virtual book club - the year of the flood

Do you remember way back in November when I first told you about my virtual book club? Thanks to the ever helpful Sam at MS&L and the kind folks at Indigo Books I was given a selection of three current novels to read. I just recently managed to finish one of them.

After going back and forth on which book to start first I finally settled on The Year of the Flood, by Margaret Atwood. I'm not even going to lie to you, I picked that one first because Grandma Sandi had taken Half Broke Horses by Jeannette Walls home with her to read. I wasn't sure what I was getting into with the Margaret Atwood book. I knew it was set in the future and that's not really my thing, although I have to admit I did enjoy the excerpt I had read in a magazine (Canadian Living maybe).

The Year of Flood, as I mentioned is set in the future and the story centers around a religious group, God's Gardeners. They talk about the waterless flood that will come and change the world as it is known. The book follows Toby and Ren, two members of the Gardeners, and their stories before and after this disaster has occurred.

The book did not grab me right away. I mean clearly I was interested enough to keep reading, but it didn't grab me in that - Oh my gosh, I HAVE to know what will happen next - kind of way. I think that may in part be my fault. You see The Year of the Flood is a companion book (I don't know if it should be called a sequel) to Atwood's previous work, Oryx and Crake. It was suggested to me by Lynn that I may want to read that first and she may have been right. I felt as I was reading it like there was much of the story untold. I'm not sure if that was the style in which it was written or would I have a better understanding of the setting had I first read Oryx and Crake. Perhaps Lynn can shed some light on that for me.

With the book being set in the future there is much about the world that has changed and yet Atwood writes as if I already know what this new world is like. She uses the names of animals, like Mohairs and rakunks without explaining what they are or how they came to be. The city is divided into sections, but I only think I know how that works.

Beyond my problems with true story comprehension I have to say this was a real thought provoking book. The state of the planet in the future of this book is horrifying. Not just the animals that are extinct or the new ones that have been created to take their place, but the state of humanity as well. It's a truly sad commentary. It makes you stop and think... what does it take to get the world to that stage? Is that the path we're on now? I don't want to make it seem like this is a dark heavy book. I mean, sure it's a dark topic, but I think it reads pretty hopeful. Definitely an interesting read especially in today's climate of infectious diseases, global warming, big corporation and such.

Overall I did enjoy this book. By the end I was invested in the characters and was interested to see how the story turned out for them. I enjoyed it enough to want to read Oryx and Crake now (hint hint birthday shoppers). Which, from what I can tell via reviews I've read about both books, is reading O&C should only up my appreciation for The Year of the Flood.

Has anybody read either book? What are your thoughts?

Next on my night stand.... Half Broke Horses by Jeannette Walls.

winner winner

So it was nice of me to promise you all a giveaway and then never mention it again. I have to admit that end of the post was poorly organized. Never fear, my faithful readers. I promised to give away a gift card and give it away I shall. So I wrote down all your names (The Mommy Project gets 2 entries because she is a Twitter fiend. Seriously, pop onto Twitter at 11ish and you'll find us using it as our own personal IM). So I threw all you lovely Canadian ladies who commented via here or facebook or Twitter into a bowl, had my lovely assistant draw out a name and the winner is.....

The lovely Heather P.

Congrats Heazer. I'll try to remember to give this and your pizza pan I've had for 2 months to you next time we hook up. Hopefully in the next couple of weeks.

So what's up next for me?

How about a little virtual book club?

disclaimer: The kind folks at Indigo Books (via the ever helpful Sam at MS&L) have supplied me with a selection of current novels to read to kick off my own little virtual book club

Now my question to you is what should I read first?

1) The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown.

Okay here's the thing I've seen the DaVinci Code. Which creeped me out a little bit. I don't do well with religious/torture type stuff. That thing he strapped on his leg was enough for me to bail on it. Mike convinced me to watch the rest, but I couldn't get that image out of my head for ages. Overall I enjoyed the movie, though. I have book version sitting on my shelf, with about 67 others that are waiting to be read. I am curious to see how his writing differs from the story telling of the movie.

2) The Year of The Flood by Margaret Atwood.

I have read very little Margaret Atwood, but have enjoyed what I have read. I recently read an interview in a magazine with Ms. Atwood that piqued my interest about this book.

3) Half Broke Horses by Jeanette Walls.

I cannot tell you how much I loved her first book, The Glass Castle. I could not put it down and when I was done I made Michael read it just so I would have someone in the house to discuss it with. In fact I received these books earlier this week and Grandma Sandi already dove into Half Broke Horses on her babysitting day here before the girls woke up. A few dozen pages in and she's already raving about it. And when Granny was here watching a sick Maya for me, she was strongly tempted to pick it up as well, but her patient was too demanding.

So those are my choices.... what do you think? Have you read any of these? Are you currently reading any? Do you want to read along with me?