Oryx and Crake, my first Atwood, was a novel I was very aware of long before reading, due to it appearing in some research I was doing on another text. Immediately I was struck by a unique take on the post-apocalyptic genre. Like The Road, which I read last year, Oryx and Crake is unrelentingly bleak, and as a result feels more genuine in its horror and devastation. I am led to believe that experimenting with time is a common trait in Atwood's work, and it works well here, separating the two identities of Jimmy and Snowman whilst maintaining them as one entity. While delving into the plot ruins the twists and turns, it is safe to say that this book is DARK and not for the easily upset. I'm keen to read the rest of the MaddAddam trilogy, but Oryx and Crake ends on a satisfying enough note to serve as a standalone novel.