This companion novel to Oryx and Crake takes the reader into the pleeblands, exploring the effect that Crake’s super virus had on the ordinary people. Toby and Ren both spent a time as God’s Gardeners, a religion devoted to worshipping God through plants and science, but later leave the group through events out of their control. Toby, an older woman, is working at a spa when the catastrophe happens, and manages to stay alive through eating the edible treatments. Ren is a young woman working as a trapeze dancer in a sex club, thankfully locked into a controlled room and saved from the virus. As these women attempt to survive, they wonder if their friends have survived, and reflect on the paths their lives took before they ended up here.
Whereas it was difficult to relate to any of the characters in Oryx and Crake, it’s amazingly easy here, and I feel comfortable saying that Ren and Toby put a human face on this dystopian world. They are the marginalized members of society, but they are still real women forced to confront women’s issues. Toby is driven to the Gardeners after her boss basically rapes her and then decides that she is his, probably intending to kill her. When Ren joins the Gardeners, she is just a young girl at the mercy of her mother’s mercurial temperament, and later suffers from unrequited love with a man who really does not deserve her. In a totally alien, if well-described, world, Ren and Toby are easy to relate to and bring the suffering home in a way that Oryx and Crake fails to do. Ren was actually my favorite, if only because we watch her grow up. Even though she eventually ends up in one of the elite high schools, she’s still dealing with issues every teenager understands:
I saw the temptation. I saw it clearly. I would come up with more bizarre details about my cultish life, and then I would pretend that I thought all these things were as warped as the HelthWyzer kids did. That would be popular. But also I saw myself the way the Adams and Eves would see me: with sadness, with disappointment. Adam One, and Toby, and Rebecca. And Pilar, even though she was dead. And even Zeb.
How easy it is, treachery. You just slide into it. But I knew that already, because of Bernice.
– p. 195
This is truly a wonderful novel. I felt the dystopian world was a bit less clear here, perhaps more ridiculous without the inside view, but because I’d read Oryx and Crake, I didn’t have many questions. Rather, the novels worked in tandem, and I really think it helped to read one right after the other. I don’t think it’s necessary, but it provides a complete and intriguing picture. Some of the same characters appear, and actually had bigger parts than I’d expected, plus some bigger issues are clarified. If I had to choose, though, I’d choose this one. I’m all about great characters, and Ren and Toby win the day for me. I must admit, however, that I generally skipped over the God’s Gardener homilies and songs, but I didn’t find it deterred from the plot.
I loved The Year of the Flood* and I highly recommend it.
*I am an Amazon Associate. I received this book from the publisher for review.
will i be stoned and feathered for admitting i have yet to read an atwood novel?!? her books have been popping up on many of the blogs i read, and i’ve even jotted her down on my ‘library list’. maybe 2010 will be my ‘year of the atwood’?
i love concise reviews and yours gives all the key information without rambling (as i tend to do!). thanks for yet another reminder to try a margaret atwood novel!
I didn’t read one until about 6 months after I started my book blog, Nat, so in my opinion you’re in the clear!
.-= Jen – Devourer of Books´s last blog ..Children of Dust – Book Review =-.
I just finished this, and I enjoyed it also despite not having read Oryx & Crake. I immediately requested it from the library though! I’m anxious to compare.
I listened to this on audio, and someone had composed music and sang the songs for the book. For the most part, I could have done without that but some weren’t too bad.
Lezlie
.-= Lezlie´s last blog ..TWENTY THOUSAND LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA =-.
Sounds interesting. I was worried about not getting it because I haven’t read Oryx & Crake!
.-= Julie P.´s last blog ..Review: The Queen’s Mistake =-.
I generally like Atwood, but I haven’t read either of the books. Maybe next year??
.-= Beth F´s last blog ..Wordless Wednesday (November 4) =-.
I can’t wait to read this one. Atwood really has a flair when it comes to writing dystopic novels.
.-= Stephanie´s last blog ..Library Loot =-.
I read Oryx and Crake forever ago and it took me until the very end of this book to realize that they were related. I really liked both books though. But I did like this one better. I think it’s partly because I’ve come to appreciate Atwood a lot more though.
.-= Lahni´s last blog ..Book Review: Benny and Shrimp =-.
I have never read Atwood, but have her on my list for the women unbound challenge. Also, props to her for a carbon-neutral book tour, which I heard she’s doing, internationally! That’s fabulous
.-= Aarti´s last blog ..Review: Curse of the Tahiera =-.
I’m surprised you didn’t like the God’s Gardeners poems and speeches! They were one of my favorite parts. I thought they were thought-provoking. I’m not at all surprised you loved the female characters though. Atwood is superb at writing women.
.-= Amanda´s last blog ..Book Review: The Gunslinger By Stephen King =-.
I’ve got this one in my TBR pile, but my son said I should read Oryx and Crake first, so I’ve been putting it off. I’m so glad you enjoyed it.
.-= Kathy´s last blog ..Wondrous Words Wednesday =-.
I think I read a book by Atwood several years ago, but now I’m not so sure. This sounds like a very different kind of novel from the one I’m remembering.
.-= heidenkind´s last blog ..Prehistoric Art: The Symbolic Journey of Humankind =-.
I haven’t read a lot of Atwood (and every one that I’ve read has been required for school!) Not sure about this one, but now that I’ve read your review, I’m intrigued.
.-= Belle´s last blog ..Completed: The Harry Potter Challenge! =-.
This was good! I think I liked Oryx and Crake better, though.
.-= Kailana´s last blog ..Stepping Out of the Comfort Zone =-.
I’m so glad this one is good, looking forward to it very much.
.-= Jodie´s last blog ..The Women Unbound Challenge =-.
I have this sitting on my shelf, but want to read Oryx and Crake first.
.-= carol´s last blog ..Awards =-.
I have heard really great things about this book, and I think that I am going to do the same thing you did and read Oryx and Crake followed by this book. I do think this one sounds a bit more compelling than Oryx and Crake to me, but I want to get the full picture, so I am going to give both a try. Thanks!
.-= zibilee´s last blog ..Looking After Pigeon by Maud Carol Markson – 192 pgs =-.
I need to check and see if I have Oryx and Crake. I think I do, but I’m not positive. I really want to read this, but I want to read them together.
.-= Jen – Devourer of Books´s last blog ..Children of Dust – Book Review =-.
I need to read this and Oryx and Crake sometime soon! Now I’m off to read your Oryx and Crake review…
.-= S. Krishna´s last blog ..Bed of Roses – Nora Roberts =-.