GROUP READ: Oryx and Crake

I have just started on reading about Snowman and his adventures.. here is the groupreads thread for discussion! :)

I am in -- have the book on the kindle. Getting distracted from other things just now though but will catch up later this month.:)

I'm also in, but haven't started reading yet.

Same here, haven't started yet.

I am glad I am not behind then! :) I find it funny that being about 11 pages in, I am ahead. *chuckle*

So, I started reading Oryx and Crake this morning. I purchased my copy secondhand, and on about page 100, I discovered that the previous owner suddenly decided to start using Wite-Out to block out certain words and even whole paragraphs! This goes on for at least the following 50 pages; I stopped checking after that.

Arrrrrrrrgh!!!

My local library doesn't have a copy, so I had to order one online. I'll watch with envy as you all delve into the Adventures of Snowman and I await the arrival of my replacement copy. :(

>6 Her_Royal_Orangeness:

Don't you want to find that previous owner and make them eat the book, covers and all? And then subject them to read only romance novels (Harlequine type)/Twilight/whatever else you do not like reading?

>7 AnnieMod: - LOL!!!

What a nightmare!! I don't mind notes in books, in fact I enjoy seeing what other people think about the book, trying to decipher cryptic messages, but that is barbaric!

I am on chapter 8, and am really into the two plotlines.

How are we discussing the book? In parts or a general thread?

I have finally located my copy and I'm in.

In 2004 when Barnes & Noble was running its online book clubs I was fortunate to have participated in the one for Oryx & Crake. Margaret Atwood was a participant and often came online to give insight and background. Uncannily, in my recent paper purge (the film crew from Hoarders was lurking!) I did not dispose of my various print-outs from that one, and will be happy to post them here, where relevant, if you're interested. (I'm assuming there are no copyright issues as it was open discussion.)

Ooh that sounds really interesting. I would be really up for seeing those posts, lucky you!

#10 sounds interesting! #6 unbelievable!

I'm in and will attempt to start today. I've got an audio recording though, so we'll see!

I was so excited to see my library had an available Kindle version for loan. Went to check out, and my library card is expired. So that's what that email from them was about! Eek! I'll be joining in just as soon as I can get to the library.

I have started on Oryx and Crake. Snowman is an intriguing character. I do like the quality of Atwood's writing. So many dystopian novels end up being just a book about an idea--this is a real novel.

I decided to try and jump into this group read but when I went to access the public library database it was down. They must be doing some upgrade or something. I will try to check again tomorrow.

So, I started reading Oryx and Crake this morning. I purchased my copy secondhand, and on about page 100, I discovered that the previous owner suddenly decided to start using Wite-Out to block out certain words and even whole paragraphs! This goes on for at least the following 50 pages; I stopped checking after that.

Wait, what???? That is truly bizarre. If I were you, I'd be kind of interested to keep track of the passages that were so offensive when I got a whole copy. Maybe you could let us know!

As for me, I'll be getting my copy from the library tomorrow. I've loved the other two Atwood novels I've read, The Blind Assassin and The Handmaid's Tale, but I'm not usually very interested in sci-fi or dystopian novels. That makes me a little nervous about whether or not I'll enjoy Oryx and Crake. We shall see!

The library copy got checked out and put on hold before I was able to renew my card, so I broke down and bought the book yesterday. I'm 1/4 of the way in and loving it so far, although I still have no idea what's going on. This is the most I've ever read of Atwood before, so I'm not sure if this is her usual style or not.

I am at the part where Jimmy and Crake are watching porn. Yuck!

I'm nearly halfway through. Oddly mesmerizing, even if not a lot is actually happening.

I am just a bit past halfway. I'm beginning to get glimpses of how Snowman ended up living in a tree. I find the book fascinating so far. Are we heading down this path?

I'm on chapter 7 and although enjoying it am wondering if Atwood us a bit of a Luddite at heart, although the world is much darker than ours judging by what Jummy and Crake play gameswise and watch online...

10 please do post her stuff, that would be fascinating

6 I hate it when secondhand books have been scribbled on, it feels like vandalism whiting things out is just surreal though

20-- It's happening. Did you read about the Chimera monkeys?

re 20
It's funny, but when I read The Handmaid's Tale in the days before 9/11, I was blown away, but thought, luckily the world has moved on and that won't be happening any time soon. However, the book seems more probable now than ever. Oryx and Crake is scarily possible, too.

I have finished the book, well-written, I couldn't put it down by the time I got to the second half.

Now finished and ready to discuss with spoilers....

>22 banjo123: No I don't know "Chimera Monkey", but I'm sure many of the web sites that Jimmy & Crake visited("snuff & porn sites) are available today.

>24 psutto: Being new to LT, I am wondering how you handle spoiler messages. Do you just put spoiler at the beginning of the message?

Sometimes there are two threads for a book, sometimes you post saying clearly that there are spoilers within, I'm happy to wait for other folk to finish

Genetic engineering has been a reality for a while now, I guess those sites may exist but I'm sure it's not so easy to find the extremes or for teenage boys to be so blasé about child pornography or real snuff

I'm only halfway through the book, but the parts about looking at the sites and especially Orxy's early years made me forget we were reading about a future time.

There was a headline in our paper yesterday: "The chimera of Greek mythology had a goat's body, a lion's head and a serpent's tail. Using cloning technology, Oregon researchers have created chimeras of a sort: monkeys made from a combination of embryonic cells from six different monkey embryos. " I guess it hit the front page here, because it happened in Oregon. Freaky, but the baby monkeys were cute.

I finished O & C last night, so ready to read spoilers...

What do people think about the role of gender in the book?

The main thing I notice is there are no strong women in this book. What women there are, including Oryx are strongly portrayed as sex objects. Well, maybe Jimmy's mother would be considered a woman who knows her own mind and is not afraid to act on her beliefs. Interesting that Oryx is associated with the animals of Snowman's world whereas Crake is associated with the children.

#29 I agree. That, the lack of strong women, I thought a failing in it, but I suppose it was understandable from one point of view. Still...

I just finished it this morning, so am still thinking it through.

I also thought the ending was rushed. I can understand her leaving it open-ended but still it felt as if it should have been just a bit more.. I don't know, just less hurried.

I finished it last night. It isn't Atwood's best, but still quite good and thought-provoking. I'll wait until we're ready for spoilers to discuss in more detail.

deleted and started a thread for spoiler full conversation

Just finished. Do we have a spoilers thread yet? I need to discuss that ending!

I'm about halfway through (my reading has slowed due to the ending, and beginning, of school semesters)... but I've noticed a distinct change in direction the story has taken...

I finished the book recently as well and went on to read Year of the Flood straight away. If you are looking for stronger female characters, that is where you will find them. Year of the Flood is more the stories of those living in the 'pleeb' lands.