Reviews with content warning for Pandemic/Epidemic - Oryx and Crake

This was the hardest book to read. It’s up there with 1984 and brave new world. Generally of worlds, I hope don’t become reality. I understand the message and it doesn’t make it any better. It’s actually so sad and essentially avoidable which is horrific. If you enjoy dystopian this is for you but this book genuinely made me sick at some points. Graphic accounts of CP and trafficking.

Content Warnings

enbyejay's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark funny mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Content Warnings

startjpw23's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

This story is set in a not distant future and is told in 3rd person POV by Snowman (aka his given name Jimmy). There are only 2 other main characters (Crake and Oryx). When the story starts, Snowman is trying to survive after an event took place that appears to have ended civilization. The story alternates between the present and Snowman's life as Jimmy from before the event. It starts in his youth and moves forward to various points in his life before the event. Early on, it is apparent that the society Jimmy grew up in was scientifically advanced, but morally bankrupt. The relationship between Jimmy, Crake, and Oryx is gradually revealed as are the circumstances that led up to the event. This is a really good dystopian novel. I found it very believable as a possible (very scary) future. I didn't really like Jimmy or Crake very much. I liked Oryx more. Despite not liking Jimmy, I still found the story compelling. The story is very disturbing at points. Some children are treated very badly. There are brutal security forces. There are no ethics to the science being done. To many of the scientists, people and animals are viewed the same as lab rats. Corporations run things and profits are all no matter who is hurt. Society is very stratified. This is not a happy book. The book is very well plotted and written. Margaret Atwood only writes the minimum details of the most disturbing scenes so that the reader understands what is going on without being unnecessarily graphic. The only reason I rated the book a little below 5 stars is I didn't feel the ending was very good. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to read a really good dystopian novel. If the issues I mentioned are things that concern you, you may want to avoid the book. Or at least look at content warnings. Be aware that this is book 1 of 3.

Content Warnings

braymond2106's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark mysterious sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Dystopian future.

Content Warnings

paintedpolarbear's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

hearing that new new york was the hot zone of the humanity-destroying plague was like a slap with a wet trout in the year 2024

-0.5* for the random montage of darkweb content for no other reason than to have it

Content Warnings

casperjade's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

Content Warnings

tarajsharma's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

A highly prescient novel. Hard to read in parts, but I was never not hooked. I haven’t read The Handmaid’s Tale, but I imagine the overall spirit is the same - speculative fiction, only about

genetic engineering rather than feminism-eroding religious fervour

Content Warnings

ellieoopsie's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Weird book to say you enjoyed given the subject matter. Atwood manages to talk about some of the worst human impluses with a dry humor which stops the on-the-nose commentry from feeling too preachy. The mixture of past and present in the chapters keeps you engaged, wanting to pull the treads and find out what happens. The creation of world is so strong and intriguing, familiar and futuristic. This book made me think of Cat's Cradle and Our Missing Hearts with a tone more aligned with the former. Give the content warnings a squiz before you read.

Content Warnings

More...