Reviews tagging 'Colonisation'

Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood

3 reviews

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

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

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: 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

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

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

Minor: Infertility, Toxic friendship, and Infidelity