Reviews tagging 'Slavery'

Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood

12 reviews

toniboni's review against another edition

Go to review page

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


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

earthtomanda's review

Go to review page

adventurous dark funny
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Wow. My first full-length Atwood novel, and I am amazed at just how many aspects of humanity she is able to capture. While the plot should seem fantastical, she stays firmly in the plausible and (perhaps) the likely. Many scenes are incredibly graphic though, so tread lightly if that’s a concern — Going through the content warnings, it was hard to find something that wasn’t at least mentioned in this book.

I did struggle with how prominent discussion of sexual abuse towards children was. It was incredibly disturbing. I am still grappling with why that was a necessary inclusion — though it is Atwood, and I’m sure it was not done without some thought. Also, Jimmy can fight me.

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

julesram's review

Go to review page

dark mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

cueba's review

Go to review page

dark mysterious slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No

4.0

It's interesting but not exactly a story with plot. The book is practically stuck in exposition and it ends after the world was fully explained. The book is really about: "What happened to Oryx and Crake (and the world)?" then we go flashbacks bonanza as Snowman take a short trip (the "a journey, with the help of the green-eyed Children of Crake" is not that grand and the Children is not really helping)

It's interesting though! All characters have shit personality (nicely written, don't expect that character development) and I like Atwood's prose (of course). The protag, Snowman, is a good, storytelling narrator (a bit stupid sometimes)

Overall, I like it! Not really bought into the fucking hacking segment (it's pretty stupid) and there's not much intriguing ideas to ponder after reading the book (I find some of them too ridiculous). I liked this book due to how Atwood beautifully presented it, not the ideas themselves. Solid mystery book!

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

aislinn_mcd_harrison's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark mysterious slow-paced

3.5

This was an intriguing book, deeply disturbing in parts. I think some of the explorations here were quite Surface level and I found it a very slow burn. My least favourite Atwood but I would consider reading the sequels.

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

cait's review

Go to review page

challenging mysterious sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

lauragarabedian's review

Go to review page

slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

cepbreed's review

Go to review page

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. 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

sophieennis's review against another edition

Go to review page

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


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

quixie's review

Go to review page

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

4.0


Expand filter menu Content Warnings