The Electric

By: Andrew David Barker

Narrated by: Nigel Peever

In the summer of 1985, 15-year-old Sam Crowhurst discovers an old, abandoned cinema that screens movies made by ghosts, for ghosts.

Sam and his friends Emma and David find themselves drawn into a world where the likes of Humphrey Bogart, Lon Chaney, and Theda Bara are still making pictures, where Harold Lloyd and John Belushi team up for roustabout comedies, and Karloff and Lugosi appear in films scripted by Edgar Allan Poe. Sam comes to learn the mysteries of the Electric cinema and his part to play in its long and strange history.

The Electric is about movies, ghosts, and that ephemeral moment in all of our lives: childhood.

©2013 Andrew David Barker (P)2019 Andrew David Barker

Brilliant!

The concept of the story is brilliantly conceived and executed! A story of mystery, loss, love and the dreaded growing up. The story flows wonderfully from start to finish. The narration and production are excellent, adding even more depth to the story. I would recommend this story to anyone teen and up.

I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

just wow

I really loved this audiobook. I had to stay up all night to finish this that's how good it was. This is a reading with sound effects and atmospheric music and it really drew me in. At four am, I was making coffee so I could continue to stay up.

Writing: You may think Andrew Davide Barker's writing style is a bit meandering but this book is a reminiscence and memories are rarely a straight timeline. When we think back, we remember odd bits that may not have much to do with the main plot of our life. Stick with it if you are finding it a bit slow at first.

In this book, there is a lot of history dealing with films but it's not dry, it's woven very well into the story. Barker writes about the feelings that movies can create in us. Those feelings that make you believe in magic, make you believe in that world that exists in imaginations but is often more real than what goes on around us. It's such an indescribable feeling but Barker catches that feeling with this book.

Narration: I can't imagine the work that must go into a production such as this. That being said, wow. This performance was amazing. Nigel Peever has SUCH a wonderful voice for narration, especially for nostalgic pieces. His voice captures bygone eras brilliantly. His accents and voices for Bogart, Chaney and others were done really well. I've heard so many Bogart impressions over the years and some of them are really over the top.

Production: Very, very well done. The sound effects really drew on my memories of going to the movies. The sound the projector makes, how the film sounds as it's going through the projector, the music from the era's the movies were set in. But it also captured that idea that these were movies made by ghosts, for ghosts.

I found myself wishing I had someone to talk to after this book was done. It's going to stick with me for awhile.

Brilliant writer, narrator and production.

The narrator

This was an interesting book. Very intense. The narrator was perfect and so great with voices plus sound effects. He made the story come to life.

Phenomenal Story!

The theater style Narration of the story is incredible. Typically I listen to audiobook while I work or commute, but this one caused me to simply sit and listen. Reminiscent of the radio shows in the day befor television, the reader is left hanging in every word. The feeling of suspense is palpable and one hears the sound effects and music notes. It’s the perfect accompaniment to a story about an other world theater caught between the past and present! Bravo! I am a new fan!

Absolutely Fantastic - Highly Recommend!

I received this book for free. I am voluntarily posting this review and all opinions expressed herein are my own.

Wow! Just wow is this a great relatable story with incredible narration.

The Electric is about a moment in time in your childhood which changes your outlook on the rest of your life. While the main characters are teenagers - please do not think that this would only appeal to a YA audience or that as an adult there is nothing to see here. The story deals with the death of the main protagonist Sam's father and the impact that had on him one summer. But beyond that, the story is about relationships - parental, friends, first love, and growing up - and how those relationships impact your life. The relationships that the main characters have with each other and Sam, our main protagonist, has with his parents are realistic, tender, and, at times, very unrefined - meaning the inability to truly express your thoughts and feelings at a time when you really should be sharing more of yourself [something even adults are incapable of doing]. I truly enjoyed how Sam one day realized how alienated his relationship had become with his Mom, who is equally grief stricken, and thought to make her breakfast to spend a little time together as they were eating - an absolutely captivating moment.

There is a paranormal element to this story, which occurs when Sam and his friends enter The Electric cinema. The paranormal element is not creepy or frightening nor is this a horror story. The paranormal element is used in an extraordinary manner to get Sam to realize the impact his father had on his life, even though his father was only present for a very short period of time. And, in Sam, it sparks the joy of using his talents, as his father had encouraged him but he had abandoned. Further, the love of cinema, is readily apparent - how original to pair John Belushi with Fatty Arbuckle or Lon Chaney with Boris Karloff or Humphrey Bogart with Jean Harlow.

This novel draws you in, and expertly, without be overly sentimental, keeps you tuned in as three teenagers try to navigate one summer, which changes their lives. This story is worth your time and it is highly recommended!

The narrator, Nigel Peever, is absolutely fantastic. He has a very nice clear baritone voice with a slight British accent. He does voices for all of the characters - including the celebrities. In addition, there are some sound effects and music which are added - nothing too obtrusive and it really enhanced the narration - reminiscent of the radio dramas of days past. The narration and the story were just the perfect marriage.