January books
Started the years off with these three:
The Pig Who Sang at the Moon: The Emotional World of Farm Animals by Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson 304 pages, pub 2004. I had seen this book frequently come up when I searched various vegan book topics and it is sold through the Farm SAnctuary website, so I figured I would put it on my christmas list and see what happens. My sister ended up giving it to me as a present and it was the first book I read in the new year. This sort of half research half speculation book examines the different main categories of farm animals, their wild ancestors, the abuses they go through in the modern farm system, and then discusses the various ways these different animals express their feelings. Although the book was not very factual about these emotions, it was still an interesting read. The author relates various stories and interviews people from many walks of life to give you a full picture of both the animals and the views of different who "care" for them. I chuckled, I got misty eyed, I learned a few things. This is a good book for people who want to learn more about animals, but can't handle the intense gruesome reality of factory farms and slaughterhouses.
The Year of the Flood by Margaret Atwood 448 pages, published 2009. Having read Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood (well, I listened to it on tape while driving back and forth to CT) for a wonderful class in college (Prophpets of Doom and Gloom: Dystopian Literature - kick ass, amirite?) I was excited to find a similar work by the same author while searching online. I had since read/listened to the handmaid's tale and really enjoyed it, so I figured this book would be right up my alley! About 30 or so pages into the book I realized that not only was The Year of the Flood similar, but it was a companion book to Oryx and Crake! I quickly read through this novel, enjoying it immensely and giggling as I was able to remember parts from Oryx and Crake via other characters. I am a huge sucker for speculative fiction, and I love the way Atwood draws from current trends in popular culture, the economic market, and research on animals into her novels. The story goes back and forth between two characters after the "waterless flood" has pretty much wiped out humanity. These three characters who were once part of a religious group/cult that didn't eat meat and lived off the land. I dig the infusion of christian references within the group/cult and how they used it to promote ovo-lacto vegetarianism unless it was for survival. I strongly suggest this book if you are into post apocalyptic survival and speculative fiction works!
Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood 376 pages, pub 2004. After reading The Year of the Flood and realizing how many clever plays on words Atwood used, I decided to go back and actually read (as opposed to listen) Oryx and Crake again. I luckily had my copy still and quickly devoured this one. Oryx and Crake and The Year of the Flood tell of the same event but from two different perspectives. Because of having just finished The Year of the Flood I was able to quickly make the connections and the whole thing was wonderfully enjoyable. As mentioned above, Atwood has a great knack for incorporating current trends in technology and pop culture to create highly probable concepts of how the future could look. As you read it, you can even sadly see that some of them have already come true. There are parts about splicing animals to create human desired genetic mashups that seem all too realistic (ex: The rakunk - the cuddle factor of a skunk - the smell + the cuteness of a raccoon - the aggression). She also uses clever puns and plays on words that seem familiar (ex: OraganINC - a company that genetically alters pigs to grow several sets of spare organs for human medical harvesting). Once again, if you dig dystopias, speculative fiction, or science fiction, you will most likely enjoy this book.
The Pig Who Sang at the Moon: The Emotional World of Farm Animals by Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson 304 pages, pub 2004. I had seen this book frequently come up when I searched various vegan book topics and it is sold through the Farm SAnctuary website, so I figured I would put it on my christmas list and see what happens. My sister ended up giving it to me as a present and it was the first book I read in the new year. This sort of half research half speculation book examines the different main categories of farm animals, their wild ancestors, the abuses they go through in the modern farm system, and then discusses the various ways these different animals express their feelings. Although the book was not very factual about these emotions, it was still an interesting read. The author relates various stories and interviews people from many walks of life to give you a full picture of both the animals and the views of different who "care" for them. I chuckled, I got misty eyed, I learned a few things. This is a good book for people who want to learn more about animals, but can't handle the intense gruesome reality of factory farms and slaughterhouses.
The Year of the Flood by Margaret Atwood 448 pages, published 2009. Having read Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood (well, I listened to it on tape while driving back and forth to CT) for a wonderful class in college (Prophpets of Doom and Gloom: Dystopian Literature - kick ass, amirite?) I was excited to find a similar work by the same author while searching online. I had since read/listened to the handmaid's tale and really enjoyed it, so I figured this book would be right up my alley! About 30 or so pages into the book I realized that not only was The Year of the Flood similar, but it was a companion book to Oryx and Crake! I quickly read through this novel, enjoying it immensely and giggling as I was able to remember parts from Oryx and Crake via other characters. I am a huge sucker for speculative fiction, and I love the way Atwood draws from current trends in popular culture, the economic market, and research on animals into her novels. The story goes back and forth between two characters after the "waterless flood" has pretty much wiped out humanity. These three characters who were once part of a religious group/cult that didn't eat meat and lived off the land. I dig the infusion of christian references within the group/cult and how they used it to promote ovo-lacto vegetarianism unless it was for survival. I strongly suggest this book if you are into post apocalyptic survival and speculative fiction works!
Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood 376 pages, pub 2004. After reading The Year of the Flood and realizing how many clever plays on words Atwood used, I decided to go back and actually read (as opposed to listen) Oryx and Crake again. I luckily had my copy still and quickly devoured this one. Oryx and Crake and The Year of the Flood tell of the same event but from two different perspectives. Because of having just finished The Year of the Flood I was able to quickly make the connections and the whole thing was wonderfully enjoyable. As mentioned above, Atwood has a great knack for incorporating current trends in technology and pop culture to create highly probable concepts of how the future could look. As you read it, you can even sadly see that some of them have already come true. There are parts about splicing animals to create human desired genetic mashups that seem all too realistic (ex: The rakunk - the cuddle factor of a skunk - the smell + the cuteness of a raccoon - the aggression). She also uses clever puns and plays on words that seem familiar (ex: OraganINC - a company that genetically alters pigs to grow several sets of spare organs for human medical harvesting). Once again, if you dig dystopias, speculative fiction, or science fiction, you will most likely enjoy this book.