Scan barcode
readingrainbow's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
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
4.0
mitskacir's review against another edition
3.0
Atwood's writing just pulls me in. Even though there were some elements that I didn't find very convincing (ex. the hybrid animals), the strength of her writing kept me hooked. The storyline about Jimmy/Snowman and Crake I found pretty straightforward, but I don't think I understood Oryx's role very well at all. Having read Handmaid's Tale and Alias Grace, I am familiar with Atwood's tendency to write brutal storylines for female characters and to write complex women whose motives are not always clear, but Oryx especially went over my head. Would love to chat with someone else who has read this one... (FYI maybe not the best book to read during a global pandemic/global climate disaster but I guess that's just what they call "prescient" scifi).
hammysreads's review
Honestly I tried it in audio book form but I have no idea how to follow narrative through my ears lol.
Maybe will pick up the physical copy and come back to it sometime
Maybe will pick up the physical copy and come back to it sometime
sidharthvardhan's review against another edition
3.0
Remember how Frankenstein created his monster by joining different body parts of the dead, and then put life into it? What appeared strange to me is the fact that he should only notice the monsterness of his creation after putting life into it. But I guess it makes sense, it is not easy to get the same feel from non—living. And it is especially true with books – unless they are alive and talking, they induce no feelings. That is the problem with this book (as is with several other books) – Atwood has gathered all the right parts (the mad scientist with questionable morality, the apocalypse etc), put them well and in order but the monster book doesn’t show much life to me (some other readers might notice signs of life I might have missed and so 3 stars). Now if I was an anatomist a book critc, I would have praised Atwood for getting all the parts right, but I am just a plain reader who just wants to scream when monster comes alive.
The one important theme that I do love is the inability of characters to raise moral questions – the corporatization has meant that most of the evil has been automated – and seems to eradicate personal responsibility for the most part; that you are responsible for such a small part of it (by, for example, buying goods at Walmart or from other underpaying companies, working for MNCs responsible for pollutions and global warming, watching commercials that increase anxiety of people by making them conscious of their looks etc) that you know your not doing it won’t affect the business. It is arguable we have failed at collective intelligence as a species – only that can explain why people continue to fight each other when the planet has enough to offer a good life to everybody.
The one important theme that I do love is the inability of characters to raise moral questions – the corporatization has meant that most of the evil has been automated – and seems to eradicate personal responsibility for the most part; that you are responsible for such a small part of it (by, for example, buying goods at Walmart or from other underpaying companies, working for MNCs responsible for pollutions and global warming, watching commercials that increase anxiety of people by making them conscious of their looks etc) that you know your not doing it won’t affect the business. It is arguable we have failed at collective intelligence as a species – only that can explain why people continue to fight each other when the planet has enough to offer a good life to everybody.
gg_mac's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
heathercottledillon's review against another edition
4.0
Wow, what to say about this one? One of the better dystopian books I've read. There's sort of a mystery embedded in it, and the ending was a big surprise for me. I like that the the "villain," Crake, is so complicated and not flat-out evil, as the bad guys usually are. His motivation is never really clear and it's hard to tell what exactly he's trying to do. I think we're going to discuss Oryx and Crake at one of our 20/30-something book group, and it should be really interesting.
jmtanner's review
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.0
It’s been a long time since I’ve read anything by Atwood. This lady is intense! I almost always enjoy a book about post-apocalyptic times, so this book was right up my alley. The depravity of the main character was hard to take, but his honesty about it helped me not to hate the book. I probably won’t read the others in this series as I like how this one ended sort of unresolved (spoiler?).
outcolder's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed reading this, I guess I mean the prose and some of the characters. The plot was more of a mood than a plot, though, both the flashback plot, which at least has events, and the framing plot, which actually had some suspense. The black hat genetic engineering was ham-fisted, the animal-mixes like something out of a kid’s comic book, which made the thought experiment side of the sf also kind of weak. The Windup Girl, published four years after Oryx and Crake, is on similar ground but makes much more sense in terms of what would GreedHead BioTech Inc do if they could edit genes like we edit words. Somehow though it all comes together into a ... well, I can’t call something this disturbing “fun” exactly or “pleasurable “ ... but a great read and I already ordered part 2.
I almost forgot the pandemic! It’s more marburg/ebola than covid, but yikes! Man, I don’t want to die like that. Can we please get serious about global public health?
I almost forgot the pandemic! It’s more marburg/ebola than covid, but yikes! Man, I don’t want to die like that. Can we please get serious about global public health?
mandik's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
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? It's complicated
3.0
"Oryx and Crake" is a compelling yet complex dystopian novel that explores the boundaries of science, ethics, and human nature. Set in a chilling future where genetic engineering has run amok, the story follows Snowman, the last known human, as he reflects on the events that led to the collapse of civilization.
The book’s strongest point is Atwood’s meticulous world-building. The landscape she paints is both haunting and fascinating, with detailed descriptions that vividly bring to life a society obsessed with genetic manipulation. Atwood’s prose is sharp and evocative, pulling readers into a thought-provoking and cautionary narrative.
However, the book's pacing can be uneven at times. The constant shifts between Snowman’s present and his past as Jimmy can disrupt the flow, making it challenging to stay fully engaged. While the flashbacks provide essential backstory, they sometimes feel overly drawn out, slowing down the momentum of the main plot.
The characters, particularly Oryx and Crake, are intriguing but somewhat enigmatic. Their motivations and deeper connections could have been explored more thoroughly. This lack of character depth can make it hard for readers to form a strong emotional attachment to their fates.
Overall, "Oryx and Crake" is an ambitious and thought-provoking novel that, while not perfect, offers a unique and disturbing vision of the future.
It's also interesting to read following The Road due to their tone being very similar. "Oryx and Crake" almost feels like a prequel to The Road and Snowman is Man in the future.
The book’s strongest point is Atwood’s meticulous world-building. The landscape she paints is both haunting and fascinating, with detailed descriptions that vividly bring to life a society obsessed with genetic manipulation. Atwood’s prose is sharp and evocative, pulling readers into a thought-provoking and cautionary narrative.
However, the book's pacing can be uneven at times. The constant shifts between Snowman’s present and his past as Jimmy can disrupt the flow, making it challenging to stay fully engaged. While the flashbacks provide essential backstory, they sometimes feel overly drawn out, slowing down the momentum of the main plot.
The characters, particularly Oryx and Crake, are intriguing but somewhat enigmatic. Their motivations and deeper connections could have been explored more thoroughly. This lack of character depth can make it hard for readers to form a strong emotional attachment to their fates.
Overall, "Oryx and Crake" is an ambitious and thought-provoking novel that, while not perfect, offers a unique and disturbing vision of the future.
It's also interesting to read following The Road due to their tone being very similar. "Oryx and Crake" almost feels like a prequel to The Road and Snowman is Man in the future.
cherryxlee's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
reflective
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