each their own.

[Kasia]

Greg wrote: "Wow I didn’t take away any of that."

Same, trolling isn't allowed so fixed that.

[Sally]

@Kasia, my hero! I'm on chapter 10, still enjoying it and doing what I always do and falling for the bad lady. Em sounds stunning.

[Chandler]

I finished it last night. It wasn't as good as I hoped it would be. The climax was exciting but the middle really dragged for me. I think if it had been shortened by at least 100-200 pages, it could have been a stronger book.

[Greg]

Chandler wrote: "I finished it last night. It wasn't as good as I hoped it would be. The climax was exciting but the middle really dragged for me. I think if it had been shortened by at least 100-200 pages, it coul..."

I agree.

[Jacqueline]

Even though I enjoyed it I do agree that it would have been better 100 pages shorter.

[Kasia]

I think if this was a novella it would be more enjoyable.

[Kasia]

Sally wrote: "@Kasia, my hero! I'm on chapter 10, still enjoying it and doing what I always do and falling for the bad lady. Em sounds stunning."

Yeah I'm not letting someone pull a lighthouse Matthew moves here lol... you know what I mean I'm sure :P

[Sally]

Kasia wrote: "Sally wrote: "@Kasia, my hero! I'm on chapter 10, still enjoying it and doing what I always do and falling for the bad lady. Em sounds stunning."

Yeah I'm not letting someone pull a lighthouse Mat..."

Yep, I know exactly what you mean!

[LTJ]

Just started this and trying to pronounce her name right, LoL can someone please break down what is the best way to say "Gyre" as I read? Is it like just saying a shortened way of gyrate? I've never seen the main character named this so I'm curious...

[Kasia]

To me it rhymed with "squire". I did the audiobook :)

[LTJ]

@Kasia: LoL perfect, thanks for this, I shall say it like that in my mind as I read :-)

[Hayley]

About 60 pages in and I'm really enjoying it so far. I love the claustrophobic nature of it and the fact that there are only two characters so far...

[Denise]

(view spoiler)[Was anyone else disappointed that the "Luminous Dead" didn't play a bigger role in this book? I think part of my disappointment was that I was expecting some kind of alien zombie book, but it really was much more internal conflict and claustrophobia and power struggles. The dead weren't really that scary. (hide spoiler)]

[Yolanda]

Denise wrote: "[spoilers removed]" Exactly how I felt.

[Greg]

I'm honestly glad it wasn't space zombies. Not sure how that would've worked.

[Kasia]

Haha same Greg!

[Daniel]

I haven’t made much progress - this early on I love the suit and the imaginings of how Em could shut off Gyre’s vision (or adjust it) and control her ability to move. Interesting as we enter an era of augmented reality and robotics.

[Sally]

Will be getting back into this one soon, looking forward to it. Just finishing a buddy read in another group. Glad it's over, the buddies are lovely, but the book is very meh.

[Denise]

Kasia wrote: "I think if this was a novella it would be more enjoyable."

I'm telling you...space zombies. 😂

[Badseedgirl]

Denise wrote: "Kasia wrote: "I think if this was a novella it would be more enjoyable."

I'm telling you...space zombies. 😂"

I probably would have enjoyed space zombies more.

Quick, somebody give me a space zombie book!

[Kasia]

And we all know what they are after lol

[Netanella]

Badseedgirl wrote: "... I'm telling you...space zombies. 😂"

I probably would have enjoyed space zombies more.

Quick, somebody give me a space zombie book! ..."

Black Redneck vs. Space Zombies by Steven Roy

[Harry]

Badseedgirl wrote: "Denise wrote: "Kasia wrote: "I think if this was a novella it would be more enjoyable."

I'm telling you...space zombies. 😂"

I probably would have enjoyed space zombies more.

Quick, somebody giv..."

I agree space zombies any day over this!
Only one comes to mind it was a Star Wars one with Han and Chewie
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6...

[M]

Yeah what does “too pc” mean super weird

[M]

Anyway the first 20 percent were really good I’m at 65 rn and it’s slow I had to take a break at 50 and read something else I think it’s good but could’ve been paired down by probably at least 100 pages. The redirected intestines and feeding pump thingy oof that did make my skin crawl though😂

[Sally]

@M hope you enjoy the rest. I really ended up loving this one.

[Badseedgirl]

Netanella wrote: "Badseedgirl wrote: "... I'm telling you...space zombies. 😂"

I probably would have enjoyed space zombies more.

Quick, somebody give me a space zombie book! ..."

[book:Black Redneck vs. Space Zom..."

Netanella wrote: "Badseedgirl wrote: "... I'm telling you...space zombies. 😂"

I probably would have enjoyed space zombies more.

Quick, somebody give me a space zombie book! ..."

[book:Black Redneck vs. Space Zom..."

Guess what Badseedgirl will be reading in March?

[Kasia]

Sally wrote: "@M hope you enjoy the rest. I really ended up loving this one."

Nice Sally, happy you loved this one!

[Daniel]

M wrote: "Yeah what does “too pc” mean super weird"

Thankfully Kasia took down the explanation - it was kinda icky.

(view spoiler)[
My reading’s been slow and have only just got to chapter 7. I know a little about Gyre’s physical characteristics, but I think the picture I have of Em is only in my head, I have one, but I think it’s just how I paint her from her personality so far.

Em exudes desperation, like she’s seeking the holy grail that will save the planet - along with all the previous cavers, they pass by too many veins of resources - she’s going for something big!

I was doing some indoor climbing for a while and those elements are fun. I’m curious about the nature of the planet (flora, fauna. gravity, distance from earth - assuming we’re talking humans here, which it seems like - and more of surface life). AI and robotics seem to be progressing so fast that I wonder, even in the near future, why a person would be doing dangerous exploration at all - other than a robot would make the story boring.
(hide spoiler)]

[Ami]

Ok, so I have about an hour give or take left on this audiobook, and…….. I really don’t know how I feel about it. :/

It started out so good, enjoyed the creepy cave, the can you Or can’t you trust Em thing, the dead bodies, the isolation, etc…. But… I don’t know… I’m just not really feeling the whole reason we are down in the cave in the first place and why ‘Em was so sketchy about it. :/ And, outside of the uncomfortable creepy-ness of isolation, anxiety, trust / control issues, I’m not really feeling the horror here. It feels more like a sci-fi drama. I know horror is different for everyone, and is subjective, but for a lot of this book I feel like I just kept waiting for something more to happen. It felt like there is a lot of filler? Or not a lot really happened? Like, I loved the slow build of anxiety and paranoia, but it feels like the story never really capitalized on the build up? I don’t know…. I’m still going to finish the story to see what finally happens, but I feel like even if it ends on an epic note, there was just too much meh in the middle.

FYI- anyone still looking for space zombies, try the book Dead Moon by Peter Clines!

[Kasia]

Daniel wrote: "M wrote: "Yeah what does “too pc” mean super weird"

Thankfully Kasia took down the explanation - it was kinda icky.
"

Aww, you get a hug for that, ty!

[Hayley]

I adored this book. The tension never let up, and I loved the dynamic between Em and Gyre. I'm not claustrophobic myself but it felt suffocating even to me. And now I want to go watch all the Planet Earth cave episodes.

[Dollie]

I'm in agreement with M & Ami. The story was intense, but I felt like there was a lot of filler, too, and I was also waiting for something else (more) to happen. Of course, what did happen was bad enough. Caves really aren't my thing, I guess.

[LTJ]

Dollie: About to hit 40% in and yeah, agree with you in that so far, I've seen a lot of filler and repeating things/comments that are getting a bit boring. I'm hoping it picks up soon as I'm spending today reading :-)

[M]

Finished and posted my review I ended up liking it, it did pick up everyone don’t worry!!

[LTJ]

@M: Yay! LoL I'm about to hit 50% and can't wait for it to pick up...

[Netanella]

It DOES pick up, although the middle part is a slog-fest.