The Year of the Flood

Ah, Hans! She certainly knows how to chill my blood properly – and in the best way possible. I think that our love of the grim may be beginning to show. You’d think that to best not deter the faint at heart a more appropriate post would be more cheery, but my latest obsession is gloomy still. Still, how surprised you would be if you saw Hans, Francois, or I...we are farther from the dark characters you may envision.

If you have ever read a book by Margaret Atwood you know that her vision tends to look toward society and remark upon the broken pieces, the cracks, if you will. I first was introduced to her through a high school English course where essays reigned supreme. I know what you’re thinking – not a school book! But hold still! her books are an interesting combination of a story that mainstream society can read and not scream over and intellectual enough where book nerds [like myself] can enjoy without throwing it across the room.

I personally would recommend Oryx and Crake for the first read. It is a little intense but well worth it. Then if you need a boost to your feminist side then I would recommend Handmaid’s Tale. That’s the one that pulled me in. My next choice is going to be Cat’s Eye, which is currently in my Amazon cart. What I really would like to mention, though, is an upcoming book of hers, The Year of the Flood, which is going to be released this September. This is going to be a companion novel with Oryx and Crake, though it will delve more into a religious extremist view of some characters in the story. Honestly though, I can’t wait to get my hands on another one of her books. I recommend them to one and all.



Warning: loss of hope in humanity can be an unfortunate side-effect. Good luck.

~Ferdinando