Oryx and Crake

I was really moved by this book. It's been difficult for me to find great fictional books over the past few years but I read this book in 2 days and was onto the second. It is a great commentary of existing issues and potential threats. I love the character development as well. It's so honest and riveting. I appreciate a trilogy that moves beyond these juvenile "tween" relationships as well, and has a far more profound message.

This was a thoroughly engaging, thoughtful, and enjoyable book to read. The structure is somewhat reminiscent of a fugue in two parts. It has one contiguous story but it is told from two different frames of time jumping back and forth. It is sort of like reading a book and it sequel at the same time; reading s chapter out of the sequel and then a chapter from the original. Part of the draw of the book is to see how both ends match up. Characters are introduced in the same way. It is very engaging. The insight into bio-engineering are also interesting if a little bit superficial. Evolution and nanotechnology are ignored in her book. I think an well rounded treatment of the consequences of bio-engineering needs to at least acknowledge these two concepts. She also makes only a glancing reference to the inability to recreate modern technology because all the easily accessible resources are already gone. However she illustrates this on the basis of metals. My own opinion is that energy is far more problematic. I was also surprised at her insight into the mind of an adolescent male. A well recommended read overall.

I liked the book but I think I expected more. I don't know why that would be since it is very much what the author asserts it to be. Timelines and rates of decay seamed to be incongruous. Atwood prides herself on having a grasp on emerging technology yet she thinks we will still be using the same computers and "CD-ROMs" when we are living in giant walled cities and building new lifeforms as elementary school projects. Good book but these flaws draw you out of the book more than other aspects draw you in.