The Usual Suspects is one of my favourite films; a friend gave me this book a few years ago and I loved it. Larsen not only gave a little history as to where the story for the film came from (a man in New Jersey killed his entire family), but was a critical analysis of the film itself and the decisions Singer and McQuarrie made in order to build the mystery of Keyser Soze. I've always loved film criticism, and this reminded me of discussions in my film studies classes in college. I can't stand reading movie reviews in the papers or online, I'd rather read in-depth anaylsis. And I try to never read a review before seeing a film.

This book was gifted to me as a housewarming gift and also because I have a young daughter. I love Adichie's writing, and this does not disappoint. She writes warmly to her friend who asked "How do I raise my daughter feminist?" The book is very short and I read it in one sitting. Her 15 suggestions are straight-forward and relevant to everyone, not just those raising daughter or even just parents. I have a feeling I'll be re-reading this a few times as I watch my toddler grow up, and I've already passed the book to my husband to read as well.

It's been a thrilling ride in Atwood's trilogy. I'll admit that there were curious parts of this book that took me out of it at certain points-- (

I'm unsure how Toby from The Year of the Flood, amidst the chaos of, y'know, the world ending, decided to become filled with jealous insecurities in this book? Her characterization kind of took a turn and while I love Toby, this little oddity just seemed incongruous with the person I came to know in book 2.

) -- but overall I did enjoy how the series ended. For how bleak of an outlook it has on the future of humanity (~starting to look like reality~), it does contain hope. There were certain tedious parts that made sense by the end, as well. The laughing I did in some of the wrap-up was due to having had to read those earlier passages. I should also mention that Atwood is a master at shifting perspectives and it does become very exciting in the climactic scenes.

Sidenote, one morning I opened the work fridge and there were some very ripe raspberries and I shuddered thinking of the effects of that BlyssPluss pill. Atwood makes the world look different - or, especially when it comes to the environment and animals and tyrants and humans, she sharpens your focus on reality even though you just read something fictitious.

I'm not sure what took me so long to read the second book, but I regret waiting! This book takes place in the same time/world as Oryx and Crake but it has a much different vibe. The first book and its corporate/gated community setting felt so depressing, and while The Year of the Flood is NOT uplifting, it certainly had more emotional resonance for its setting in the pleeblands and its main characters Toby and Ren - who were far easier to empathize with than Jimmy/Snowman/Crake.

Perhaps part of the reason I didn't continue right away with book 2 was that I'd heard it wasn't related to Oryx & Crake though it took place in same universe. Um, that was wrong. I loved seeing some of the same events and characters from the first book through another perspective. Atwood's dystopias are BLEAK but her characters are so wonderfully three-dimensional and resonant.

I've already started Book 3, MaddAdam, because I'm not going to make the same mistake again. Atwood is just the best.

A note to say that I finished this book on the day that Trump announced the U.S. would pull out of the Paris Climate Accord; which definitely makes Atwood's dystopia seem just a little more closer to reality. I mean, she's very blatant about it in certain parts, but the overall themes about corporate greed and environmental destruction are very much part of reality these days. Let's hope our future doesn't rely on Secretburgers!

I was thoroughly captivated by this novel about a biologist detailing her time in a strange abandoned land called Area X as part of a government expedition. She's joined by three others as part of a team, and the author does a great job of creating this reserved and thoughtful character and telling this story through her journal. She's an introvert with a lot going on in her inner life. The novel is at times very creepy, borderline horror, and totally fascinating. I want to read the rest of the trilogy and I'm eager to see the film adaptation with Natalie Portman as the biologist.