Interestimg alternate world but inconclusive endin

Having just finished this book i have to say that the ending is infuriatingly inconclusive. It approaches a conclusion that doesn't actually get there, which is really really annoying. So don't expect all the loose ends to be tied up.

The first part of this book (and i mean the whole of part 1) is really really slow... I nearly gave up several tumes, as nothing of note really happens, it just really sets the scene and outlines the world that these people are living in.
There are a group of people called the God's Gardeners, who are trying to live in harmony with nature while the world around them goes to pot. It is set a little way into the future, many species of animals have become extinct while others have been heavily genetically modified, and the world is incredibly corrupt. For example the standard food is "secretburgers" which is any random species of meat ground up and stuck in a burger - including human flesh. The gods gardeners are living in a rather charming little world, very simple and punctuated by regular feast days based around modern day eco saints, with much singing of their own brand of hymns I didn't mind all the singing other reviewers have commented that they didn't like it or that it was cringey but I quite like the songs even found myself coming along to some of them afterwards. Another somewhat idealistic disposition myself I found the sentiments of the gods Gardeners and their hymns quite enlightening and hopeful. From the beginning the gods gardeners are predicting that there is going to be a catastrophic flood that will end and cleanse the world. they don't know what form it will take, and we don't find out until part 2 of the audiobook when it is revealed that it is a nasty virus that kills people. very soon most of the inhabitants of earth are dead. The rest of the story deals with the little isolated bands (mostly of fragments of gardeners group) and how they eventually reunite.

I bought this book after reading the handmade tail because i like something setting to the future imagining and alternate world and this that an away but it is not nearly as good as the handmade detail and i probably won't be buying any more of her books based on this it's not terrible but it's not a gripping adventure story in in anyway is interesting the alternate wells that's my girl atwood creates but not what i would call gripping i did speak with it until the end because it became a lot more interesting in add to after the plague began to kill people and the anti was up to a that i was ultimately left feeling very and satisfied by the ending there was the suggestion that there was another race of human beings that has been genetically engineered but this pieces out with no real conclusion as to what happened to them i can only suspect that there must be a sequel perhaps horrocks and crate because they are mentioned in this book?

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Possibly even slower than the first

Another rambling, slow and mixed story. There's never any real pace, threat or jeopardy and so it may meanders along. I'm interested in the overall story but it's hard work getting to it. I ended up listening to this at 1.15 speed, just to get through it. Having said all that, I've bought the third book and want to get to the end of the story. I just wish I could enjoy the delivery more.
Good performance from Lorelei King. She breathed more life into this story than the first audio book had.

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Still confused

Any additional comments?

Book 1 in this series was confusing in parts, or perhaps intentionally mysterious about what was going on. It ended on a cliff hanger, just as I thought I'd got the gist of it, so I was excited to start book 2. It does not pick up where book 1 leaves off. It tells a concurrent story of different and intertwined characters leading up to the same point, with different narrator, and hugely irritating long sections about a particular cult's theology combined with unnecessary and awful 'hymns'. However, all that being said, it was still intriguing and there was a little thrill each time one recognised a crossroads with book one events and characters. Halfway through this book I nearly gave up and wasn't planning to bother with book 3' but having soldiered on, I find myself needing to listen to book 3 and hope for a full reveal and satisfying conclusion.

So in conclusion, if you like slightly surreal and intriguing literature, which is undoubtedly well written, and are ready for the long haul, then go for it.

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An unexpected pleasure

What did you like most about The Year of the Flood?

I loved the narration and the "hymns" from the God'sGardeners. The first book Oryx and Crake left me hanging a little at the end but was so enjoyable, I couldn't wait to listen to this one.

What did you like best about this story?

I was totally immersed in the dystopian world created by Ms. Atwood. Bit by bit the characters came to life, none of them good or bad, each of them flawed by their experiences. I am a bit of an eco warrior in my mind, so I was quickly drawn in to the sect created by Adam 1.

What about Lorelei King’s performance did you like?

I was more entranced by the singing voice and spent ages on line trying to discover who it was. Ended up buying the songs!

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Both. Couldn't switch off and then couldn't wait for the third book in the trilogy.

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Good read

Too much singing for my liking but great book all the same, would highly recommend

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The Gardener songs were incredible.

This book has been one of my favourites of Margaret Atwood's. The world she describes is still so familiar to me despite it being dystopic. As a biology teacher it's been really interesting to see the biomedicalised utopia / dystopia created by a few large companies. I always appreciate the real and flawed people in Atwood's books.

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Re hash of oryx and crake

A re hash of the original book; oryx and crake, told from an alternative character. The same world, the same outcome, boring characters no new insights. No new story just a lot of singing and cod philosophy from a cult figure. This ain't a good story. Sorry Atwood.

My current standards;
Cryptonomicon: excellent
Bring up the bodies; good (not as good as wolf hall)
The corrections; very good

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More "Ooze" than "Flood"

What made the experience of listening to The Year of the Flood the most enjoyable?

I thought Lorelei King's interpretation of Margaret Atwood's characterizations were phenomenal. The book switches narrative styles cunningly - imbuing each principle character with a psychology and personality relayed by Ms. King through careful audio interpretation.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Year of the Flood?

Listening to one character slowly lose her grasp on reality, only to be reunited with old friends in the nick of time.

Have you listened to any of Lorelei King’s other performances? How does this one compare?

Not aware of having done so.

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

I would suggest that this part of the trilogy should not be filmed (unless as a brief summary flashback). I think it slams the breaks on the pace and tone of the first book, and purely serves to flesh out some marginal characters from the first book.

Any additional comments?

I did feel that this was a very slow story - there was a palpable tense undercurrent which simmers throughout, but the few moments of excitement are short lived, and the occasional conclusion (e.g. with Toby's tormentor) seem a bit anticlimactic considering you've listened to her panic about him for 11 hours...

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Great audiobook terrible terrible music

I love Margaret Atwood and this is one of her bests. King did a great job with the narration so feel bad giving the performance 3 stars but it is impossible to overstate how much I hated the music included. Hoaky, out of place, made no sense. Why is a jangly guitar and wierd synth music being used when the song is being sung by people in hiding? Pulled me out of the story every time. Never made it through a sing song and annoyed me that I was always counting down to when the music would start again.
If there was a version of this audiobook without the music I would buy it all over again.

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Really good but unnecessary musical interludes.

A really well paced and well presented reading. I find the musical interludes a little repetitive and out of place. Perhaps they would fit better if read.
Otherwise much recommended.

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