I remember liking Alias Grace, and Cats Eye, but I don't remember much about them. My comparison of Oryx and Crake to Handmaid's Tale was because of how dark they both are, and dystopian, though for different reasons. I've also read Surfacing, about 10 years ago, and didn't like it, but since I've liked all the other Atwood I've read, I've got it on my shelf to give it another chance. Maybe I was too young for it.

Oryx & Crake didn't strike me as dark or dystopian. It always seemed like a sci fi fantasy/allegory made all the more interesting by fact that it sprang from scientific advances that we know are taking place right now. I know that who the reader of a book of tape makes a huge difference, so part of it is undoubtedly that the book was told in a matter of fact let's-uncover-the-mystery (of who Snowman is) way. I had more curiousity than dread in wanting to know what happened in that world.

It sounds like Handmaid's Tale is the only one of hers that's really disturbing and I've already read it, so I guess I'll just take whatever's at the library and check it out. I need a break from Agatha Raisin mysteries. Finished Agatha Raisen and the Day the Floods Came this AM. I really like Agatha, alot, and the books are fun.

Surfacing is deeply disturbing, but not in the same way.

I'm Atwood's Bitch, and woman enough to admit it. But she always makes me all "I'm not worthy. I'm not worthy."

The only Atwood I've read is Handmaid's Tale, and I remember thinking it was only eh. I saw the (crap) movie version on TV last year, and finally twigged to why I said "eh" -- I just didn't buy it. It just struck me as extremely unlikely and axe-grind-y, and it failed to grab me. So, although intellectually I can see how it's supposed to be disturbing, I reacted to it the same way I react to Bob Cormier's darker fantasies: "Such cynicism, Bob! Here, have a drink."

I think Handmaid's Tale is her worst effort.

Surfacing, which actually touches in some ways on the same sorts of issues, is a deeper, more complex, more real way of forming art from them.

Damn, that sounds wanky. I should go talk about comics or something.

The library had The Robber Bride and Cat's Eye on the shelf. Ima give Robber Bride a try.

I was willing to go along into The Haidmaid's Tale's reality completely, hence the being disturbed by it; I felt like I lived it, a tiny bit.

I enjoyed Oryx and Crake because I liked the message that Atwood was trying to highlight - the dangers of genetic modification of animals. I think she pulled off the intermixing of the different periods of time well, but not as well as in The Blind Assassin. Then again, TBA is my most favourite Atwood, and on my top 10 favourite books.

Has anyone here read anything by Robin Jarvis? She a british YA author. Right now I'm reading book 2 of the Wyrd Museum trilogy (I think you'd like these Ouise) and I'm wondering if her other trilogies are good as well.

I found Handmaid's Tale quiet in tone, but took that to mean that the disaster in civil rights had already happened, outrage was exhausted, and resignation was all Ofglen had left. The atmosphere was creepy and insidious, like Hill House.

I have a question about Handmaid's Tale. (I haven't read it - saw the movie a long time ago. I liked it a lot, actually. Kinda strange for me.)

Anyway...why weren't the men sterile? Why just the women?