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nocaptainreuben · 6 years

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Countdown to YALC: The Electrical Venus by Julie Mayhew

It seems like it’s been about six years since I actually sat down to write a book review, what with how busy I’ve been lately, but I’m pleased to report that I’ve been reading like mad thanks to a very relaxing holiday in Mallorca. So, playing catch-up and casting it back to a book I was sent in April (I know, I know, I’m so slow, I’m sorry!), the first one I’m going to talk about is Julie Mayhew’s The Electrical Venus.

‘In a sideshow fair in eighteenth-century England, teenager Mim is struggling to find her worth as an act. Not white, but not black enough to be truly exotic, her pet parrot is a bigger draw than her. But Alex, the one-armed boxer boy, sees her differently. And she, too, feels newly interested in him. But then Dr Fox arrives with his ‘electrickery’ – feats of electrical magic – and he chooses Mim to play his ‘Electrical Venus’. Her sudden popularity means takings are up, slop is off the menu and this spark between her and Fox must surely be love. But is love worth more than a penny for an electrifying kiss?’

This book came along after I’d already decided to start saying no to review requests, but with the travelling circus theme and my been-to-see-it-five-times level of obsession with The Greatest Showman, how could I turn down something like this? I was really excited about the fantastical, magical, circus side of things being mixed with early science and technology, and the feminist element of a young woman taking an interest in this, and I thought this would be a truly unique book that would be right up my street. Unfortunately, I found myself slightly disappointed on the whole, because it just didn’t end up being everything I wanted it to be.

I don’t know why, but I didn’t realise quite how heavily romance would feature, and I think I was expecting quite a different story to the one I read. The plot was fine, but there just wasn’t a hell of a lot that really grabbed me, and as I’m not generally a big fan of standard hetero romances, I got quite tired of the ‘best friends who are both secretly in love with each other but don’t realise it’ trope, and found myself rolling my eyes and shouting ‘just shut up and get together already!’ On the whole it is pretty cute, and ties up nicely at the end, but without really interesting characters or something else to bulk it out, that kind of sweetness isn’t really enough to sell it for me. This is completely a personal issue, and I’m sure if you like that sort of thing in a book it will really work for you, but I just could have done without it.

I did like the subtle feminism of how Mim’s journey caused her to realise her worth without a man and gain her independence, so any resulting relationship was truly one of equals, but I didn’t like Sebastian at all and hated how much of him we had to suffer through for Mim to get to that point. In fact, not liking the characters in general was a big problem for me. Great, three-dimensional characters are a real selling point for me, and can often make a book that I wouldn’t usually read become an unexpected favourite, but on the flip side, this means that if I don’t like or connect with the characters at all, I can find it really hard to get into the story. In The Electrical Venus, I found Mim and Alex both pretty unlikeable, and discovered that I just didn’t really care what happened to any of them. The plot was just strong enough to keep me reading to the end, but I remained pretty lukewarm on the whole thing throughout, and I felt really disappointed that I didn’t have any emotional investment.

What probably didn’t help that point for me was the writing style. Quite early on in the book, our MC Mim says of her mentor: ‘It was one of those phrases of Hildy’s, one of many, that I needed to take away with me and think about for a moment, untangle all the words to work out what she meant’ and that kind of sums up how I felt about the book. It’s very old fashioned and formal – which gives it a wonderfully authentic Georgian feel and will probably be a huge asset if you’re a fan of quality historical fiction – but for me, I sometimes found it quite hard to properly understand what was being said on my first pass through a sentence, and that made it hard to love. The book also has a dual POV, alternating between Mim and Alex with each chapter, and is written in first person, with the idea that the chapter’s main character is talking to an animal and recounting the story in a one-sided conversation. This gives it a kind of unusual stream of consciousness feel, which is quite interesting, but again, is something I don’t really connect with all that well. All that meant that whilst the story was good, actually reading it on the page wasn’t the best experience for me. I was interested to find out from the information at the end of the book, that The Electrical Venus had first been a radio play, and I would be quite keen on listening to that as I think the story could work a lot better for me in that format. (Also, it starred Hannah John-Kamen and I’m madly in love with her. ;p)

I’m aware that all this has sounded quite negative, but I definitely didn’t dislike this book, it just wasn’t really the book for me. I applaud Julie Mayhew for following through with quite an unusual idea, and really hope that the book finds its audience elsewhere. I also want to say a huge well done to the creative/marketing teams behind this book who have done an amazing job putting together a really aesthetically pleasing book with a gorgeous cover, and interesting promo material which made it a dream to stage for bookstagram pictures. Thank you so much to Hot Key Books for sending me my copy and continuing to do great work. All in all, The Electrical Venus gets a middling three stars from me, but I’d love to hear your thoughts if you have a different opinion, so please do get in touch on twitter or Instagram for a chat. Also, the British Books Challenge is still going strong, and this book makes a perfect candidate for it, so head to Chelley’s blog if you’d like to find out more about getting involved.

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punkscowardschampions · 5 years

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Janis & Jimmy

Fake dating begins!

Janis: Grace wants to buy you a coffee for being such a gent. Janis: If I was you I'd have a freebie black and charge it to her tab. Her and her cronies are in there enough, and it'll save you having to endure a frappe/her and said giggling gal pals. Jimmy: Me and her or a group hang with the BBs for the 'gram? Jimmy: 👍I did that last week and the one before Janis: Depends. She obvs wants alone time with you but she's never passed up a #goals photo-op in her life, so. Janis: Can't be freeing the nip on Insta but maybe she's got a private snapchat she wants to whore out, you'll be well in then 👍 Janis: Christ. Good to know not ALL her money goes on Brazilian blow-outs, she's also topping up the salary of every hot barista in town, what a philanthropist she is, amongst other less favourable titles. Jimmy: If you can be arsed to 3rd wheel this I'll shout you something from the secret menu Jimmy: Which exists swear down and isn't just a invite to my snapchat Jimmy: Why am I worried Brazilian blow outs is a way bigger euphemism any day Janis: Hmm. As much as I try to avoid spending ANY time with Grace, for obvious reasons as you well know, it could be pretty amusing to see her make such a twat out of herself. And it would piss her off if I gatecrashed...Fuck it, I'm in. Janis: Don't get any ideas about making some taboo twin content though, lad, that only happens in the minds of pervy porn execs, and in weird old lady novels from the 80s. Janis: Lol. Yeah, it ain't a Cavante special. Its to make her look MORE white, funnily enough. As if the coffee habits and UGGs weren't making her a literal meme for the cause already. Jimmy: I'd rather down a strawberry açaí refresher with coconut milk every time Grace makes a gaff, which funnily enough is what necking with your sister's tall mate tastes like, than get sandwiched between the two of you Jimmy: I'd shout her a flat white if she'd get the joke though. One for each of them Jimmy: 😩 Janis: OMG, girl code, Grace sooooo saw you first, Tammy is gonna be out on her flat white arse when Gracie finds out, like 💀 Janis: The feeling's mutual, dickhead. Wouldn't put it past my sister though, she's more obsessed with me than she'd EVER be with you. 🤢 At least she'll be moving on when you finally give in and give it to her, I've got a life fucking sentence, mate. ⚰ Jimmy: OMG Minnie (??? Isn't that her name maybe) launched herself at me first and I'd be out on my penniless arse if I'd let her crack on over the counter ⛔ Jimmy: I like my encounters with a little less ego it's no crime. Or slight on you, mate. Jimmy: I'll tell Gracie that if she ever lets me get a word in. Janis: Fuck knows. All look the same to me. Ironic if it is, though, fucking jolly green giantess. Janis: And soz but sexual assault ain't no crime either when you're them though, they're just being #girlbosses swear down garda 💋 Janis: Good luck with that one, kid. Even if she gives you the chance, she won't be listening. Fucks with the fairytale where you shut the fuck up and carry her bags 'cept to call her pretty once in a while for said ego's boost. 🙊🙉 Janis: oh, and look good in the 'gram, standard. Jimmy: Could be what the lads call her... whoops Jimmy: Damn. I'll have to spoil her fun by letting it be known I've got myself a girl already. 🎻 Shame it'll take me years to find one who can stand the interrogation 💔 Jimmy: Gotta get Cass to keep her ear low. Effort. Janis: The 'lad's' secret is safe with me, the 'girls' are hardly likely to listen and I'm even less likely to bother to tell 'em. She'd just think #pussygamestrong 'neway so I ain't giving the bint that unwarrant stroke when you've all already been there, done that. Sloppy. Janis: Woe is, lad. Like everyone ain't on your dick rn 'cos you got that shiny, new appeal. Just pick one that ain't TOTALLY unbearable- ah, I see your problem. Janis: Sadly, I can't help, I ain't the massive lezza you've no doubt heard from the lads and girls alike that I am. Janis: Slim pickings either way you swinging, you see. Jimmy: You can help me then. Go on. Think how mad it'd make Gracie if nuffin' else Jimmy: Counter distance between us at all times if you want Janis: Aside from pissing off my sister, which I'm more than capable of by me larry, what's in it for me? You get her off your dick and back into Costa to cry it out, like Jimmy: Freebies of any of Common Grounds finest where you can also hang without her and her hangers on Jimmy: Semi trained mutt if I can wrench it from my sisters grasping hands? Jimmy: Plus an end to the rumors if you're arsed about that. You said yourself I've got the newbie appeal Janis: Alright, alright, you had me at dog! Janis: I won't deprive your sister but I could do with an AM running partner who can keep up. I'll wear it out and have it back to you at the end of your morning shift, before she's even had her weetabix or found her school tie. Deal? Janis: I'm down for writing our own rumours, why the fuck not, eh Jimmy: Done. Her name's Twix and she's as annoying as the name makes her sound. Jimmy: Get ready for rumors about how many bodies she's buried for you after all the holes dug Janis: Cute. And I'm sure I've dealt with worse bitches, I'm up for the challenge. 💪 Janis: Its always the dog walkers init, suspicious cunts. Jimmy: Yeah, and if you wanna bury a few of 'em yourself I'll keep my lips sealed Jimmy: Tomorrow too soon? Janis: Good man, you will if you know what's good for you. Janis: Though, not too sealed, gotta set this dump's/my sister's world alight, like, and I don't think that's happening if we just hold hands. 😲 Janis: Nah, I'm ready. Only thing I got scheduled is double chem and that can always do with livening up. Janis: How you wanna do this, lover boy? Jimmy: Point taken. I better work on my angles too. For the 'gram. Jimmy: With minimal cliches if that can even be a thing round 'ere Jimmy: Probably wouldn't believe it without 100s would they Janis: You best, I don't know how to work facetime, you've got the wrong twin there. Janis: Well, I could oh-so casually ask Grace if her and the bitch squad are going for coffee on the way home from hell (as if they don't every fucking day) and she will be buzzin' thinking I wanna come 'cos she's always asking/attempting to drag me like she's on a mission from the coffee bean gods Janis: Then we can be there, together, oh-so casually again Janis: Aside from sucking face on the playground (which is a little first school, even for these hoes) its the best way to get max attention and thus the rumour mill will do the rest Jimmy: Make sure Tall Tammy's at the back. Can't have Grace missing it Jimmy: See if you can get one of them to spill coffee on you too. Everyone loves a heroic gesture and a clothes share 😏 Janis: 😂 Brilliant. Janis: Assuming Grace doesn't straight up throw it at me, I'll be sure to make that happen. Janis: I'll probably come chat to you at lunch tomorrow too. Can't have this springing out of nowhere, like, how implausible! 😏 You hang with Sean Bryne and that atm, yeah? Jimmy: Yeah we'll be in the smoking spot if not our usual corner Jimmy: I'll slide into the seat beside you the period after make it look like we got it really bad 💘 Janis: 👍 twos up on the ☠ 🚬 then, lad. what could be more romantic? Janis: good thinking, grace is in that class too and she's hopeless with maths so she won't be paying the slightest bit of attention to anything but the absolute scandal Jimmy: What should I call you so you don't wanna punch me in the dick as soon as I go in for a pet name? Janis: Eurgh, good shout, even if it is just to save your own bollocks, can't blame a boy. I don't fucking know, what's not vomit-inducing but also #couplegoals enough to make it worth the hassle? Janis: Blah, just remember my name, yeah, that'll have 'em creaming. Such courtesies are not often extended their way, like. Jimmy: Deal. And I'll # everything #JJ so you can block it from your feed easy Janis: Solid. Janis: Imma take a picture with your dog tomorrow, it best be fucking cute. Jimmy: [Takes a selfie with Twix and sends it] Do you? Jimmy: Not my #goals but should spark jealousy with the intended Janis: Cute. Janis: The dog ain't bad either. 😉 Janis: I'm getting in practice Jimmy: I'll do mine in the comments when it's posted Jimmy: How keen is cringe in the eyes of Gracie and her friends? Janis: You're asking a mouthful there. If you're too nice, they'll say you're boring. But they've gotta at least pretend they're feminists in this day and age so if you are too full of the bants and low-key treating me like shit, they're gonna have to pretend they ain't here for that even though that's every boyf they've ever had, na'mean? Janis: Just say something confusingly inappropriate for what is not gonna be a hot pic, isn't that how you lads do? Janis: I'll set you up with a lame caption Jimmy: Thanks. There's back room access in it for you Jimmy: Again not a private snapchat invite Janis: Steady on there, not until the 3rd date, at least! 😂 Jimmy: 😂 Jimmy: Seriously though. You're not as much of a bitch as everyone says. Nice one. Janis: Well, don't be spreading that backhander about, will ya? Janis: You've got a rep to make, that's a bit of mine I'd like to protect Jimmy: 🤐

#that was fun #jj ftw

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