Ok so I’m not sure where to start with this. I think I borrowed the ebook from my library because I heard about how great The Handmaid’s Tale was. My library didn’t have that book, so I went with another interesting sounding Margaret Atwood book. It’s the first book in a trilogy.
The blurb for this book sounded like my kind of story. Amazon called it “an unforgettable love story and a compelling vision of the future”, which seems like a cool premise. Plus – there’s a plague! We all know how I feel about plagues!
The story moves back and forth between the past and the present. All of Jimmy / Snowman’s memories and flashbacks pulled me in and left me wanting more. The only problem was that I wasn’t nearly as interested in the present.
I liked hearing about how Oryx and Crake became such important parts of Jimmy’s life. I wanted to know what happened to them that got Snowman where he was in the present. That part of the story unfolded nicely. I just felt like the pace ground nearly to a halt when we were following Snowman.
Like I said, I borrowed this from my library. If I can find the next two books in the trilogy, I’ll read them. The next book looks like it’s all new characters, and a very different story. It looks like the third book brings everyone back together.
I certainly didn’t dislike this book, but it didn’t keep me rapidly turning pages like I wanted.
This may be an unpopular opinion, but Oryx and Crake is probably my least favorite Atwood. That said, I really enjoy the next two, so liking the first isn’t a pre-requisite for liking the rest.
I think Year of the Flood is the best of the trilogy. I read it first, for some reason, and was, unfortunately, kind of disappointed by the other two!
Interesting. I actually loved Oryx and Crake and loved the entire trilogy. I do think Year of the Flood is the best of the trilogy but only because it does it’s job and makes a fine ending to a fine trilogy! ;-)
Really though, I think the trilogy is definitely worth reading.