It's a new month... time for some new bug fixes!
While Matt is still working on harnessing the book data that we all have contributed to, and making it available for searches, he's also been rather busy fixing other things, and even adding some nifty little features. Read all about it in this Announcements forum post.![Oryx and Crake](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/P/0385503857.01.MZZZZZZZ.jpg)
Oryx and Crake
22 journalers for this copy...
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RELEASE NOTES:
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Thank you, squirrel818. Looking forward to reading this!
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Released 19 yrs ago (3/5/2005 UTC) at Controlled Release in Milltown, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
Weird. All I can say is what a weird perspective from the author of speculative fiction. As she puts herself, this is not sci-fi because it has no martians, etc...
I was able to stick with this book because I wanted to know what happened to the characters and not that I didn`t enjoy it, it certaintly wasn`t my favorite book.
I totally read through words that made no sense and I know they did to the authors part of what she was trying to bring into the story. It would not have mattered if half of these were left out. I had a hard time even trying to figure things out that I just went with what was happening next and found myself skimming a few parts...
I`m starting a bookray:
BookRay: Started 2-25-05 (Closed)
Mailing Order (Which can be changed if needed, or there is a problem, Pm me. This is my first Ray):
Rico-Verde, FL
icekween0, Missouri
SmilingSun, Illinois
Ladybug01, Virginia
brewster13, Canada
knitwit, Pennsylvania
billhookbabe, UK
dodau, UK
Icila, France
~*~*~*~
Off to Rico-Verde. Enjoy!
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***
I enjoyed it, but had some reservations. I felt like characterization was weak excepting Jimmy/Snowman. Also, Snowman's part of the story had precious little action compared to Jimmy's. When something interesting finally happens, the book ends. Actually, I rether admire the ending--it leaves the reader a lot to ponder. You could say the same for a lot in the book. It's more of a comment on contemporary society than you might think.
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Thanks for sharing your book!
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weird...anyway...
received today. can't wait to read it. I have read two other books by this author and liked them both. I will journal my thoughts when I'm done and then pass on to the next person in the ray.
Thanks for sharing your book! (again) :o)
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Will pass on to the next person in the ray asap.
Thanks for sharing your book, I really enjoyed it.
Happy Bookcrossing!!!
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Then a couple of days later I went to our Library Used Book sale and found a nice copy of this book for just $1! I usually love books by Margaret Atwood and am glad to find it to add to my collection, but will have to read it later.
Sent PM to get brewster13's address to send book on for Wistroll's bookray!
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I mailed the book off on Friday August 26 ... Happy travels, and I hope the next readers enjoy! Thanks for sharing wistroll...
Brew
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The writing was superb and very clever in places and the book actually reminded me a great deal of Stephen King. Funny how he's considered pulp fiction and she's considered literature.
Off to billhookbabe in the UK today.
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I was drawn straight into the story from the first page. You know things have happened and they are bad. The future as written by Atwood is not so unbelievable with all the things that we know they are trying to do with genetics, and the things that we don't even know about. I felt that this was almost a caricature, a larger than life veiw of the future, yet it is not so outrageous as to be impossible. The degeneration of society has been wholesale and there are no boundaries on what can be done in games and TV.
Not for the faint hearted, the story line involves the child sex trade, the web used for entertainment with 'snuff' sites, and violent death in any way you please. I laughed out loud at the names of some of the websites mentioned. I didn't look them up to see if they were real.
I think this book is particularly relevant with references to weather and global warming in it, particularly with this weeks bleak news about the possible accelerated thawing of the ice caps.
I am going to move this on by continuing the bookray and at the same time releasing for the 2006 Keep them Moving Challenge run by guinaveve.
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Bookray participants:
mrsordonez US
heartsong2 US
Karenlea US
Maurean US
pashmack US
still-legbamel US
ladyofunicorns US
Elsita Europe
kizmiaz Europe (added 25/09/06)
bestfriends Europe
Hope you enjoy this thought provoking book.
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Edited to add: I've still not begun this book, (bad bookcrosser, bad bookcrosser!). I warned billhookbabe, I had a few to read, but I am finishing up the one before this one, so this will be next on my list. I promise it is still safe and sound, and I already have the next reader's address to send it on when finished. 3/24/06
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I got quite caught up in the fantasy, and really enjoyed it, which is surprising for "science fiction". I think because, as a previous journaller had mentioned, it is more "speculative" fiction with things that actually could be. I found it even more interesting that the author was in the middle of writing this book during September 11, 2001.
I liked how Atwood introduced elements without fully explaining them until later. One could imagine what "bobkittens" were before encountering the actual description found later in the book. The way Atwood reveals her storytelling elements, it keeps one reading and wanting more.
I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this book, and the end left me wanting more...(whatever will happen to the Crakers?) Thanks so much for sharing with me. When I got the HB I was so afraid it was going to be a chore to read it all, or at least that it would be slow or drag, and I finished it in two days. I'll ship it out as soon as possible. Thanks!
ETA: Mailed 4/7/06
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I'm so sorry! I think it arrived about 4/12.
So, my thoughts about the book. I sorta cheated to read this--I wasn't sure if I was going to like it. The book was on my wish list, but I don't always love Margaret Atwood, and I don't like The Handmaid's Tale, so I checked out the audiobook from the library to help me get through it. That was my first experience with an audiobook and I ended up half listening and half reading.
I think the audio helped me get over the strangeness of her proper nouns. And I found that I really did enjoy the story. I saw where someone else noted here Atwood's word at the end of the book. Halfway through the book I found that at the end, and discovered that added a new dimension to the book. I can't imagine what it would be like to be in a room with her relatives!
Somewhere else I read that this was written at the same time as the SARS outbreak in Toronto. That added a whole dimension of interest for me as well, especially toward the end of the story.
So, yes, this book was a pleasant but somewhat frightening read. Thank you for sharing it!
I have KarenLea's address and will put this in the mail to her Sat. morning. Sorry again that I neglected to journal when I received the book. It was totally unintended.
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I am mailing this off to the next reader tomorrow morning. Thank you for sharing!!!
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Anyway, thanks for sharing this, billhookbabe, and since I've already requested & recieved pashmack's addy, I will send this along on my next PO run. *mailed 6/20
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This is the third book I've read by Margaret Atwood. I can't wait to read more. Thanks so much for sharing, billhookbabe. I'll be mailing it out ot the next reader on Wednesday.
Mailed on 7/5/06
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Update: 8/25/06 I am hanging my head in shame, as I forgot this one was a bookring book by the time I finished reading it - it's been sitting on my release shelf for ages! I'm so sorry for having such a short attention span. I'll PM ladyofunicorns and try to get it out in the mail ASAP. [smacks forehead] I did very much enjoy the book. You have to admire Atwood's ability to create such a real and intimidating world, whether it's alternate futures like this one and the Handmaid's Tale or very slightly historical like Cat's Eye. Her command of language and power to create imagery makes her novels fascinating, and then you throw in the stories... ;) Edited to point out that ladyofunicorns has gone on the inactive list so this is going to Elsita in Portugal soon.
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Released 17 yrs ago (9/12/2006 UTC) at Controlled Release in Controlled Release, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
This one is off to Portugal, finally, now that I've gotten my act together! I'm so sorry for holding onto it for so long and I hope it doesn't take forever and a day to get to its new destination.
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Will read it and write something more, after.
Thanks all!
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I really liked these Atwood's novel, I put it at the level of hers "Handmaid's Tale".
The question is "What if this really happens to the human kind?" And it's so thrilling to even think about it...
Thanks, billhookbabe, for sharing this book in a ring!
I'll send it to kizmiaz asap.
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Released 17 yrs ago (3/12/2007 UTC) at
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
Peço desculpa pela demora!
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I'll try and get on with it because I love Atwood's writing, but I still have one to finish before this one.
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Margaret Atwood is a brilliant writer and the more of her books I read , the more I become convinced of this.
This story is not that farfetched; if we skip a generation or two ahead it all becomes quite plausible, and the more scary for that.
The characters are great and the plot is even better because there are so many gaps and spaces for us, as readers, to fill. And truth be told no one ever remembers everything about themselves or the others, especially after going thru so much misery and woe as Snowman has gone thru.
Snowman is such a tragic and clueless character that I couldn’t help hoping things would work out for him, but how could they? He’s stuck with a mission he never wanted, worrying about creatures he never liked or understood but still he does it out of love for Oryx and Crake.
The ending is…just the right one.
To me this book is up there with, not only, The Handmaid’s Tale but also with The Stand by Stephen King.
Sent to bestfriends today (20.04.2007)
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I noticed I'm the last one in the ray, which is for the better as I have one other ringbook to finish and several coming my way. Should give me a little more time, if needed, with nobody waiting.
Of course I will see to it that it continues its travels when done, as the book is still in very good condition, considering the distances it has already covered. Thanks for sharing!
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I had to more or less force myself to start it and secretly hoped the mailman would drop of something else. You see, SF and Fantasy are about the only genres I don’t like at all. After a few bad experiences with similar novels about “fictive or parallel worlds”, most recently Under the Skin - Michel Faber, I swore to avoid those too.
Why I joined this ray? Well, I wanted to give MA a second chance after absolutely disliking “The Edible Woman”, the first and only book by this author I had read sofar (and not finished). "Oryx and Crake" has been recommended to me for that purpose and I joined the ray, not really knowing what the book was about.
However, it took less than one chapter to change my mind, at least for this one! I even quite enjoyed it! It will stay in my memory for a long time. Glad I had a chance to read it! I will not try my luck again with the “Handmaid’s tale” though!
Will look for other books by Margaret Atwood now, as I started to appreciate her beautiful style of writing. I also joined a ring or ray for “The Blind Assassin”.
4th May 2007:
I sent the book to a fellow BC-er in the UK today, who has it on her wishlist, as a thank you for a RABCK she recently has sent me. (Economy mail, as this is a hardcover).
Enjoy!
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Released 16 yrs ago (1/26/2008 UTC) at Controlled Release in -- Controlled Release, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- United Kingdom
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
Sending onto LadyIndigo01, 2nd Anniversary Bookcrossing RABCK, enjoy!
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Its great to come home after a really hard day at work and find a book-shaped parcel on the doormat - thanks for cheering me up today bookcrossers.
This book has such a lot of JEs - its great.
I have read 3 of Atwoods books - absoloutely loved Alias Grace and The Handmaids Tale (not too keen on Cat's Eye). Several people who liked The Handmaid's Tale seemed to like this one so I'm looking forward to it.
I'll be back to post my thoughts when I've read it. Thanks again for making my day Jillbe and other BCers who have written interesting comments about this book.
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