While I am not new to Austen, I have only read her most famous work, Pride and Prejudice. I found myself feeling very connected to Persuasion, and in particular its heroine, Anne Elliot. Perhaps this is because I am the same age reading this as Anne is intended to be, or maybe it is because Persuasion was Austen's last full work, and therefore sees the culmination of her writing experience and presents a strong, solid voice. Whatever the reason, I found myself enjoying Persuasion immensely. The more adult nature of the tale is tinged with melancholy and regret, but Anne's determination to continue with her life despite her heartbreak is nothing short of inspiring. The love interest, Captain Wentworth, is a charming, dashing man, and it is very clear to see why Anne loves him. With a satisfying conclusion, yet without settling for an insincere happily ever after, Persuasion is, in my limited understanding of Austen, THE tale for the older reader.

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.