I think it's fair to say that I am a huge fan of the works of Margaret Atwood. In fact, "The Year of the Flood" was my personal choice as Best Book of 2009. So I have been eagerly awaiting the arrival of "MaddAddam," the concluding chapter of the MaddAddam trilogy. With her previous efforts, the aforementioned "Flood" and its predecessor "Oryx and Crake," the brilliant Atwood set her sights on a dystopian future that was alternately savage and satirical. The fact that Atwood's bleak vision seemed both far off and eerily plausible was a testament to her extraordinary storytelling ability. She so expertly straddled the line between science fiction and social commentary, it was almost impossible not to admire the complexities and challenges she had to offer in her unquestionably unique voice.
While "Oryx and Crake" and "The Year of the Flood" had some overlap, each was a relatively independent novel from a character standpoint. Of course, the principle plot points driving the narrative were common to both books (but seen from a different vantage point), but either could be enjoyed separately. I've often thought of them more as companion pieces as opposed to one being the sequel to another. Not so, however, for "MaddAddam." Bringing together the characters from the prior novels, I would not necessarily recommend it as a stand alone read. At the beginning of "MaddAddam," Atwood wisely includes a recap of the story so far. Wow! While certainly a helpful refresher, I can't imagine a newbie tackling these dense few pages and making much sense of them. Each book is whittled away to about a page and half of recap which will surely scare away the uninitiated!
Although the cast is filled with familiar personalities, some of your favorite characters might have been relegated to smaller roles (Ren, for example). Toby (The Year of The Flood) remains central to everything, Jimmy (Oryx and Crake) plays a key role, and Zeb's story becomes the central narrative that drives this piece. In fact, more than anything, "MaddAddam" seems concerned with story telling. The book is structured in snippets of actual history interspersed with communicated interpretations of actual events. A group of engineered Crakers have joined the group. Gentle and very literal by nature, they struggle to understand the complexities of the world and their place in it. First through stories and then through writing, Toby (always the record keeper) helps them to make sense of the history of this new world. Balancing the horrors of the past with the hope for the future, "MaddAddam" is all about how the survivors will now make peace with their new circumstances.
In tone, the book is much gentler than its predecessors. And while I appreciate what Atwood was attempting, the novel felt a lot less urgent and spellbinding. Where I puzzled over the mysteries of "Oryx and Crake" and was riveted by the harrowing circumstances of "The Year of the Flood," my primary reaction to "MaddAddam" was one of amusement. I was entertained and usually had a smile on my face. It's an engaging read, sure enough, but somehow less compelling (at least to me). In essence, history is writing itself in these chapters to be passed down to future generations. While there is danger, death, and ultimate truths revealed--most of these are shared second hand. Everything is viewed through a gauzy filter and the dramatic consequences don't have the emotional resonance that I felt in the other books. Still, as a lover of this tale, this is still required reading. It pulls a lot of things together and gives the trilogy true closure. Ultimately, I liked "MaddAddam" as opposed to loving it. Four years after reading "The Year of the Flood," the experience is still emblazoned in my memory. For my personal taste, I don't see this one having the same enduring appeal. KGHarris, 8/13.
While "Oryx and Crake" and "The Year of the Flood" had some overlap, each was a relatively independent novel from a character standpoint. Of course, the principle plot points driving the narrative were common to both books (but seen from a different vantage point), but either could be enjoyed separately. I've often thought of them more as companion pieces as opposed to one being the sequel to another. Not so, however, for "MaddAddam." Bringing together the characters from the prior novels, I would not necessarily recommend it as a stand alone read. At the beginning of "MaddAddam," Atwood wisely includes a recap of the story so far. Wow! While certainly a helpful refresher, I can't imagine a newbie tackling these dense few pages and making much sense of them. Each book is whittled away to about a page and half of recap which will surely scare away the uninitiated!
Although the cast is filled with familiar personalities, some of your favorite characters might have been relegated to smaller roles (Ren, for example). Toby (The Year of The Flood) remains central to everything, Jimmy (Oryx and Crake) plays a key role, and Zeb's story becomes the central narrative that drives this piece. In fact, more than anything, "MaddAddam" seems concerned with story telling. The book is structured in snippets of actual history interspersed with communicated interpretations of actual events. A group of engineered Crakers have joined the group. Gentle and very literal by nature, they struggle to understand the complexities of the world and their place in it. First through stories and then through writing, Toby (always the record keeper) helps them to make sense of the history of this new world. Balancing the horrors of the past with the hope for the future, "MaddAddam" is all about how the survivors will now make peace with their new circumstances.
In tone, the book is much gentler than its predecessors. And while I appreciate what Atwood was attempting, the novel felt a lot less urgent and spellbinding. Where I puzzled over the mysteries of "Oryx and Crake" and was riveted by the harrowing circumstances of "The Year of the Flood," my primary reaction to "MaddAddam" was one of amusement. I was entertained and usually had a smile on my face. It's an engaging read, sure enough, but somehow less compelling (at least to me). In essence, history is writing itself in these chapters to be passed down to future generations. While there is danger, death, and ultimate truths revealed--most of these are shared second hand. Everything is viewed through a gauzy filter and the dramatic consequences don't have the emotional resonance that I felt in the other books. Still, as a lover of this tale, this is still required reading. It pulls a lot of things together and gives the trilogy true closure. Ultimately, I liked "MaddAddam" as opposed to loving it. Four years after reading "The Year of the Flood," the experience is still emblazoned in my memory. For my personal taste, I don't see this one having the same enduring appeal. KGHarris, 8/13.
By K. Harris
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