What I am reading
this is the highly subjective way I read and interpret literature
(I mostly read classic belles-lettres, but you’ll find some examples of trashy readings here and there as well)
A picture is worth a thousand words
Simon Stålenhag is undeniably featured on my personal “Top 3 contemporary artists“ list. I am fascinated by his post-apocalyptic landscapes, littered with enormous remnants of battle ships, robots and drones, set against gigantic glowing buildings and orbs in the background, sometimes half covered in mist. He conveys the peace and quiet of any idyllic landscape and combines it with the eerie feeling of a devastating catastrophe about to happen.
What I am trying to say is, that I love his art. I really do. I like it so much, that the narrative featured in The Electric State was secondary to me from the very beginning, which was good, because the storyline is only ok. It’s not bad, but it’s also nothing notable and it lacks power, especially in comparison to the incredible art. If I could rate art and story separately, Stålenhags drawings would get 5/5 stars, but I cannot give the story more than 2/5 (or, if I was to be really generous, 2,5/5).
