Oryx and Crake
11 journalers for this copy...
Pigs might not fly, but they are strangely altered. So, for that matter, are wolves and racoons. A man, once named Jimmy, now calls himself Snowman and lives in a tree, wrapped in old bed sheets. The voice of Oryx, the woman he loved, teasingly haunts him. And the green-eyed Children of Crake are, for some reason, his responsibility.
From back cover.
I'm partway through this book, and thoroughly enjoying it. The world pictured is so similar to our own, in some ways, that it is frightening. I can definitely follow the track forward from where we are now to where Atwood places us at some unspecified future point.
From back cover.
I'm partway through this book, and thoroughly enjoying it. The world pictured is so similar to our own, in some ways, that it is frightening. I can definitely follow the track forward from where we are now to where Atwood places us at some unspecified future point.
Taking names for a ray:
Olliebear (UK)
Jalna (UK)
Tehuti (UK)
SemioticGhost(UK)
Perfect-circle (UK)
daemonwolf(UK)
tho Portugal Europe pref
amaradevinmom (Germany/US)
clawdette US US only
Schmetterling NC, US anywhere
Silentdormouse US US/Can pref
Eucalia Washington. US Int OK
Sherria Connecticut US Int okay
henrythecat UK
fushmush Australia Asia/Pacific pref
Olliebear (UK)
Jalna (UK)
Tehuti (UK)
SemioticGhost(UK)
Perfect-circle (UK)
daemonwolf(UK)
tho Portugal Europe pref
amaradevinmom (Germany/US)
clawdette US US only
Schmetterling NC, US anywhere
Silentdormouse US US/Can pref
Eucalia Washington. US Int OK
Sherria Connecticut US Int okay
henrythecat UK
fushmush Australia Asia/Pacific pref
Well I've now finished the book, and it lived up to its promise.
The frightening thing about it is that it is so believable. All the arguments given to us about genetic engineering lead naturally to the conclusion in this book. And it also begs the question what does it mean to be human? Because if you take out everything that could lead to conflict - greed, lust... - then you end up with not people but animals, IMHO.
This book will be travelling on today.
The frightening thing about it is that it is so believable. All the arguments given to us about genetic engineering lead naturally to the conclusion in this book. And it also begs the question what does it mean to be human? Because if you take out everything that could lead to conflict - greed, lust... - then you end up with not people but animals, IMHO.
This book will be travelling on today.
Arrived this morning with a thud on the floor! Looking forward to this as I do love Margaret Atwood. Thanks for sharing.
Margaret Atwood has done it again. A fantastic book that will no doubt be in my mind for some time to come. A sad tale though which is frighteningly realistic in what could happen if we carry on the way we are doing at the moment. Some parts of this reminded me of the film 28 days later, which I loved! I am really enjoying reading Margaret Atwood as her descriptions are beautiful and believable. I love the idea of the Crakers, so perfect in every way.
I think something that did frighten me as a reader is that I can identify with the reasons why Crake did what he did! Although not with the method! This world does need a shake-up!
This will be travelling onto it's next destination (Jalna) shortly. Thanks for sharing loopy!
I think something that did frighten me as a reader is that I can identify with the reasons why Crake did what he did! Although not with the method! This world does need a shake-up!
This will be travelling onto it's next destination (Jalna) shortly. Thanks for sharing loopy!
I loved The Handmaid's Tale, couldn't get on at all with Bodily Harm, so it will be interesting to see how I find my third Margaret Atwood book.
I'm currently reading a fairly thick book, but this one will be next, so hopefully I won't keep everyone waiting too long.
I'm currently reading a fairly thick book, but this one will be next, so hopefully I won't keep everyone waiting too long.
Although it was frightening in its perfectly believable scenario for the future, I really enjoyed this book. I found it very much like The Handmaid's Tale in style (and content, to a certain extent) so I would expect anyone who liked that to appreciate this book as well.
It's off to Tehuti very soon.
It's off to Tehuti very soon.
Received from Jalna today - Diolch yn fawr ;)
I read this overnight on the Friday of the Unconvention, so that I could pass it on and get the ring started again. It's an excellent read, and also a fast one, even though the book is approx. 440 pages long. Margaret Attwood uses a genetically-modified dystopia of the future in order to engage in biting satire about a number of present-day trends. The book is now with semioticghost.
Received from intrepid speed-reader Tehuti at the Birminghanm Unconvention. Going to the top of my TBR pile, with two books to finish first.
Oryx and Crake is a literary science-fiction novel with a credible premise and Atwood's usual brilliant narrative. I craved a deeper understanding of what motivated the characters, but the occastional sketchiness seemed very deliberate.
This, together with 'A Handmaid's Tale' and 'Cat's Eye' is now one of my favourite Atwood novels.
Sent off to perfect-circle today.
This, together with 'A Handmaid's Tale' and 'Cat's Eye' is now one of my favourite Atwood novels.
Sent off to perfect-circle today.
Journal Entry 12 by 
Semioticghost
at By Mail in By mail / post / courier, By Mail/Post/Courier -- Controlled Releases on Tuesday, July 27, 2004
Semioticghost at By Mail in By mail / post / courier, By Mail/Post/Courier -- Controlled Releases on Tuesday, July 27, 2004
Released on Tuesday, July 27, 2004 at Postal Release in Postal release, Postal Release Controlled Releases.
Just posted off to perfect-circle, to get to her in time for her holiday, Royal Mail permitting!
Just posted off to perfect-circle, to get to her in time for her holiday, Royal Mail permitting!
Journal Entry 13 by perfect-circle from Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear United Kingdom on Wednesday, July 28, 2004
arrived today and will be read whilst I am away. Very much looking forward to it.
Journal Entry 14 by perfect-circle from Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear United Kingdom on Wednesday, August 4, 2004
The best Atwood novel I've read so far. The whole thing was believable and raises interesting points/questions about human greed and genetic engineering.
Off to daemonwolf soon
Off to daemonwolf soon
Released on Thursday, August 12, 2004 at Postal Release in Controlled release, England United Kingdom.
posted to daemonwolf today
posted to daemonwolf today
Arrived safely in the post this morning. :0
I have read and reviewed, unfortunately I was not won over by this book. Which is a pity because I was looking forward to reading it. A three on my scale is 'poor, lost interest'.
I have Tho's address and this will be posted Monday.
I have Tho's address and this will be posted Monday.
Journal Entry 18 by rem_DYI-991976 at book ring in a RABCK, By Mail/Post/Courier -- Controlled Releases on Saturday, October 2, 2004
Released 19 yrs ago (9/28/2004 UTC) at book ring in a RABCK, By Mail/Post/Courier -- Controlled Releases
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
RELEASE NOTES:
It was posted on Tuesday, I forgot to change the status till today. Oops. Sorry. Tho should have it for Monday or Tuesday.
It was posted on Tuesday, I forgot to change the status till today. Oops. Sorry. Tho should have it for Monday or Tuesday.
Received today ... I'm quite curious about this one and I expect to start reading it very soon :-)
A scary futuristic scenario, made very believable by Margaret Atwood's writing ... I didn't enjoy it as much as other Atwood's novels (The handmaid's tale is my favourite) but somehow the plot kept me going and wanting to find out what had happened to Snowman's world and the whole Oryx and Crake relationship. Sometimes I would lose interest in the story but forced myself to continue and soon something would grab my attention again ...
Amaradevinmom hasn't replied to my PMs yet, so I've asked clawdette for her address, and will mail this out as soon as one of them replies.
Amaradevinmom hasn't replied to my PMs yet, so I've asked clawdette for her address, and will mail this out as soon as one of them replies.
received today. Have one book in front of it.
Received, and I have already begun reading it. Wow!!
I want to say first that I really do love Margaret Atwood's books, and have even skipped out of work to go hear her speak at a local university... but I must admit that I would not have made it even halfway through this book if someone else's name had been on the cover. It seemed to be missing that special something that makes me love her past books, like Alias Grace and Handmaid's Tale.
Writing a character of the opposite gender is hard, as I have tried my hand at it and failed miserably. I think Atwood did a fairly good job (although I can't say that I "like" either Jimmy or Crake but I don't think that the reader is supposed to) but hope that she returns to writing about the complex, nuanced lives of her female characters. They seem to offer a more rewarding read for me.
Writing a character of the opposite gender is hard, as I have tried my hand at it and failed miserably. I think Atwood did a fairly good job (although I can't say that I "like" either Jimmy or Crake but I don't think that the reader is supposed to) but hope that she returns to writing about the complex, nuanced lives of her female characters. They seem to offer a more rewarding read for me.
Perfect timing! This showed up in my mailbox today, and I just finished the book I was reading tonight. I'll start this over the weekend. Thanks for sharing!
Oops, I forgot to journal this when I finished it!
I love Margaret Atwood, and this book didn't disappoint me. The pace was much faster than many of her books, which was a nice change. Atwood managed to make this futuristic dystopia quite believable, and it was even more frightening because of that.
As usual, the book was populated with wonderful characters (this is what I love best about her writing). They were complex and unique, and I really felt like I got a glimpse inside most of them. Oryx, though, I never really understood, but I felt like that was intentional.
There are pluses and minuses to genetic engineering, and Atwood managed to show both sides, though the story was obviously tilted toward the negative possibilities. Still, she included many useful "creations" as well, meant to improve health, economy, environment, etc. How far is too far? And how do we know when we're approaching that line? That's the question that I was left with, and I'm sure I'll be pondering it for some time to come.
Thanks for sharing this loopy1. I dropped it in the mail (surface mail) to henrythecat on 5/16.
I love Margaret Atwood, and this book didn't disappoint me. The pace was much faster than many of her books, which was a nice change. Atwood managed to make this futuristic dystopia quite believable, and it was even more frightening because of that.
As usual, the book was populated with wonderful characters (this is what I love best about her writing). They were complex and unique, and I really felt like I got a glimpse inside most of them. Oryx, though, I never really understood, but I felt like that was intentional.
There are pluses and minuses to genetic engineering, and Atwood managed to show both sides, though the story was obviously tilted toward the negative possibilities. Still, she included many useful "creations" as well, meant to improve health, economy, environment, etc. How far is too far? And how do we know when we're approaching that line? That's the question that I was left with, and I'm sure I'll be pondering it for some time to come.
Thanks for sharing this loopy1. I dropped it in the mail (surface mail) to henrythecat on 5/16.
