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The Year of the Flood
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Has anyone seen the New York Review of Books review of The Year of the Flood? (Nov. 4 Issue). I found it a bit strange - as in I kinda was left wondering if the reviewer had actually read the book!
If anyone is interested, I've finished The Year of the Flood and posted my thoughts in a review at my blog. Review is a pretty loose term,though - because (again) how the heck do you talk about this book without giving the plot away and ruining it! http://booksexy.wordpress.com/2009/10/15...
Ann wrote: "Here's a great interview with Atwood that ran in the LA Times book blog:http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/jacketco...
"
Aha! So there is to be a sequel...here's to wishing Ms. Atwood a long,healthy life (not that we weren't doing that already!)
Here's a great interview with Atwood that ran in the LA Times book blog:http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/jacketco...
I just finished it! I am going to have to revisit Oryx and Crake because I didn't like that one at all, but I really enjoyed The Year of the Flood.
(though, I have to say that I could not read it during my lunch break!)
The review I wrote for Amazon on Mary Higgins Clark's last book, one who read my comments lambasted me for giving the plot away. I felt that I was very careful in not giving anything away. I read Lost Symbol and refuse to say a word to anyone until I know for sure they have read the entire book. I want to discuss that book sooo badly, but don't want to ruin someone else's enjoyment.
Booksexy writes: (By the way - it's really difficult describing a book without giving away the plot!) Tee hee, glad you feel our pain! This is something that we often struggle with when recording the podcast. Sometimes it feels like too little plot description, but I abhor spoilers and so go out of my way to avoid them when talking about the books. And what may not be a spoiler to you might be a spoiler to me, so I always agonize!
Melissa wrote: "I am currently rereading Oryx and Crake to prepare. I can't wait!"Melissa - I would recommend everyone read Oryx & Crake first. All the interviews I heard/read with Atwood tried to describe this as a stand alone book - or said that you could read the books in any order. And maybe you can... but I think it is best to read Oryx & Crake first. Has anyone else finished yet? Wondering what others think...
So now that I'm finished with The Year of the Flood - and without ruining it for everyone who is reading or about to read it (this post is spoiler free) - I just want to say it was fabulous! While it is not a perfect book (but what book is?), it lived up to all my expectations...even the ending. I say that because one of my biggest concerns picking up the book was that Ms. Atwood would try to tie it up too carefully, and I was one of those readers who liked the way Oryx and Crake ended. But - I also didn't want to be left with hundreds of unanswered questions. I just have to say that Ms. Atwood did a brilliant job and the ending is absolutely perfect! (By the way - it's really difficult describing a book without giving away the plot!)
Tanya wrote: "Tanya wrote: "Suzanne wrote: "I have heard that at her readings she is being accompanied by musicians/singers performing God's Gardener's hymns; I'd be interested to know if she created them as son..."Tanya - I listened to the American version, and actually just finished it today. (I'll be posting a review of it by Friday evening on my blog if anyone is interested). I hope I didn't mislead - I love the actual reading of the novel that I listened to... Bernadette Dunne, Mark Bramhall and Katie MacNichol did a fantastic job. To be honest, I would recommend the U.S. version if only for Mark Bramhall's readings of the sermons throughout. I can't imagine only one reader giving the story as much depth. It was just the music portion that was a turn off. And I'd be very surprised if the UK version of the music was different than the US one.
Tanya wrote: "Suzanne wrote: "I have heard that at her readings she is being accompanied by musicians/singers performing God's Gardener's hymns; I'd be interested to know if she created them as songs (i.e. with ..."Tanya wrote: "Suzanne wrote: "I have heard that at her readings she is being accompanied by musicians/singers performing God's Gardener's hymns; I'd be interested to know if she created them as songs (i.e. with ..."
Ooops, lack of proper credit here. Lorelei King narrated the UK production. The US production is narrated by Bernadette Dunne, Mark Bramhall and, Katie MacNichol.
Booksexy - Did you listen to the US or UK version? If you listened to the US version and hated it so much, I might be tempted to try and get the UK version.
Suzanne wrote: "Ann wrote: "No promises, but I am going to be working closely with Ms. Atwood for an hour or so on 10/25 and may be able to ask her a few questions about the book .. so if you have any, post them h..."I read that she did not create the music - that someone related to her editor (or someone who had an early copy of the book) reached out to her and offered/asked to set the hymns to music.
Tanya wrote: "Suzanne wrote: "I have heard that at her readings she is being accompanied by musicians/singers performing God's Gardener's hymns; I'd be interested to know if she created them as songs (i.e. with ..."If there is anything I've been hating about the audio book it is the music! Honestly - its terrible - and makes me wish I had bought the print book! (and I usually enjoy audiobooks for my commute to and from work). The singing and production value of the songs is just BAD (imagine a guy with a drum machine and guitar recording in his basement) - and I get annoyed whenever one crops up. Which is sad - because there are sermons interspersed throughout (usually right before the songs) that are very good and really add to the plot. They are read by a male reader in the voice of Adam 1 giving the actual sermon (the rest of the audio is done by a woman). It makes me wonder: if the songs had been handled better would they have added another important layer to the story? As it is, it's often hard to make out the words. The Year of the Flood is shaping up to be my favorite book of 2009 (I have 1-1/2 hours left) - but the music is a sour note in an otherwise wonderful experience.
Suzanne wrote: "Ann wrote: "No promises, but I am going to be working closely with Ms. Atwood for an hour or so on 10/25 and may be able to ask her a few questions about the book .. so if you have any, post them h..."Ann - I do have a question that's been driving me crazy. Was The Year of the Flood part of the original Oryx & Crake story that was edited out? Or was it background material she'd always had notes on that never made it into Oryx & Crake? Or was it something she wrote completely separately after Oryx & Crake became such a classic? The two books are so intertwined, in such a skillful way, that I'm very curious how this happened/was accomplished.
Suzanne wrote: "I have heard that at her readings she is being accompanied by musicians/singers performing God's Gardener's hymns; I'd be interested to know if she created them as songs (i.e. with music)as she was writing the book. "The narrator of the audiobook, Lorelei King, was given the music to perform for the recording. I've had the book on hold from the library, but owing to this additional, aural component, I think I may end up canceling my hold and dnload the audio instead. I recall someone saying they were rather distracted by the singing, but now, it somehow seems important to hear it!
Ann wrote: "No promises, but I am going to be working closely with Ms. Atwood for an hour or so on 10/25 and may be able to ask her a few questions about the book .. so if you have any, post them here and I wi..."
So. Jealous.
I have heard that at her readings she is being accompanied by musicians/singers performing God's Gardener's hymns; I'd be interested to know if she created them as songs (i.e. with music)as she was writing the book.
I'm almost done with the book -- it's really good.
No promises, but I am going to be working closely with Ms. Atwood for an hour or so on 10/25 and may be able to ask her a few questions about the book .. so if you have any, post them here and I will try to ask.
