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gretchenp's review against another edition
3.0
I held in there, relatively intrigued, but the ending? Total letdown.
slb80's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
smateer73's review against another edition
3.0
This book was weird and horrifying, it will make you think about the depravity of humanity but in a way that gives no solution, no remedy, not even a clear moral.
The parts with Jimmy were more interesting than the Snowman ones, but overall I felt the whole book was just about sex and control. Maybe that’s the point? Men are awful because they’re driven only by sex? I mean, true, but is that it? The book simultaneously dragged on and utterly disturbed me, I probably wouldn’t have finished it if not because I was reading it for school. Compared to the Handmaids Tale, this was much less interesting and compelling. It does give some insights into human behavior and what playing at being God will get you. I’m honestly not sure if this book was good or not.
The parts with Jimmy were more interesting than the Snowman ones, but overall I felt the whole book was just about sex and control. Maybe that’s the point? Men are awful because they’re driven only by sex? I mean, true, but is that it? The book simultaneously dragged on and utterly disturbed me, I probably wouldn’t have finished it if not because I was reading it for school. Compared to the Handmaids Tale, this was much less interesting and compelling. It does give some insights into human behavior and what playing at being God will get you. I’m honestly not sure if this book was good or not.
jmschwartz's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
brisingr's review against another edition
3.0
3 for now, will continue on with the series to figure out exactly how i feel about the full story
100001ducks's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 ⭐
Я очікувала, що це буде антиутопія, в якій засуджуються дії сучасного суспільства, що призвели до глобального потепління, і все в такому роді. Чесно кажучи, боялась примітивного моралізаторства. Тут звісно є і про різноманітні наслідки кліматичної катастрофи, і про аморальність суспільства, втомленого епідеміями і природними катастрофами. Але і дуже цікаво описані бездумні і радикальні способи вирішити такі проблеми суспільства. В чомусь цей роман навіть складніший і цікавіший за Оповідь служниці. В Оповіді і проблема, і її вирішення були очевидними. В Ориксі, на мою думку, ставляться складніші, не такі однозначні, питання. Наскільки сильно треба змінити людину, щоб відвести її від саморуйнації? В якому вигляді взагалі може вижити людство? І чи варте того таке виживання?
Мені подобається, що тут є про що подумати.
Не сподобалось те, що Етвуд експлуатує ідею змови науковців (науковці приховують злісні задуми уряду, великих корпорацій, розповсюджують штучні хвороби, займаються небезпечними таємними дослідженнями, etc.), що не тільки затерте кліше, але ще і шкідливо, як і більшість теорій змов.
Взагалі-то, це більше відчувається, як вступ до історії. Мабуть, повністю теми розкриваються в наступних двох книгах.
Я очікувала, що це буде антиутопія, в якій засуджуються дії сучасного суспільства, що призвели до глобального потепління, і все в такому роді. Чесно кажучи, боялась примітивного моралізаторства. Тут звісно є і про різноманітні наслідки кліматичної катастрофи, і про аморальність суспільства, втомленого епідеміями і природними катастрофами. Але і дуже цікаво описані бездумні і радикальні способи вирішити такі проблеми суспільства. В чомусь цей роман навіть складніший і цікавіший за Оповідь служниці. В Оповіді і проблема, і її вирішення були очевидними. В Ориксі, на мою думку, ставляться складніші, не такі однозначні, питання. Наскільки сильно треба змінити людину, щоб відвести її від саморуйнації? В якому вигляді взагалі може вижити людство? І чи варте того таке виживання?
Мені подобається, що тут є про що подумати.
Не сподобалось те, що Етвуд експлуатує ідею змови науковців (науковці приховують злісні задуми уряду, великих корпорацій, розповсюджують штучні хвороби, займаються небезпечними таємними дослідженнями, etc.), що не тільки затерте кліше, але ще і шкідливо, як і більшість теорій змов.
Взагалі-то, це більше відчувається, як вступ до історії. Мабуть, повністю теми розкриваються в наступних двох книгах.
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 against another edition
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.