The Velvet discussion

Because Transubstantiate relies so heavily on the reader to make some narrative connections, I think a thread dedicated to offering ideas about the plot would be helpful.

I'm on page 18, and here's what I know so far:
* Some kind of virus has infected the mainland, and survivors have been sent to an island, I assume on the promise that the island is a safe haven (otherwise, why would they go, right?). But at the same time, Jimmy wanted off the island for some reason. I suppose neither the island nor the mainland are safe. But then again, the fake postcards seem to indicate that the mainland is safe. So why then did the people decided to go to the island in the first place?

*There is definitely something supernatural going on. Marcy wants a kid, and the probable father, X, mentions that "purity is of the utmost importance," which has a human-vessel-for-some-omnipotent-force vibe to it.

*By judge of Assigned's computer-speak, various governments of the world are involved in the central experiment.

*The entire situation is an experiment of some sort.

Other readers, does this sound right to you? What are your thoughts? My fear is that the book is withholding orienting plot details as a way to inject suspense into the novel, and that ultimately I may become so lost in the narrative that I never find my way out of it. But again, I'm only 18 pages in, so much is still to be discovered.

You're on the right track. I assume you don't want me to answer any of these questions? All will be revealed, especially in regards to the first and last statement.

I'm at page 99, and I have to say that I am having a bit of trouble following what is going on. Over the years, I've learned that I do have more trouble than most people following plots, so my confusion doesn't surprise me. But even with my excuse, I wonder does anyone else share the confusion?

My main criticism as far as the story itself goes lies with my fear that I mention above, that the book withholds important orienting details under the guise of suspense, but instead it simply causes confusion. I think the reader should know a lot more about what is going on they are given. To really be suspenseful, the reader has to both yearn for more and be encouraged by the withholding of information. Here, I'm not sure I have either.

Of course I am still less than halfway through the book, so things could change. And of course, I am willing to consider that perhaps this genre doesn't interest me as much as others, which could be why I am having trouble.

Any other readers out there have similar concerns? Or, perhaps, any other readers out there able to help my possible misalignment? (I say "readers" here because I am hoping for other readers to help me along. I know the author (Richard) would be able to help me, but I want to know what readers think).

I'm about halfway done now, and it seems obvious who/what X is, then what the Assigned is. Bringing the religious down to earth in the post-apocalypse, but still I can't be sure, with so much left. These six characters are connected, and I like the way their stories are intermingling to bring forth something bigger. The fear of the status quo at the heart of five of the main characters, the desire to keep the quo driving Assigned, X's drive to break it down from the inside. I don't agree with your thoughts right now, Caleb. It took me a few pages to get into the story, but now I don't want it to end. I do have some problems from time to time remembering who certain characters are, but that struggle is lessening the deeper I go. Too, a couple haven't quite had the chance to shine, and I'm hoping that changes. Also, Richard, the ebook version isn't the greatest quality, but that could have been the conversion from mobi format over to my Kindle, but still, I'm really enjoying it so far.

The case may be then, as I suspected, that perhaps the genre simply isn't for me. Though, I still think details of the plot should have been grounded earlier in the novel so that the reader is steered to focus more on developing empathy with the characters instead of trying to understand the plot. For example, I think chapter 12, where a lot of the plot is revealed, should have come much earlier in the novel.

But, I will say that after reading chapter 12, I am definitely more excited by the novel overall. Now that I have some firm footing, I can allow the characters to take over. Roland, for example, gets a huge boost with chapter 12 (as all the characters do, actually). And Gordon, ***Spoiler*** I didn't expect him to have been involved with the entire experiment like he is. I thought he was just a guy with some atypical intel, but no, he's a bit of a badass.

I'm currently at p.40, and I'd agree with you Caleb about the confusing plot. I can see how it's being pieced together, and that keeps the pages turning, but it's like something is missing...I feel like I can't picture everything very well.

I know from my first read that a lot of background is given later on in the book, and maybe I'll have to wait to get there to really judge. But thus far, I'm having a tough time picturing what these people do all day, or what their lives are like on the island.

Caleb said:
"But at the same time, Jimmy wanted off the island for some reason. I suppose neither the island nor the mainland are safe. But then again, the fake postcards seem to indicate that the mainland is safe. So why then did the people decided to go to the island in the first place?"

This was one of my questions as well. In fact, I thought people were taken to this island before the virus, so perhaps I'm more confused than I thought.

Also, I think I'm having a tough time picturing this island. The characters' ruminations are so deeply internal that I don't see much of their external environment.

But again, I know this is a story that slowly reveals itself, so I'll hold other comments till I read more.