The Year of the Flood (first 3rd)

The Year of the Flood

Margaret Atwood

First 3^rd of the Book

In this science fiction sequel to Oryx and Crake, a “waterless flood” has taken life away from all humans except two women, Ren and Toby. Ren and Toby are part of a group, which alters the way they live their lives. The group that they have chosen to be a part of is called Gardeners, referring to the Garden of Eden in the bible. The women do not know that the other is alive, but the book focuses on what they are thinking about and their past, not their means of survival. In one chapter, Ren leaves the Gardeners’ area to walk around at the mall with her best friend. Ren meets a girl named Amanda who happens to have a bracelet with jellyfish in it, that Ren later finds out Amanda had stolen. Since Amanda has no home and lives on the street Ren decides to have Amanda live with her, her mother and stepfather. Ren’s best friend Bernice, does not like Amanda. When Ren chooses to take Amanda in, she is giving up a friendship she has cherished her whole life. Ren thinks of the situation positively because she now shares a room with Amanda and views her as more of a sister than a friend. Things start to crumble between Bernice and Ren when Amanda finds out that Bernice’s father is sleeping with another women in the Vinegar Closet. Bernice will not talk to Ren, who tries to make an effort to include her. Ren's decision definitely changed her childhood, but is it for the better?