This is the second novel in the MaddAddam trilogy by Margaret Atwood. Like Oryx and Crake, I read this about twenty years ago. However time and many other books have written over my memory and it was all new again.
The Year of the Flood focuses on the lives of two women, Ren and Toby, before and after the collapse. Both are survivors and one time members of God’s Gardeners, a religious sect dedicated to the earth, vegetarianism, and a combination of religious beliefs.
Atwood expands our understanding of the world events in The Year of the Flood. Through Ren’s story we learn about her survival in a collapsing society as well as more about Jimmy and Glenn (Crake) from Oryx and Crake. Through Toby’s story we learn about how people struggled to survive outside of the corporate compounds. Additionally we learn about the group, MaddAddam, who were co-opted into Crake’s bio-engineering project.
The Year of the Flood feels a bit more chaotic than Oryx and Crake. Most likely due to the number of additional characters and story lines. However it avoids the typical middle book problems. Atwood has created a world that feels different but similar. It’s engaging, interesting and leaves you looking forward to MaddAddam.
