Is it possible to read Oryx and Crake and be happy?

[choosyfloosy]

I've read the first few pages of Oryx and Crake and it's v good, but is it the sort of book that stays with you for the rest of your life in a draining-the-life-out-of-you sort of way?

I'm definitely never going to read The Road, and it took me 20 years to get around to On The Beach - I'm not sure I'm mentally strong enough for post-apocalyptic literature.

Saw When The Wind Blows in the CHILDREN'S section of the library the other day. WTF?

Read O&C and was obsessed with analysing it for weeks afterwards. Drove DH crazy. But I got over it! It's worth it. Also read The Road and finished it about three weeks ago. I've blocked it from my mind and will NOT be seeing the film. Too bleak. Perversely, though, I'm glad I read it because it's about the strength of the human spirit (in some). O&C about something far more sinister.

Bookswapper, do you read Chrsitopher Brookmyre? If so, and you may think this is a bit nuts, any thoughts on how Pandaemonium and Oryx & Crake and about the "same" subject and how interesting it is that they can be dealt with so very differently.

I have read all these dystopian fiction books, I think I find them ultimately uplifting, in a peverse way, because at heart I'm an optimisit and they are worse case scenarios.
I liked O&C but then, I am an Atwood fan.

I had a copy of When the Wind Blows when I was around 12. I adored raymond Briggs as an illustrator and David Bowie sanf the theme song to the film was written and performed by Bowie, who was my idol at the time.
I remember sobbing and sobbing at it, it was so moving.

At secondary school, we had an army base nearby and every now and again they had a drill with the air raid sirens going off. It was so chilling, especially as one of our teachers unfailingly used to say ''We've got four minutes, class....''

sorry IloveGH...I haven't read oryx and crake!