Reviews tagging 'Suicidal thoughts'

Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood

9 reviews

mievdk's review

challenging dark reflective medium-paced

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

4.25

The first time I started reading Oryx and Crake, I stopped before finishing the first chapter it was a bit too strange. Later I gave it another go, because of my love for Atwood's style, themes and characters. I am so glad I gave it another try. 

The way the plot is structured is, in my opinion, perfect. The novel maintains a well-considered balance  between giving enough information to inspire questions and keep you intrigued, but not too much to lose suspense. 

Once I settled into the story I found it incredibly compelling. The plot is fascinating, especially during these times of rapid technological progress. I would say the novel is 50-50 plot and character driven.

Alhough the protagonist is odd and unreliable, I did empathize with him and found him funny. While definitely unorthodox, at the same time he felt really real and remained complex.  

In sum, Oryx and Crake is another example of exquisite writing by Atwood.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Gun violence and Suicidal thoughts

greenglass67's review

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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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Body horror, Child abuse, Genocide, Trafficking, Abandonment, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Alcohol, Animal death, Blood, Medical content, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Animal cruelty, Death, Pandemic/Epidemic, and Pedophilia

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Classism, Colonisation, Drug use, and Murder

eimear_jane's review against another edition

dark reflective tense fast-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? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Sexual assault, Medical trauma, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Medical content, Rape, Animal cruelty, Death of parent, Blood, Cannibalism, Drug use, Genocide, Infidelity, Trafficking, Excrement, Adult/minor relationship, Abandonment, Child abuse, Animal death, Drug abuse, and Pandemic/Epidemic

backyardjake's review

challenging dark emotional funny mysterious reflective sad 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? Yes

4.0

Speculative fiction bundled with a very sad character study. Parental issues, relationship issues, confidence issues, and then existential issues. Jimmy has a lot of issues. Not for the feignt of heart, as I suppose most of Atwood's work is like. Inside is a very human and flawed tale, of the kind that revolted, resonated, sadend, and thrilled me as a reader.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, War, and Classism

Moderate: Abandonment

Minor: Animal cruelty, Toxic friendship, Suicidal thoughts, Sexism, and Drug use

nodogsonthemoon's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective fast-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual content, Genocide, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Suicide, Animal cruelty, Addiction, Animal death, Child death, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Drug use, Infidelity, Terminal illness, Trafficking, Abandonment, Child abuse, Death of parent, and Violence

sophieennis's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Child abuse, Death of parent, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Murder, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Slavery, Toxic friendship, Trafficking, and Violence

poetry_shaman's review

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Trafficking, Violence, Death, Pedophilia, and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Death of parent, Misogyny, Cursing, Kidnapping, Classism, and Genocide

Minor: Alcoholism and Addiction

ellaroxanne's review

challenging dark tense slow-paced

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

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Sexual content, and Trafficking

Minor: Suicidal thoughts

zgc's review

dark funny mysterious reflective sad 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? Yes

5.0

Fucking brutal, but holds up extremely well. Character writing is well observed and sharp, recurring motifs of speech chart changing relationships. Humor and wit are peppered throughout, but the book never feels like it's trying to be too clever or undercut its tone. Hell of a thing to read in 2021

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Medical content, Medical trauma, Pedophilia, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, and Trafficking

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Misogyny, Murder, Gun violence, Gore, and Drug use