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aksmith92's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
The Setup: Parable of the Sower is a dystopian novel set in a future America (psst., it starts in 2024 because this novel was written in the 90s) ravaged by climate change, economic collapse, and social breakdown. The story follows Lauren Olamina, a girl born with "hyperempathy," - a condition that causes her to feel others' pain physically. Growing up in a walled community in California, Lauren witnesses her once-protected neighborhood fall apart under the pressure of extreme poverty, violence, and drug addiction.
After Pyro-addicted arsonists destroy her community (that's an element you have to read to believe), Lauren embarks on a dangerous journey north with a small group of survivors. Along the way, she shares her belief system, Earthseed, which posits that "God is Change" and that humanity's destiny lies in spreading life among the stars. The novel explores themes of survival, adaptability, community, and the role of empathy in a world where kindness can be a weakness.
This novel is a powerful and prophetic work. Its examination of societal breakdown and insights into the intersection of climate change, inequality, and human resilience are chillingly relatable even in our not-so-dystopian time. Butler's world-building and Lauren's journey are both thought-provoking and eerily relevant.
What I loved: NOTHING! Just kidding. I loved everything about this book, but not because it was a light-hearted and fun read. I felt the same way about Kindred, which wound up in my 6-star-read "shelf." This novel also landed on that shelf because Octavia E Butler knew what she was doing. This encapsulated the human experience in a grim yet probable (and therefore, horrifying) way and showcased the necessity of empathy and kindness in a world where that could get you killed. Lauren maybe wasn't the most relatable, but she was brilliant and wanted to give the world something to look forward to in such a dark time. I couldn't help but root for her and the people she traveled with.
Butler's legacy is truly a master of speculative fiction - this novel oozed a warning while also signaling hope. This book was a powerful social commentary and a beacon of hope for readers seeking positive outcomes in uncertain times while not being overly happy (because that won't happen). Additionally, some might say the "hyperempathy" element was thrown in there haphazardly, but I would beg to differ. Incorporating that almost magical realism piece was such a lovely touch to sensationalize empathy in a good way - if we all could feel that much pain, would we be in this situation? It brought out so many questions that I think are super relevant to our lives now and will be going forward. I loved everything about this book, even when it was hard to read - we need to read books like these, even if they defeat us.
It's another 6-star read for me, but it might not be for you. It's dark, grim, and violent, and it showcases the darkest parts of humanity, or what could be humanity. That may not be for you, but I encourage you to pick it up and think critically about it. Butler's prose is generally straight to the point and sometimes even emotionless, which I can see people having a hard time getting into, but my love for her work will supersede any minor issue. It was an honor to read this book, even if it was emotionally damaging. Read it!!
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Incest, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Trafficking, Grief, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Cursing, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Medical content, and Pregnancy
Minor: Sexual content
rootedreader's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Addiction, Child death, Sexual violence, Slavery, Police brutality, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Cannibalism
isobel_laura's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Child death, Death, Gun violence, Violence, Death of parent, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual violence, Slavery, Blood, Grief, Cannibalism, Medical trauma, and Injury/Injury detail
luis_vieira's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Blood, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Bullying, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Rape, Slavery, Violence, Police brutality, Trafficking, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child death, Racism, Torture, Cannibalism, Pregnancy, and Classism
sleepy_b's review
4.0
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Death, Gun violence, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Trafficking, Cannibalism, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
ravenrobbins's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
I think I need to read something bubbly next…
Graphic: Addiction, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Excrement, Police brutality, Trafficking, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Cannibalism, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
sammymilfort's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Trafficking, Grief, Cannibalism, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Racism, Terminal illness, and Kidnapping
nburkk's review against another edition
3.75
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Child death, Death, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Trafficking, Grief, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
nonamenogender's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
The crazies/paints/junkies in the book are all murderous psychopaths who take pleasure in burning things and people. They are portrayed as less than human, monsters. And their behavior IS monstrous, but we get no explanation for this other than the drug makes watching fire better than sex. None of the primary characters, other than Keith, who is also a monster, use drugs.
The moment I kept waiting for that never came was either for Lauren to meet a drug user who doesn't fulfill the mold established earlier, or for the crazies to be more than just junkies, and some kind of violent political group or criminal enterprise. But no, their violence is always senseless and brutal.
This wouldn't bother me so much if the drug "pyro" wasn't such a major part of the storytelling. It plays on the racist fears around the crack epidemic, but not in any way that challenges them. The only hint that how Lauren describes drug users is not accurate to the world she lives in, is that her perspective is often naive, and sometimes narrow minded. Butler says the parable books are what she imagined could happen if the worst of societies problems were allowed to continue unchecked. in that context, "pyro" is the least realistic aspect of the book.
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Homophobia, Incest, Infertility, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Excrement, Vomit, Police brutality, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Cannibalism, Religious bigotry, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, and Pandemic/Epidemic
elg1105's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Child death, Slavery, Trafficking, and Cannibalism