Reviews with content warning for Death - Oryx and Crake

This was an intriguing book, deeply disturbing in parts. I think some of the explorations here were quite Surface level and I found it a very slow burn. My least favourite Atwood but I would consider reading the sequels.

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greenglass67's review

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adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

5.0

This book is easily one of my favorites. It’s such a unique story. Snowman’s journey and his reflections upon his life as Jimmy are deeply human. He exhibits so much passion for some things and so much apathy for others. The range of his experiences and emotions is wild, but it all works together cohesively. The world Margaret Atwood creates is a very chilling commentary on technology and science, and she pushes us to question how far advanced we can get without it being too far. The ending is remarkable. There are little hints and clues laced throughout the entire book that you don’t realize until the ending ties them all together, all the pieces fit into place, and it all suddenly makes sense. It answers all the questions you have, and leaves you asking several questions more. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series.

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allthingsnerdy's review

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challenging dark mysterious medium-paced

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

3.0

Since i just reviewed a Becky Chambers book, it's easy to start comparing this book and Margaret Atwood's work to it. Margaret Atwood's view of humanity and the future is much bleaker and at times hard to read. But a lot of times I think it veered towards being edgy for edginess-sake, rather than just trying to present hard truths. I also prefer books that have at least a piece of hope, because it feels like then the book is just showing you the a problem without attempting any sort of solution, which feels lazy. But it feels like for this book, Atwood, is trying to show why certain solutions to a large problem won't work, which is fine and I think has value, but I guess is just not my thing. A book that I think does something similar and that I prefer is Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler.

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curlymango's review

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dark mysterious reflective

4.0

Oryx and Crake is a miserable, disturbing, but also witty and darkly funny vision of the future where technological utilitarianism triumphs. A slow burner at first, the flashback storyline became more fleshed out and rewarding as I read on. I felt at the beginning that Snowman as a narrator might lack depth, but you get to see his struggles with existentialism, love, shame, etc. and his ruminations on what corrupts human society.

Atwood’s writing can be exaggerated and absurd:
“‘…you’d be surprised how many people would like a very beautiful, smart baby that eats nothing but grass. The vegans are highly interested in that little item.’”

But also tragically poetic:
“Everything in his life was temporary, ungrounded. Language itself had lost its solidity; it had become thin, slippery, a viscid film on which he was sliding around like an eyeball on a plate.”

A really morbid ode to the arts.

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cait's review

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challenging mysterious sad slow-paced

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

2.75

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al3x1113's review

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adventurous dark reflective tense slow-paced

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

4.5

this book kept me at the edge of my seat, always anticipating the next big reveal of some detail that would lead the novel to its end. it was fascinating, and such an interesting story full of social commentary about society and technology

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hannahbailey's review against another edition

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challenging dark sad tense slow-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

3.5

Unsure how to feel on this one. Atwood is such a good writer that I was pulled into the narrative and the world she'd built despite my immediate dislike for the protagonist. There are some interesting themes with a lot of 'what ifs' but my god, this was so bleak and depressing. Glad I made it to the end to see a bit of hope but it was quite the trudge and not at all what I was expecting!

Very reminiscent of 1984 and A Clockwork Orange in terms of its violence, intensity and reflections on the darker side of humanity. Fans of these novels (I was not a fan of either one) will almost definitely enjoy Oryx and Crake.

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