The Year of the Flood

By Margaret Atwood

From the Booker Prize–winning author of Oryx and Crake, the first book in the MaddAddam Trilogy, and The Handmaid’s Tale. Internationally acclaimed as ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR by, amongst others, the Globe and Mail, the New York Times, the New Yorker, and the Village Voice

In a world driven by shadowy, corrupt corporations and the uncontrolled development of new, gene-spliced life forms, a man-made pandemic occurs, obliterating human life. Two people find they have unexpectedly survived: Ren, a young dancer locked inside the high-end sex club Scales and Tails (the cleanest dirty girls in town), and Toby, solitary and determined, who has barricaded herself inside a luxurious spa, watching and waiting. The women have to decide on their next move—they can’t stay hidden forever. But is anyone else out there?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
• Release date: Jul 27, 2010
• ISBN: 9780307398925

Margaret Atwood

Margaret Atwood, whose work has been published in over thirty-five countries, is the award-winning author of more than forty books of fiction, poetry, and critical essays. In addition to The Handmaid's Tale, which was made into a TV series, her novels include Cat's Eye, Alias Grace, Oryx and Crake, and The Robber Bride. She has been shortlisted for the Booker Prize five times, winning once for The Blind Assassin. She lives in Toronto with writer Graeme Gibson.

Reviews for The Year of the Flood

[schufman · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I agree with many reviewers: the characters in this book were not as strong as in her previous books. The voices were flat, and I had a hard time telling the different narrators apart.

That being said, the plot still pulled me along well enough, and if you liked the world of Oryx and Crake, it's an interesting insight into a different side.

[mhanover10 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I found this better than Oryx and Crake. I couldn't concentrate on that book. But this one I felt like I understood what happened. That certain people decided to wipe out the lower classes through a poison in the vitamins they were taking and several humans survived but millions died. There are also spliced together genes to make new animals, some with human brain tissue and also some not so human beings that have blue glowing reproductive parts when they are ready to procreate so there is no romance issues. It's a weird society and kind of a scary one. This is different than the zombie type dystopian stories that are common.

[barrettlucero · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I was disappointed in this book- it too neatly ties in with Oryx and Crake, which I found irritating instead of revelatory (and I believe it could have been really cool). It was still really interesting, and I was compelled to keep listening, despite being off-put by the main characters. I'm not sure if it was the women reading or if it was Atwood's writing itself, but I was really annoyed by everyone in the book, and didn't care much about them.

[xiaomarlo · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This was even better than Oryx and Crake. Found myself almost wanting to join the Gardeners by the end -- well, maybe an atheist version of them. Loved Toby the "dry witch" (such a kick-ass character), loved that the main characters were all female, loved the revisiting of the Crakers at the end. The two books are kind of yin and yang -- this is from the other side, outside the compound, as well as being from a female perspective. I loved that the commune had its own problems and politics because it was also made up of individual personalities. I thought the end was great, better than O&C, which left me wanting more.
I've also heard some of the hymns from the book being performed (part of the book launch tour), and it was fantastic.
One thing: Margaret, if you really think genre is just a marketing invention (I agree), then why are you so eager to peel off the "science fiction" label every chance you get? Speculative, scifi, what's the big diff, other than not wanting to be associated with the Non-Literary Genres?

[firewild · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

It feels weird giving an Atwood book only three stars, but I found this book underwhelming. Correction, I found the ending of this book underwhelming. It started out well enough. The stories of the two main characters were interesting to follow, while the god's gardeners' perspective on the events of Oryx and Crake added an interesting angle to the story. The whole idea of a religious cult as "Greenie" extremists with environmental activists as saints had a certain philosophical charm. However, the last few chapters read like a cheap novel. Too many coincidences, the language depth deteriorated, miraculous saves and interventions were overabundant. In the end I could only see glimpses of the sharp and witty Margaret Atwood I know and love among the quick, predictable and untidy story wrap-up. What happened?

[dknight0918 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Enjoyed the second book in this MadAddam series.

[ibkennedy · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Love it. Writing and story.

[csdaley-1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

This was really a 2 1/2 stars. It might even be a three but honestly I was so disappointed in the book it left me bewildered. It was just no where near as good as the first one. It was also filled with a lot of old themes. I have read a lot of science fictions books that covered this subject and felt way more unique. I am guessing this book will be fine for others but reading it so soon after the first one it felt hollow.

[katibruneau · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I was quite confused when I started this book. I guess I didn't do my research to see that it didn't immediately follow Oryx and Crake. The story was really good and I loved how parallels were made and you could see the first two books intertwining with one another. I had a hard time keeping characters straight and had to pay close attention to when each chapter took place. But, putting this effort in made it more enjoyable. I'm not sure how I feel about the Gardener chapter openings (monologue and song), but they definitely point to how talented Margaret Atwood is and how meticulous she is in her story planning. I'm excited to start the third and final book soon.

[m_mozeleski · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A continuation of the MaddAdam Series, Margaret Attwood spins a companion tale to Oryx and Crake masterfully, combining timelines at the end.
(Read Oryx and Crake first, if you wish, but upon completion of The Year Of The Flood, it isn't necessarily a requirement. The two stories in Oryx and Crake are merely hinted at and hardly overlap.)

If you enjoy apocalypses brought on by human stupidity, Gross capitalism becoming a worldwide disease, genetic engineering and biowarfare, as well as survival stories, this series is for you. As much as the jargon is a bit difficult to get used to, the tale Attwood spins is beautiful and delicate, but holds up under pressure.

The Year Of The Flood follows two women as they grow and mature through the story, with the "Waterless Flood" imminently in their future...but nobody knows exactly when, or what, is meant by that. One of the radical groups, called The Gardeners, claims to have an idea.....

[watersgendry · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Much better than the first one. I thought the narratives had a better flow and because of the background of the first novel, it was fascinating to try and connect the timelines between those of the women and of Jimmy.

[albertgoldfain · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The sequel to "Oryx and Crake" and the second of the soon to be completed MaddAdam trilogy. The Year of the Flood quickly fleshes out the backstory Jimmy and Glenn/Crake while refocusing the same timeline in a different direction. I thought this was very thought-provoking and a genuinely spooky glimpse at a possible future. Atwood illustrates the inevitability of certain self-destructive patterns at both the personal and social scale. The Gardners theology, cultish as it was, seems a believable response to the CorpSECorps: "And if your life shall be required, it shall be required for life"

[terribooks · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

In the not-too-distant future, society has given up public control of security and oversight of science and the economy. The result -- a small upper, professional class living in closed enclaves and a large underclass, with no social protections, scrabbling for survival, environmental collapse and out-of-control genetic engineering. I didn't realize this book is a sequel until after I read it, but it didn't seem to matter. Good characters, interesting situations. I really liked that the story showed different ways groups reacted to their situation and worked for improvements. I was disappointed in the end. I would have liked to know whether humanity is poised to survive or it's all over.

[meggo_2 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A follow up to Oryx and Crake, this book is actually a prequel of sorts, that tells the story of the world before the Waterless Flood, in humanity's last gasp before virtual extinction. Dark, in spots, it presents a dystopian view of the future that is still more optimistic than in the Handmaid's Tale. Highly enjoyable - recommended

[simonea_533972 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The year of the flood is a great sequel to Oryx and Crake, which was one of my favorite reads of 2010. This second book may not make it to the favorites list, but is definitely worth reading! It shows several different viewpoints of the world created in Oryx and Crake, making that world so much fuller, more believable, and imagined even better. If you can, I advise to read the two books close to one another, to fully appreciate the skill of Margaret Atwood in creating this post-apocalyptic world.

[loosha_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

End-of-the-world speculative fiction. (MA objects to sci-fi since all these things may have already happened or very likely could). WEll. Toby and Ren, two somewhat abused unempowered women, tell their stories of survival after the flood- a plague that wipes out all, sorry almost all, human life, not touching those animals who managed to escape extiction in this cell-splicing near future. The world is run by corporations, no governments in site, and the corporations of course are all about self-advancement, to the point of creating illnesses so they can then profit from the cures. Toby and Ren meet at the 'God's Gardeners' hide-out, a cult that MA deals with satirically, including pathetic but somehow powerful hymns. The 'Adams' are mostly undeveloped personalities in this story, sadly stereotypical, uncomfortably laughable.You've got to love MA, you've got to hear voices in your head when you read this. Droll, satirical humour, and a devilish ending. Count me amongst the five-starrers.

[dcblack_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Cutting between dual narrators to relate interweaving story-threads in flashback, this slow-developing novel requires much patience from the reader. Despite the inventiveness of the world-building, the novel ultimately required more patience than I possessed. I may return at some point to try to finish the last hundred pages, perhaps after going back to read 'Oryx and Crake' since that novel seems to be better regarded.

[unclebob53703 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I liked this more than the first book, the people in it seemed more real and likeable--the first book was about the elites in their compound and this is about the common people. Like the first book, it ends abruptly, but I had a better feeling about it. Anxious now to read the third one and see how it all comes out,

[jbd1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I started this one immediately upon finishing Oryx and Crake, and the same thing happened here: I knew I would want the next volume as soon as I was partway through this one. Year of the Flood covers much of the same time period as Oryx and Crake, just from different perspectives, and provides a great deal of important backstory and additional detail about the world as it exists.

[laurochka-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Following on from Oryx and Crake,I found this instalment much more engaging. Toby and Ren were sufficiently sympathetic for me to care about their story and I enjoyed seeing how the characters all tied together.

[allison7sivak · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Margaret Atwood books are so *readable.* I read this quickly and with a lot of pleasure. I really noticed that I didn't want to read the hymns - which reinforces the kind of visual 'obstacle' I often find with trying to read poetry. So why do I buy so many poetry books?

[lindawwilson · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Not as good as Oryx and Crate, disjointed story, poor ending; not nearly as good as Atwood's other books

[lberriman_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I really enjoyed this book. Listening to the audio book certainly gave it another dimension - all the hymns were sung with music. It has been six years since I read Oryx and Crake and Margaret Atwood has got me to do something I have never done or wanted to do...re-read a book. Towards the end The Year of the Flood I went and found Oryx and Crake and have been re-reading it. Maraget Atwood is very clever in retelling this story from a different angle. Despite the loneliness of this time there are strong friendships and bonds which do show hope. Like Oryx and Crake this book frightens me with what could possibly happen.

[atsa-8 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

It took me a while to finish this but it was good. I wish I'd read Oryx & Crake first, which lays the groundwork for this book. The story is a little depressing but I loved the female characters. Well written.

[gypsycab79 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was my second reading of this book. Actually, my husband and I listened to it in the car on a road trip. It was better the second time around, but I still found Ren kind of annoying by the end. This has made me want to reread Oryx and Crake in preparation for MaddAddam, which comes out in September.

[abbeyhar · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I enjoyed this alright, but felt that it was a bit unnecessary and the first one could have easily stood along and been stronger for it. Maybe once I see how it fits into the context of the third book my time will change. Also I didn't think the world she created was as cohesive in this one

[brakketh-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Brilliant world building such that it's almost believable that this dystopian vision could come to pass.

[renbedell · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The sequel to Oryx & Crake is not much of a sequel, but a separate story set in the same world that eventually links together. It further explores the dystopian world, that is all too relatable, by following two females as they try to find their place in the world by being involved in a religious cult. The characters are great and I even appreciated the cult. The story is much more a character exposition and world building, as the plot doesn't really happen till near the end of the book. The book itself could probably be read without Oryx & Crake, but the ending will be more impactful with it (plus it is a great book). My guess is that the third book will put the two together. The audiobook has three separate narrators and great music, making the book even better.

[reading_fox · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Odd. For some reason I'd not thought I'd like Atwood's books, and made no effort to read them, but then I discovered one on my ereader, and mostly enjoyed it. A hard look at the proximate causes and short term survival of an apocalypse, almost dystopian, although there is some redeeming features.We follow two characters Ren and Toby, in their day to day lives post apocalypse, and also flash backs as they remember how their life used to be. It's not my favourite style of writing, but limited to two characters, with clearly defined headings, it works reasonably well. A somewhat odd numbering system means that the current time is Year 25, but the 'flood' of the title, occurs in year 18. if there was any significance to Year 1, it certainly doesn't resonate, and the disparate ages of the characters negates the obvious choice. The pre-apocalypse world is pretty dark, neither Toby or Ren having pleasant lives, although both seem to prefer it to the PA version. It's a corrupt corporate runaway world, with technology and fine living for those embedded in corporate enclaves - swearing fealty to only that brand, whilst outside gangs and tribes of various disciplines and ethos manage to make a living. The Gardeners feature prominently being a weird science/religion hybrid, attempting to re-write various versus in line with known scientific knowledge. Their basic compassion and well-meaning is clear, but the underlying ethos remains as muddled as the message they try to convey. The precise cause of the flood is only alluded to, though one of the secondary characters, in a somewhat unlikely set of circumstances. The mechanism isn't elucidated fully, but presumably is covered to some degree by the previous book in the 'series' which I haven't read. Enjoyable, if somewhat brutal for the women in places. Some interesting thoughts on the survival or religion and outcomes of corporate growth, but doesn't feel very likely on the scale of SF futures.

[thewasp_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The story takes place following the devastation of the human race by a super virus and runs parallel with "Oryx and Crake". It tells Ren's and Toby's story of survival and their lives with God's Gardeners,a group who believed in nature as a salvation from the degradation of the world, whose members all had their own histories. Enjoyed the ending. A good read.