Reviews tagging 'Colonisation'

Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood

7 reviews

interrobang_1's review against another edition

challenging dark

3.5

This was an intense read. The characters think, talk and behave problematically throughout - and I know this is probably intended as a critique of our society, but it's uncomfortable; particularly the treatment and description of marginalised women and their bodies. That said, at it's core I found the storyline pretty gripping - and I do think dystopias can be used effectively to point out difficult truths and challenge us, but to me, this felt a little gratuitous at times. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pedophilia, Racism, Sexism, Xenophobia, and Trafficking

Moderate: Colonisation and Pandemic/Epidemic

Minor: Violence and Alcohol

cameron_esbenshade's review against another edition

dark 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? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Misogyny, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Grief, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Rape and Sexual assault

Minor: Animal death, Slavery, Suicide, and Trafficking

nurr's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Child abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Trafficking, War, and Pandemic/Epidemic

Moderate: Child death, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Infidelity, Police brutality, Medical content, and Colonisation

Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body shaming, Child death, Domestic abuse, Infertility, and Mental illness

mthornburg13's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, Toxic friendship, Colonisation, War, Classism, and Pandemic/Epidemic

toniboni's review against another edition

challenging dark sad tense slow-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Murder, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, and Pandemic/Epidemic

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Genocide, Hate crime, Incest, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Vomit, Police brutality, Medical content, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Mass/school shootings, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War, Classism, and Deportation

greenglass67's review against another edition

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

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

cepbreed's review against another edition

dark mysterious slow-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

3.5

“After everything that's happened, how can the world still be so beautiful? Because it is.”

All in all this story is confusing, the plot interweaving past and present in undefined ways and beginning entirely with loose ends. By the end of the book things start to come together, the apocalyptic event, the history of Jimmy and Oryx, the longer history of Jimmy and Crake and how he became involved with the Crakers. It's satisfying to finally rid yourself of the fog, but still, much is unclear. The plot builds at a slow hum, so there aren't many moments shocking and quick enough to make me gasp besides

the way Jimmy ends Crake's life. Crake became something entirely different to what I imagined, Jimmy too, I never believed that could've been possible.

The last page, the last few lines even were so amazing, so artfully done. 

I had to go back to find those quotes to fully understand it, yet I'm still confused. I understand using a quote from his mother, but the quote from a work acquaintance? I get it's a display of Crake's manipulation (he always has a plan), but it would've been cooler to see a quote of his from when he was younger to show how much that connection means to him.

The commentary made here is worthwhile and definitely inline with Atwood's reputation, I wish I had introduced myself to her earlier. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Death, Genocide, Pedophilia, Sexual content, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Alcohol

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Gun violence, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Medical content, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Murder, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, and Classism

Minor: Infertility, Infidelity, and Toxic friendship