Recently finished Life Before Man, by Margaret Atwood. I love Atwood's work, with both The Handmaid's Tale and The Robber Bride among my favorite books. Life Before Man is remarkable because so very little happens. It is not an ocean of a book; it is a narrow river. Nothing abrupt happens, there are no visible waves, no sudden movements, one has to peer deeply to see what is going on beneath the surface. It's the same searching that motivates each of the characters, and Atwood gracefully allows accompany them. It's not quite on par with some of her other novels, but I really enjoyed this one in spite of its subtlety.
Posted by waking slow at July 7, 2003 04:27 PMSo what did you think of Oryx and Crake? I only know two other folks who have read it, with one loving it and one hating it. I was more on the "love it" side (until the unsatisfying end, anyway). I'd be interested in your take on it.
Posted by: Max on August 2, 2003 06:38 PMSadly, I haven't read it yet. It's on my list, but I have this weird thing about buying hardcover books (heavier and more expensive), but as soon as it is out in paperback, I'll read it. I've read every Atwood, I think, except Oryx and Crake and The Blind Assassain. For one reason or another, The Blind Assassain didn't look terribly interesting to me...
Posted by: waking slow on August 4, 2003 04:46 PMI understand--I only read it because I borrowed a hardback copy. I'm a paperback fan myself. :-)
Posted by: Max on August 5, 2003 11:18 PM